New Industry Products

Primarion Announces Digital, Multi-Phase Controller To Power Intel® VR11.1 Based Processor

July 21, 2008 by Jeff Shepard

Primarion, an Infineon Technologies subsidiary, introduced its PX3560, a digital multi-phase controller for VR11.1 core power regulation for the server and storage markets. With autonomous phase dropping features that are said to provide high efficiency across the entire operating range, Primarion’s Power On Demand PX3560 is said to address key industry and regulatory initiatives to cut energy usage in computing and data storage markets.

The PX3560 features a power state indicator (PSI) mode, which is said to provide high efficiency at light loads with its dynamic phase dropping capability, as well as an output pin (IMON) for current monitoring. According to Primarion, unlike competing analog solutions, the PX3560 allows the system to shed any number of phases based on the average current defined by the user to optimize the efficiency across the entire operating range. Phases dropped at lighter loads are said to increase efficiency by several percentage points and significantly reduce the cost of energy usage over the life of the product. The controller optimizes the loop compensation based on the number of active phases to provide a stable system operation. The second generation of its proprietary active transient response (ATR2) technology enables the systems to meet stringent transient requirements, while requiring only 800µF MLCC output capacitors for VR11.1 compliance.

With up to six phases, each capable of 1 MHz operation, the PX3560 can be used to build dc-dc converters, which provide up to 200A with what is described as excellent efficiency across the entire operating range. Interleaved timing of the channels results in a higher ripple frequency, minimizing input and output voltage ripple. The PX3560 incorporates an industry standard I²C compliant serial interface and on-chip non-volatile memory (NVM) for real-time system control. This is said to allow the power supply designer to quickly optimize designs and monitor system performance. Upon startup, what is described as superior load line accuracy is achieved through internal calibration that measures and corrects current sense errors.

"Light load efficiency has become a key industry driver in the computing market," said Deepak Savadatti, Vice President of Marketing at Primarion. "With its autonomous phase shedding capabilities, the PX3560 provides high-efficiency not only at light load, but across the entire operating range. The loop compensation is optimized on the fly during the PSI mode to provide a stable operation, while responding to large transients. With the announcement of this product, we are meeting the challenging power delivery needs of today’s and tomorrow’s computing platforms."

Primarion’s PX3560 is available in a RoHS-compliant, 7 x 7mm 48-lead QFN package.