News

POLA Embraces PMBus for Digital DC-DC Products

December 02, 2004 by Jeff Shepard

The Point of Load Alliance (POLA) announced that it will jointly design and release products in accordance to the PMBus™ digital interface and control specification. The new PMBus specification will allow advancements and flexibility in power conversion products without increasing complexity for the end user.

Participants of the POLA alliance intend to deliver fully interoperable, digitally controlled products in 2005 with advanced features that will enhance power management control. The PMBus working group consists of several power and semiconductor companies that aim to release an open protocol supporting communication to power supplies via a digital bus.

The POLA alliance includes Texas Instruments Inc. (Dallas, TX), Artesyn Technologies Inc., Astec Power of Emerson Network Power and Ericsson Power Modules. Customer demand for multiple sources led the formation of the alliance and standards.