Our goal: high performance, on time, always... with Vicor

Vicor prides itself on the high performance, small size and wide selection of the products we offer; however, we are also focused on ensuring our products are delivered quickly, on time and to exacting quality standards. Our website now has a Quality Centre, a comprehensive online resource of Vicor quality systems. The visitor can create a custom quality report or take a "virtual tour" of Vicor's 21,400sq metre factory, showing the key stages in the manufacture of our products. There is a library of documentation, videos, and process charts, downloadable reports in PDF format, with hyperlinks to other information that satisfy the individual's quality needs. See for yourself at the Quality Centre.

Vicor is always interested in receiving feedback from our customers as to how we are progressing and we would welcome your input regarding our performance at fulfilling your requirements. If you would like to contribute something please send an email to: vicorhk@vicr.com.

New mid-power micro modules

Vicor has added seven mid-power Micro DC-DC converters to the high-density 300Vdc input family: two 50W models, one at 3.3 Vout and 5Vout, and five 75W models at 12, 15, 24, 28, and 48Vout.

The modules are appropriate for designing off-line power systems for industrial and process control, distributed power, medical, ATE, communications, defense, and aerospace applications.

The addition of these modules doubles the size of the high-power density 300Vin Micro family, which previously consisted of 100W at 5Vout, and 150W at 12, 15, 24, 28, and 48Vout. The additional products offer customers a cost-effective solution for applications that do not require the full power capability of the previously available Micro modules.

The converters operate from 300V nominal inputs, with an input range of 180V to 375V, and have power densities up to 90W/cubic inch with efficiencies up to 90%. The modules, which are available with RoHS compliance, are 57.9 x 36.8 x 12.7mm in size with a height above board of 10.9mm. Download a datasheet

The Vantage line: cost-effective power supply options from Westcor

Vicor's Westcor division is now offering a discounted range of complete power supplies, with only minor specification changes.

For further details of the Vantage line of products go to: VSPOC

Paralleling outputs

Vicor's Maxi, Mini, Micro modules support paralleling of identical converters to expand the output power. A PR signal is communicated to all modules within the parallel array to synchronize switching frequency and to balance the output currents. In a parallel array the PR pin function allows only one module to be the driver; all other modules will automatically become boosters. Care should be taken by choosing a proper PR- connection. The following application note discusses different ways to connect the PR interface.

For a group of four converters or more in parallel and for fault tolerant redundant arrays we strongly recommend using Vicor's PR transformer. Connecting the SC pin to -SENSE will configure a module to a booster. This can be helpful if an array has to be variably trimmed. This will enable the array to be trimmed up and down by only trimming the remaining driver module.

In a redundant array all +SENSE pins must be connected to a common point behind the output diode (cathode). The Micro modules do not incorporate remote sense functionality. Please contact Vicor's applications engineers before using Micros in redundant arrays. Make sure that the output pins never become open circuit from the output bus.

The +Out and -Out power buses should be designed to minimise and balance parasitic impedance from each module output to the load. The +Sense pins should be tied to the same point on the +Out power bus; the -Sense pins should be tied to the same point on the -Out power bus. At the discretion of the power system designer, a subset of all modules within an array may be configured as slaves by shorting SC to -S OR'ing diodes may be inserted in series with the +OUT pins of each module to provide module output fault tolerance.

The +Out and -Out power buses should be designed to minimise and balance parasitic impedance from each module output to the load. At the discretion of the power system designer, a subset of all modules within an array may be configured as slaves by shorting SC to -Out. Do not use output OR'ing diodes with parallel arrays of MicroMods.

For our VI-200 and MI-200 converter family, booster modules are available to increase output power. The way the modules synchronize differs from the way explained above. The daisy chaining of VI/MI200 modules is explained here.

Electric vehicle

The customer is using two DC-DC converter modules, in parallel with current sharing and battery charging circuitry to provide power from a high voltage battery to the Smart Car's standard 12V electric system. The 316Vdc battery is fitted in an insulated container under the car's floor to provide traction via compact electric motors, instead of the normal petrol engine. In short, Vicor modules are being used as a solid-state alternator.

Although the car has a small 12V battery, to supply peak power and emergency back up, the two modules are designed to provide enough power for lights, windscreen wipers, instruments and in-car entertainment, while keeping this small 12V battery properly charged for long life.

The pre-production quantities for this application will be about 3,000 modules, increasing to 10,000 modules per annum at full production. The Vicor modules were chosen as an off the shelf proven affordable solution, benefiting from a rugged design, high power density and high efficiency.

Display in-flight simulator for helicopter

Pilots around the world regard flight simulation as the closest thing to the true experience of flight. This customers specialises in the design, manufacture and integration of high-resolution display systems. Applications include simulation, command and control, and virtual reality.

The basic characteristics of the display - resolution, field-of-view, brightness and contrast - are optimized to meet the most rigorous training scenarios, like landing and takeoff for pilot training, complex combat scenarios, air-to-air, air-to-ground.

Vicor has various applications in this market, using our easily configurable power supply products, PFC MegaPACS.

The truly user configurablity of these products means that serviceability in the field keeps costs down. Equally attractive to customers are our non-standard output voltages and our high power density.

Download technical articles

Did you know that there are lots of interesting articles available for you to download in pdf format from our website? These articles have been published in many countries throughout the World, and in several languages.

There is a diverse range of topics from Power Systems Architecture; What's In, What's Out, What is State of the Art? to Alternatives to POL, to Unconventional DC-DC power in a conventional brick POL.

Go to the Articles section to see them all.

Barry Kelleher, Senior Vice President, Global Operations and General Manager of Vicor's Brick Business Unit

Barry Kelleher joined Vicor in 1993 as Senior Vice President, International Operations. In 1999 he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Global Operations, at which time he joined Vicor's Board of Directors. In June 2005 Barry was promoted to General Manager of Vicor's Brick Business Unit, in addition to his previous responsibilities.

Prior to joining Vicor, and since 1981, Barry was employed at Computer Products Inc., a manufacturer of power conversion products, where he latterly held the position of Corporate Vice President and President of the Power Conversion Group. Barry received a B.Eng in Electronics from University College, Cork, Ireland and an MBA from University College, Dublin, Ireland.

Barry is married with three grown up daughters. He lives with his wife, Mary, in Andover, Massachusetts.

Below are picture clues to help you find three words, in English, associated with power supplies. Take the letters indicated from each picture (again, in English) to make the word, e.g. the first picture is "HOUSE" so you take letters 2 (O) and 4 (S), making the first letters of the first word OS.

Have fun!