Ericsson develops sixteenth-brick DC/DC module

Ericsson has launched the PKU4101B PI sixteenth-brick DC/DC module, giving 5V at 20A.

This is an important benefit where customers are looking for higher power in a smaller packaging than traditional eighth-brick format, or to get higher power from a standard sixteenth-brick when upgrading boards for higher performance.

The line-regulated IBC PKU-B series will include two products: later this year there will also be a 12V version.

For versatility, both will be available in through-hole and surface-mount versions.

The products are aimed at existing sixteenth-brick customers who want to power higher-demand applications without redesigning boards for larger products (eighth-brick), saving time and costs, and making the transition faster and easier.

The PKU-B will also benefit customers facing challenging board space optimisation and migrating from eighth-brick to sixteenth-brick without compromising performance.

As the PKU-B is less than 8.3mm in height, the module is particularly suitable for applications aiming for low building height, guaranteeing enough isolation distance between the module and an adjacent board.

The converters meet the insulation requirements of EN60950 and come complete with industry-standard features, such as remote on/off, overtemperature protection, output overcurrent and overvoltage protection, and input undervoltage protection.

The most important application areas for the product are datacom/networking, wireless networks, optical network equipment, and server and data storage.

Offering high power in a small package, the sixteenth-brick PKU-B's output power reaches 100W (312W/in2), in line with some IBC eighth-brick products available on the market.

With its optimised component placement, the converter possesses high electrical and thermal performance, as well as high reliability under stressful operating conditions.

The 5V product is up to 92 per cent efficient across the entire input voltage range, and from 50 to 100 per cent load.

Compared with traditional regulated intermediate bus converters and the previous generation of PKU DC/DC converters, the PKU-B delivers up to 100 per cent higher power.

In fact, the PKU4101B PI (5V output) delivers 100W, compared to the PKU 4511 PI, which delivers 50W.

To attain its high power density, the PKU-B series uses a 14-layer PCB with a copper thickness of 3oz, to achieve high efficiency and good thermal performance.

The PKU-B series has monotonic startup and can withstand 100 per cent pre-bias on the output.

The electrical design is a line-regulated half-bridge configuration with the control circuit on the primary side.

The transformer and the output inductor windings are integrated in the PCB.

The primary side is fed internally by an isolated flyback converter, with the switching frequency synchronised to the main control circuit.

With the already-released quarter-brick intermediate bus converter PKM-B, and the eighth brick PKB-B in development, this latest sixteenth-brick completes the IBC product portfolio.

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