New Industry Products

Vicor Converter Enables Full Power, Half-Size, Half-Weight Aerospace and Defense Applications

March 09, 2011 by Jeff Shepard

Vicor Corp. introduced the MBCM270F450M270A00, a high-efficiency, non-regulated MIL-COTS BCM™ bus converter to complete a family of V.I Chip™ power components for airborne, naval and land-based applications.

Operating from the typical 270Vdc (230-330V) MIL-STD-704E/F power rail, the new MBCM270F450M270A00 uses the proprietary Sine Amplitude Converter™ (SAC™) topology to deliver isolated power to a nominal 45V rail at more than 96% efficiency, more than 800W/in3 power density with around 1/4 inch low profile and 1/2 ounce weight.

Systems using the MBCM-series bus converters with downstream PRM™ Regulators and VTM™ Current Multipliers to drive pulsed power (e.g. radar) loads, radio and satellite communications, computing processors/ASICs and memory, have a 60% smaller footprint, 3% higher efficiency and enable complete powertrain systems which are 66% lighter than previous best-in-class solutions.

"Power-to-weight is a key metric for any mobile application - whether it’s air-, sea- or land-based – and here, the MBCM270 has a 4x advantage. It’s all about providing the system designer with small, efficient, lightweight systems with the right power to drive the end application," said Stephen Oliver, V.P. of V.I Chip Marketing Sales.

"That 3% efficiency improvement over previous best-in-class translates into half the power loss, which means half the fans, heat sinks, coldplates, etc.," Oliver continues, "and the MHz switching frequency means smaller, lighter filters too – saving a lot of excess weight and size. Once again, Vicor can say ’we’ve got your back’ when it comes to meeting the needs in the defense electronics market for easier, more reliable power design."

The 45/48Vout MBCM270F450M270A00 and its partner 28/33Vout MBCM270F338M235A00 bus converters are available now in Surface Mount Technology (SMT), through-hole and thermally-enhanced VI BRICK™ package versions.