Intersil Intros ISL6316 CPU Multi-Phase Core Controller
Intersil Corp. (Milpitas, CA) expanded its pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller portfolio with the introduction of the ISL6316, a high-performance, central processing unit (CPU), multi-phase core controller for Intel-based voltage regulator down (VRD) 10.X and enterprise voltage regulator down (EVRD) 10.X desktop, workstation and server motherboards. The four-phase ISL6316 CPU core controller includes thermal monitoring and tracking over-current protection over temperature, with +0.5 percent or -0.5 percent system accuracy over the complete CPU voltage range.
The temperature thresholds of the ISL6316 are programmable to enable the controller to communicate to the CPU and alert the system when the voltage regulator overheats, signaling the CPU to reduce its power consumption. The ISL6316 is also able to turn on a CPU or system fan signal to cool the CPU down or identify when the CPU overheats and inform it to shut down. Suitable for desktop, workstation, server, and industrial PC computer motherboards; voltage regulator modules (VRMs); routers and switches; and ASIC core multi-phase buck dc-dc converter on VRMs, point-of-load, and dc-dc converters, the ISL6316 controls microprocessor core voltage regulation by driving up to four synchronous-rectified buck channels in parallel. Multi-phase buck converter architecture uses interleaved timing to multiply channel ripple frequency and reduce input and output ripple currents. Lower ripple results in fewer components, reducing overall component cost, power dissipation, and board area.
The device provides accurate over-current protection, phase-to-phase current balance, and loadline accuracy through differential current sensing, as well as precise voltage regulation through differential voltage sensing. Differential current sensing ensures the multi-phase converter eliminates any current measurement inaccuracy due to printed circuit board layout. The ISL6316 features adjustable precision reference voltage offset to enable precise loadline programming. The offset pin allows accurate voltage offset settings that are independent of voltage identification setting. The ISL6316 senses current by measuring the voltage across the on-resistance of the lower MOSFETs or direct current resistance of the output inductor. The ISL6316 is paired with Intersil's ISL6612/12A/13/13A/14/14A and ISL6605/08 FET drivers.
The ISL6316 is available now in a 40-lead, QFN standard or lead-free package, and is priced at $2.55 in 1,000-unit quantities.
