V·I Chip Introduces 120W ’Half-Chip’ Bus Converter With >800 W/in³ Power Density

V·I Chip, Inc., a subsidiary of Vicor Corp., announced the availability of a 120W, 1/32nd brick footprint BCM™ bus converter. The VIB0101THJ is a 48 to 12V surface-mount, non-regulated converter with 94.5% efficiency and may be used to power non-isolated POL converters or as an isolated voltage source for ATE, server, telecom and industrial control applications.

The VIB0101THJ uses a Sine Amplitude Converter (SAC™) for a high power density of 840W per cubic inch. The half inch square ’half-chip’ package enables a low impedance interconnect to the system board and is said to reduce the power system volume by 75% versus similar power-level converters. The V·I Chip package provides flexible thermal management through its low junction-to-board and junction-to-case thermal resistance. The BCM’s low impedance SAC enables a 16x capacitance reduction – eliminating the need for limited-life aluminum electrolytic or expensive tantalum bulk capacitors. The bus converter is said to increase overall system efficiency and lower operating costs compared to conventional approaches.

"The small size and high power density of this new 120W high-efficiency BCM gives power designers new options," said Stephen Oliver, VP Marketing and Sales. "It’s the first of our new half-chip products and offers layout flexibility, a minimized power converter footprint and an easy design for fast time-to-market."

The BCM bus converter package is compatible with standard pick-and-place and surface-mount assembly processes. The VIB0101THJ is priced at $19.85 in OEM quantities and is available from stock.