Intersil Offers Digital Multiphase ICs

Intersil Corp. has introduced its new ISL6590 and ISL6580 digital multiphase power ICs which are designed to meet the strictest power demands of new and future-generation multi-GHz CPUs that operate at very low voltage and high current. The initial application for this advanced technology is for high-end servers, especially those of the 1U form factor, but will soon broaden to other servers and workstations.

"Digital multiphase is a revolutionary development in power conversion technology," said Cindy Drapcho, vice president of Intersil’s Desktop and Server Power Products. "The increasing power control demands of constantly advancing microprocessors require more intelligent conversion algorithms and more precise control than previous generations. Digital processing and control can meet these requirements, where additional functionality can be realized cost effectively in modern submicron process technologies. Coupling the advantages of digital control with optimally partitioned power stages results in the highest-performing power solution for leading-edge CPUs."

Intersil’s digital multiphase power solution is not a fixed ASIC solution that quickly stagnates with CPU variations or advancements due to Moore’s Law. Rather, it is a fully programmable architecture easily accessed via the Primarion™ PowerCode™ interface, a user-friendly software tool that enables the designer to change the personality of the ISL6590 digital controller IC to meet requirements of the CPU and application. This allows the entire solution to be optimized for parameters such as loop response, number of phases, phase frequency, input voltage, maximum load and passive filter component characteristics. In addition to rapid optimization, the software enables diagnosis of system performance. Data generated by the software can be ported to PSPICE™ or Matlab™ simulators for more detailed analysis. The entire solution is reusable and scaleable across multiple computing platforms, offering significant savings in both time and costs. Intersil is the sole licensee of the PowerCode™ software.

"Intersil’s digital multiphase power technology brings a level of control and precision here-to-fore not seen and essential to powering next-generation multi-GHz CPUs," said Steve Rivet, senior manager of product marketing for Intersil’s Desktop and Server Power Management Products. "This new technology is the result of an investment in, and co-development with, Primarion™, who developed the digital power architecture technology utilized by the ISL6580 and ISL6590. There is no other digital power system on the market that offers the performance and scalability of our solution."

Intersil’s Digital Multiphase Power Control Evaluation and Development Kit

Intersil’s Digital Multiphase Power Control Evaluation and Development Kit is available now. The kit includes the ISL6590 Digital Multiphase Controller IC that drives six ISL6580 Integrated Power Stage ICs on a plug-in VRM10-form-factor module. The voltage regulator module plugs into an included test platform that provides loading and hardware interface to a PC running the supplied user-friendly PowerCode™ software. The software GUI makes it easy for seasoned analog design engineers to immediately take control of familiar parameters to quickly optimize performance.