Vicor Announces New Family of VI Chip Components
Vicor Corp. announced the availability of a full family of VI Chip™ components, enabling complete power systems using Factorized Power Architecture (FPA). FPA separates or "factorizes" regulation and voltage transformation functions into flexible, high-performance building blocks. VI Chip components are high-density (up to 1.2 kW/in3), high-efficiency (up to 97%), high-speed power conversion modules, and are all released for mass production.
The PRM™ (non-isolated regulator) and V™ (current multiplier) components deliver what the company claims is the most efficient 48V direct-to-load power conversion system in mass production today. For low voltage/high current requirements (e.g. microprocessors), the V™ module enables 91A/in2 point of load (POL) density. FPA allows the PRM module to be deployed remotely, providing greater design flexibility and a 95% reduction in distribution loss.
Stephen Oliver, Vice President of Marketing & Sales for the VI Chip Division, stated, "As energy prices increase, the electricity bill for a data center is now 50% of the annual operating cost — growing to more than the initial hardware investment — and it takes 2.6W to drive 1W of computing power in a typical system. A data center using an FPA solution could save 24 Euros or $30 per processor, per year in energy costs. At the same time, the power solution with VI Chip modules is 45% smaller, enabling further increases in computing rack density."
Vicor's PRM and V™ modules cover a wide range of input and output voltages at power densities up to 1.2kW/in3 or 100A per module. FPA solutions are available to meet the advanced requirements of telecom/server (processor and memory power supply), test equipment, RF amplifiers, power supplies, and many other applications.
The 48V BCM modules are available with output voltages of 1.5 Vout to 48 Vout and up to 300W and are suitable for telecom/server, base stations, WiFi, data/voice, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and PoE (Power over Ethernet), as well as solid-state LED lighting, lasers, and broadcast equipment. In addition, Vicor's high-voltage (350 – 380 Vin) BCM converters provide efficient high-voltage distribution and post-PFC high voltage dc-dc conversion to non-isolated POL converters in telecom and high-end server systems.
The VI Chip family is in mass production now with immediate sample availability and four-week production leadtimes. A VI Chip PRM + V™ chipset to convert from 48V direct to 1V, 100A is available for $49 in OEM quantities. BCM converters are available from $32.50 each in OEM quantities.
