Vicor 12 V-optimized input Picor Cool-Power ZVS buck regulator

Vicor Corporation announced the expansion of its Picor Cool-Power® ZVS Buck Regulator product line for high efficiency point-of-load DC-DC regulation. Optimized for 12 V operation (8 V to 18 Vin), these PI34XX series buck regulators are for a host of embedded applications in computing, telecommunications, industrial and other environments, delivering over 95% peak efficiency for 12 V to 3.3 V regulation and up to 15 A.

A nice feature of this series is the capability of paralleling up to three regulators in the configuration shown below:

 

 

The Picor Cool-Power Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) Buck Regulator portfolio has gained acceptance with customers worldwide. The integration of a high performance ZVS topology within a high density (10 mm x 14 mm x 2.6 mm) System-in-Package (SiP) enhances point-of-load DC-DC regulation by reducing the switching losses associated with conventional hard-switching buck regulators.

The reduction of switching losses enables a higher efficiency and higher density regulator that is also simple to use. PI34XX series buck regulators integrate control circuitry, power semiconductors and support components within the SiP and require only an external inductor with minimal capacitors to form a complete DC-DC switching mode buck regulator.

 

Since some customers are constrained by a 12 V architecture and are not able to take advantage of higher line conversion with Vicor’s existing regulators they optimized their 8 V to 36 V wide range regulators for a 12 V family, reducing the Vin range to 8 V to 18 V and further enhancing efficiency for 12 V usage.

Vicor's PI34XX Zero-Voltage Switching buck regulators provide 95% efficiency in a small 10x14-mm package.

Here is a graph showing the range of input voltage versions vs. current output capabilities of the series:

 

 

For more information go to Vicor’s website