Switched capacitor intermediate bus converter delivers high power density

Flex Power Modules has released the BMR310, a non-isolated switched capacitor intermediate bus converter (IBC) which gives high power density for data centres, therefore, improving board space utilisation and saving space for other components.

Built on the proprietary Zero voltage switching Switched capacitor Converter technology from Infineon Technologies, the device delivers efficiency of over 98% at half load. It can produce power up to 875W continuous in a compact package. It operates over an input voltage range of 40V to 60V and provides an unregulated output voltage of 10V to 15V.

For data centres and high-performance computing applications, there is an increasing trend to move away from 12V and adopt 48V power distribution to decrease distribution currents and power losses. To satisfy this increasing demand, the Infineon ZSC produces the highest efficiency and power density for applications utilising 48V to generate an intermediate bus voltage. This is accomplished through capacitive energy transfer with soft switching of the power MOSFETs and enables an easy and low-risk migration path for legacy 12V systems to a 48V infrastructure at a notably reduced total cost of ownership.

“Infineon’s ZSC topology is a meaningful change in power distribution and enables us to deliver the high efficiency and power density that’s needed for data centres today and tomorrow,” said Mikael Appelberg, chief technology officer, Flex Power Modules.

“By fostering collaboration within the industry and utilising our application knowledge, we optimise our devices with the system in mind,” said Richard Kuncic, vice president and general manager DC-DC at Infineon’s Power and Sensor Systems Division. “We are proud to see that our partners are able to engineer groundbreaking solutions with our technology."

The device is mounted horizontally with a height profile of 10.3mm, making it ideal for systems with limited space due to large heatsinks or cold plates. It measures 58.4mm x 25mm x 10.3mm (2.3" x 0.98" x 0.41"). The current mounting option is baseplated but an open frame will be offered with future models.