ON Semiconductor Offers New Dual-Edge Multi-Phase Controllers

ON Semiconductor has expanded its power computing portfolio with the introduction of two new dual-edge multi-phase controllers. The NCP5387 and NCP5382 multi-phase buck controllers address power needs for servers and for VR10.x, VR.11.0 and Parallel VID based desktop personal computers. These devices join the NCP5391 and NCP5385 dual-edge control products the company introduced within the last year to enable more efficient and more compact Vcore power solutions to support VR10.x/VR11 desktop computers applications.

Utilizing the company’s dual-edge Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technology, the new devices are claimed to deliver significantly faster response to load transients than existing industry solutions. As such, they enable power management subsystems to more quickly and more efficiently respond to users’ activation of high-performance computing functions. Industry standard single-edge and clocked control devices in place today require operation at higher-than-optimal frequencies or use of substantial capacitive hold-up circuits. ON Semiconductor’s dual-edge approach is less complicated to design-in, and enables a physically smaller power management subsystem than single-edge or clocked control devices can provide. By enabling simultaneous switching of all phases in a multiphase power waveform, ON Semiconductor’s dual-edge PWM controllers are also claimed to provide faster responses than single-edge or clocked control devices. This improved response is said to enable the power management subsystem to operate at a lower frequency, with fewer hold-up capacitors than existing leading-edge or trailing-edge approaches.

The new NCP5387 and NCP5382 are multi-phase buck controllers that combine differential voltage and current sensing, and adaptive voltage positioning. Dual-edge pulse width modulation, combined with inductor current sensing, reduces system cost by providing the fastest initial response to transient load events. Dual-edge multi-phase modulation reduces total bulk and ceramic output capacitance required to satisfy transient load line regulation. A high performance operational error amplifier is provided, which allows easy compensation of the system. The proprietary method of Dynamic Reference Injection makes the error amplifier compensation virtually independent of the system response to VID changes, eliminating tradeoffs between overshoot and dynamic VID performance.

The NCP5387 is a two, three, or four phase controller, suitable for VR10.x, VR11.0, and Parallel VID desktop computing systems. The NCP5387 is available in a Pb-free QFN-40 package, and priced at $1.27 per unit in 2,500 unit quantities.

The NCP5382 is a four, five, or six phase controller, suitable for servers and other low-voltage, high-current power supplies. The NCP5382 is available in a Pb-free QFN-48 package, and priced at $1.75 per unit in 2,500-unit quantities.