CUI introduces 90A series of digital load point modules

     CUI Inc. announced the launch of the highest current digital Point of Load POL series NDM3Z-90. Designed to meet the rapidly growing power demands of today's most advanced integrated circuit products, these devices are non-isolated modules in ultra-low side high vertical and horizontal packages with an output current of 90 A. The product family provides reference levels while integrating a range of advanced digital features, including programmable output range, active current sharing, voltage sequencing, voltage tracking, synchronization and phase unrolling, programmable soft start and stop, and numerous monitoring capabilities.

     The NDM3Z-90 uses Intersil's latest digital power controller ZL8801 and its ChargeMode™ control technology, thus eliminating the need for compensation and allowing the module to continuously maintain an autonomous balance between dynamic performance and system stability. With this feature, designers no longer have to build margins to accommodate factors such as component aging, manufacturing changes, and temperature, avoiding the higher component costs and longer design cycles that traditionally come with this approach. The zero compensation feature of the NDM3Z allows the module to dynamically set the optimal stability in real time as conditions change.

     The 90 A Series has best-in-class efficiency and transient response, with a peak efficiency of 91.4% at 12 Vdc input, 1.0 Vdc output and 50% load, and still a high efficiency of 88.7% at full load. In response to the increasing transient load stepping sensitivity demands of today's ics, the 90A series maximizes performance with ZL8801's Chargemode™ technology, allowing the module to respond to transient load stepping in a single switching cycle. At 12 Vdc input, 1 Vdc output, 45A load stepping (from 22.5A to 67.5A), and 2 A/µs conversion rates, the peak voltage is only 28 mV, requiring moderate external capacitance.

     In addition to the outstanding performance standards, the module can be paralleled by four modules with active current sharing, providing up to 360 A output.

     The NDM3Z-90 is designed to meet the requirements of the 'teraAMP™' standard for high-current digital POL recently released by the AMP Group, the Architects of Modern Power™ (AMP) alliance, a power industry organization. AMP Group aims to provide truly multi-source, technologically advanced and efficient power modules for distributed power architectures, as well as to promote standardization to cover electrical specifications and performance, and to implement monitoring, control and communication functions through the use of digital controllers. This allows the AMP Group to define common profiles to facilitate plug-and-play interoperability between member enterprise products. Current members of the AMP Group include CUI, Ericsson Power Modules and Murata.

     The NDM3Z-90 series has an input voltage range of 7.5 to 14 Vdc and a programmable output voltage range of 0.6 to 1.8 Vdc. Dynamic programmability of all digital features can be achieved via PMBus instructions or through CUI's simple and easy-to-use Novum ACE™ GUI. The 90 A Series is available in two compact through-hole configurations, a vertical model measuring 50.80 (L) X 9.47 (W) X 19.10 (H) mm and a horizontal model measuring 50.8 x 19.1 x 9.7 mm. In order to increase flexibility in the development process, these modules are designed in a nested manner to accommodate dual layout requirements as design requirements change.

     "We are excited to announce the most powerful digital POL module product yet," said Mark Adams, vice president of Advanced Power Products at CUI. Our customers consider power density, transient response, and efficiency when designing power systems for today's advanced ics. Our mission is to help engineers stay one step ahead of the industry with the Novum Advanced Power family."