Vicor Introduces New Second Generation DC/DC Converter Modules
Vicor Corp. (Andover, MA) recently introduced its 2nd Generation dc/dc converter modules which are designed to give designers more options and increase design flexibility. According to Vicor, the converters offer power densities up to 120W/cu. in., 100 degrees C operating temperature rating, and 3,000Vac isolation (input to output). The converter modules are also designed with PC, PR, and SC converter pins to provide multiple status and control functions.The PC (primary control) pin is designed with auxiliary bias supply, module disable, and module alarm functions. The PC pin is nominally set at 5.9V. The pin can supply up to 1.5mA to power other primary referenced circuits, and the module may be disabled by pulling PC below 2.5V with respect to the -Input (using an open-collector transistor, relay, or optocoupler). The module also contains circuitry that monitors input voltage, operating temperature, and internal operating parameters.The PR (parallel) pin is designed to support paralleling for increased power with N+M redundancy and phased-array capability. A pulsed signal on the parallel (PR) bus simplifies current-sharing control by synchronizing the high-frequency of each converter.The SC (secondary control) pin is designed to provide output voltage programming. The converter can be adjusted or programmed from 10 percent to 110 percent of the nominal output voltage by using fixed resistors, potentiometers, or voltage DACs, which increases design flexibility. The SC pin also provides a secondary side alarm.According to Vicor, other standard features of the converters include input undervoltage lockout, input overvoltage shutdown, over temperature shutdown, and output overvoltage protection.Vicor's 2nd Generation dc/dc converters include the 48V and 300V input families, each of which offers three package sizes – Maxi, Mini, and Micro – that provide output voltages of 2, 3.3, 5, 12, 15, 24, 28 and 48Vdc. The MaxiMOD delivers output power up to 500W; the MiniMOD up to 250W; and the MicroMOD up to 150W. In quantities of 100 pieces, pricing will be from $0.38/W. Stock units are currently available.
