Increased power density for POL converters in the smallest size available

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. offers new 6A, 20A, and 25A microBRICK synchronous buck regulator modules developed to supply increased power density and efficiency for POL converters. Provided in a 10.6mm x 6.5mm x 3mm package, the Vishay Siliconix SiC931, SiC951, and SiC967 are the smallest such devices available – with the lowest height – and feature wide input voltage ranges from 4.5V to 60V.

Up to 69% smaller than other solutions, the regulator modules provide two high-performance MOSFETs, an inductor, and a controller, with minimal external components required for configuration and loop compensation. The devices' compact size greatly increases power density, while the high level of integration lowers design complexity and time to market. The regulators' controllers consume minimum quiescent current, giving peak efficiencies of 97%. In data centres, telecom infrastructure, and industrial applications, these regulators help lower energy consumption by delivering power to FPGAs, ASICs, and SoC core power supplies more efficiently.

The regulators are highly configurable and merge their wide input voltage ranges with adjustable output voltages down to 0.3V. Also, the SiC931 offers four programmable switching frequencies at 600kHz, 1MHz, 1.5MHz, and 2MHz, while the SiC967 and SiC951 supply adjustable switching ranges from 100kHz to 2MHz and 300kHz to 1.5MHz, respectively. All three devices provide an adjustable current limit, while the SiC931 has an adjustable soft start, and the PMBus 1.3 compliant SiC951 supports sequential, tracking, and simultaneous operation.

The regulator modules deliver versatile solutions for various applications, including POL converters in servers, cloud computing, high-performance computing, and desktop computers; industrial automation, motor drives, and tools; surveillance systems; consumer electronics; and 5G telecom equipment. For these applications, the SiC951 and SiC967 provide three operating modes: forced continuous conduction, ultrasonic, and power save. The SiC931 supplies forced continuous conduction and power save modes. When the inductor current crosses zero in power-saving mode, the control scheme turns off the low-side MOSFET to deploy a diode emulation mode. The switching frequency declines in proportion to load conditions. No minimum switching frequency limitation allows for the best possible efficiency at light loads.

The devices' COT architecture provides an ultrafast transient response with minimum output capacitance and tight ripple regulation at light loads. It also allows loop stability regardless of the type of output capacitor employed, including low ESR ceramic capacitors. The regulators provide a robust protection feature set for reliable operation, OVP and UVP, cycle-by-cycle OCP, SCP with auto-retry, OTP, and a power good flag.