APEC News: IR, Alpha & Omega, & NXP Announcements Highlight Day 3
The third day of the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) was highlighted by significant announcements from IR, Alpha & Omega, and NXP.
International Rectifier (IR) introduced its highly versatile family of CHiL digital PWM controllers that are said to dramatically shrink footprint and improve efficiency in a variety of mid-range to high-end and extreme server, desktop, and computing applications. IR’s six new devices meet Intel VR12 and VR12.5 and AMD SVI1 and SVI2 specifications, and support multiphase designs from 1 to 8 phases operating 1 to 2 loops.
These new third generation CHiL devices offer efficiency shaping features such as phase shedding and variable gate drive with enhanced algorithms including PID scaling (when shedding phases) and phase current balancing to ensure maximum efficiency. The solution architecture supports the extremely high di/dt transients from high-end processors, and, as a result of a new Adaptive Transient Algorithm (ATA), the transients can be met with fewer phases and fewer capacitors to shrink system size.
"By offering the highest efficiency and smallest footprint, the new CHiL line-up continues to underline IR’s leadership position in providing versatile VR solutions for leading-edge CPU and GPU designs for servers, motherboards and graphics cards. Supporting designs from 1 to 8 phases, the new family offers flexible phase configurations that allow customers to vary the number of phases on each voltage loop to optimize cost and efficiency for each load," said Deepak Savadatti, Vice President and General Manager, IR’s Enterprise Power Business Unit.
Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (AOS) announced the release of AON6270 and AON6280, the flagship devices in its new 75V and 80V AlphaMOS medium voltage portfolios. The new product expands AOS’ medium voltage MOSFET portfolio and enhances its solutions for high performance power supplies. AON6270 and AON6280 are well suited for a wide range of applications that are pushing the limits of efficiency such as secondary side synchronous rectification in dc-dc and ac-dc converters, primary side switching in telecom and industrial dc-dc converters, POL modules for telecom systems, motor drives, UPS, and industrial automation tools.
Power supply designers can now improve efficiencies even further through the lower conduction and switching losses made possible by AON6270 and AON6280. These new devices deliver the best figure-of-merit for RDS(ON) C<subOSS, which is 34% and 29% better than the current leading competitors, respectively. The low output capacitances in combination with low Qg reduce MOSFET switching losses. These devices are available in the compact size DFN5x6 green package and are 100% Rg and UIS tested
NXP Semiconductors N.V. unveiled the GreenChip™ SPR TEA1716 switched-mode power supply (SMPS) controller IC – described as the industry’s first resonant PFC and LLC combo controller enabling ultra-low standby power at low loads, compliant with EU Ecodesign Directive requirements taking effect in 2013. The company also announced several highly cost-effective SPF (smart power flyback) ICs available in very small packages, including the GreenChip SPF TEA1731, as well as new additions to the TEA172x family, which also offer outstanding no-load performance. In addition, NXP introduced a new GreenChip synchronous rectification (SR) control IC, the TEA1792.
The new GreenChip ICs enable compact, slim designs for chargers, adapters and power supplies across a broad range of applications. These include mobile communication devices such as smartphones and media tablets; portable computing devices such as e-readers, audio/video players, netbooks, Ultrabooks™ and PC peripherals; white goods such as washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers and induction cookers; and industrial and residential systems for smart lighting, smart metering, HVAC, and home and building automation and control.
The GreenChip SPR TEA1716 is a power factor correction (PFC) and LLC resonant combo converter featuring energy-saving operating modes that will help designers meet and exceed very stringent no-load and low-load standby requirements. Designed for use in 90-W to 500-W power supplies, the smart power resonant (SPR) TEA1716 combines PFC and a resonant half-bridge controller (HBC) in a SO24 package. With no-load power levels under 150 mW and an average efficiency of more than 91 percent over universal mains, the TEA1716 sets a new benchmark for standby efficiency as the first combo controller available today to enable standby consumption well below 0.5 watt at a load of approximately 250 mW, as specified under the EU Energy Using Products Directive (EuP) Lot 6.
Similarly, the new GreenChip SPF TEA1731 6-pin flyback converter offers best-in-class no-load IC power consumption, featuring a power-saving mode that enables less than 100 mW no load for adapters. In power-saving mode, the TEA1731 also enables power supplies to run below 0.5 W at 0.25-W load power – for example, in supplying standby systems, thus enabling EuP Lot 6 compliance as well.
Enabling Low-Cost, Miniature Power Supply Design The TEA1731 is one of several new GreenChip smart power flyback ICs from NXP which are highly integrated, reduce the number of external components required, and are available in very small packages to enable the miniaturization of adapters and power supplies, thus minimizing the total bill of materials.
