News

Company-Neutral GUI Controls Power Stamp DC-DC Converters

February 08, 2019 by Scott McMahan

The Power Stamp Alliance (PSA), which is developing collaborative solutions for 48V-to-low-voltage on-board dc-dc power converters, announced a software user interface that can be used with any compatible power stamps. PSA claims that this is the first time that a power industry alliance has devised a graphical user interface (GUI) that developers can use with products from any member company. The PSA Power Stamp GUI can be used with any of the PSA main power stamps that incorporate the PMBus® protocol.

PSA 48V direct conversion dc-dc modules or ‘power stamps' mainly target high-performance computers and servers used in large data centers. Many of these data centers follow the principles of the Open Compute Project (OCP). The Power Stamp Alliance will be represented at the OCP Summit 2019 by its founding members, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, Bel Power Solutions, Flex, and STMicroelectronics.

The Alliance says that the new GUI gives power engineers a simple and functionally powerful user interface that delivers control flexibility over their digitally-controlled power stamp products. The PSA Power Stamp GUI is compatible with the Windows® operating systems and enables the configuration of PSA-compliant products and solutions through a USB to PMBus dongle adapter.

According to PSA, the user interface is intuitive and starts with an overview of the power stamp units' general status with warnings and faults displayed if appropriate. (See image above). Users can view simple telemetry and issue basic ON/OFF and sequencing commands. Detailed telemetry is also accessible through a dedicated button in the GUI.

Users can also upload and download configuration files from the main unit as per the PSA-member's user guidelines. Output voltage configuration covers set-point definition, offset, and saturation functions. Advanced controls let the user configure and adjust protection thresholds and warnings.

Advanced controls let the user configure and adjust protection thresholds and warnings.

With the creation and sharing of a specification for a standard product footprint and functions, the Power Stamp Alliance has formed a multi-vendor ecosystem to secure practical levels of alternate sourcing for server and storage system manufacturers, while promoting a competitive supply chain through differentiation in circuitry, topology, and performance from multiple, independent manufacturers.

The Alliance was formally launched at the Open Compute Project (OCP) Summit in 2018 with the publication of specifications, drawings and pin-out descriptions for main and satellite power stamps.

PSA has since also published a new Orcad Library and Allegro Footprint Package (Macro) to its website to enable designers to embed Power Stamps into their own schematic, along with the linked Allegro reference footprint for proper layout.

The Power Stamp Alliance will be represented at the OCP Summit 2019 by its founding members, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, Bel Power Solutions, Flex, and STMicroelectronics.

PSA reference design boards, power stamps, and the new GUI are available from PSA member representatives.