V•I Chip family in full production

Following the launch of the Bus Converter V•I Chip in August 2006, Vicor has now released a complete family of V•I Chip components which take advantage of the benefits of our new Factorized Power Architectures (FPA). Designs with Vicor's Pre-Regulator Module (PRM) and Voltage Transformation Module (VTM) allow 48 Vdc input FPA systems which provide isolated, regulated outputs from 0.8 to 55 Vdc with maximum efficiency and power density.

V•I Chip products are targeted for high volume applications in RF and communications systems, high-end and medium power servers, test & measurement systems and LED lighting equipment that require power solutions with the highest power density combined with superior overall system performance.

Please contact your local Vicor technical support office directly or follow the V•I Chip link to find out what V•I Chips can do for you in your next demanding project.

Extremely Low Profile PFC Solution

Vicor's Westcor Division has just released the PFC FrontEnd, an extremely low profile, 1 RU, 375V non-isolated front end. It may be used with any Vicor 300V VI-200/VI-J00, 375V Maxi, Mini or Micro, or ViPAC arrays to create a complete, high density AC-DC power supply.

Features:

• 85 - 264 Vac and 100 - 380 Vdc input
• Power Factor Correction: 0.99 at 115 Vac; 0.95 at 230 Vac
• Outputs
  - 375V non-isolated
  - 1,100W at 115 Vac; 2,200W at 230 Vac
  - 1 to 4 outputs
• Size : 1.72" H (43,6mm) x 6.4" W (162,6mm) x 7" L(177,8mm)
• Compliant to MIL-STD-810E, Category 10, Minimum Integrity Test for vibration
• High power density > 28 W/in
• Low profile - 1.72 in. (43,6 mm)
• RoHS compliant

Expansion of the Maxi, Mini and Micro families of modules

Having listened carefully to what our customers tell us about their dc-dc power supply requirements, Vicor is very pleased to tell you that within the past year we have doubled the number of pre-defined modules available to you, making it far more likely that you can get the exact power that you need for your design.

The expanded range includes:

• Mid power Maxis for the V 24, V 300 and V 375 families
• Mid power Minis for the V 24, V 300, and V 375 families
• Mid power Micros for the V 24, V 48, V 300, and V 375 families
• Added 36 Vout models to all the families

Compact and efficient, Maxi, Mini and Micro converters feature wide input voltage ranges, remote sense, enhanced output programmability, and low standby dissipation. Modules can be paralleled for high power or for true redundant operation. Five temperature grades (down to -55ºC operation and -65ºC storage), three baseplate styles, and four pin types provide a maximum of cost effective flexibility.

To see the full range of available pre-defined dc-dc power supply modules, look the online product matrix.

And if you don't find exactly what you want amongst the pre-defined products, you can use our online Custom Module Design System (CMDS), where you can enter your design parameters (including input voltage range, output voltage set point, output power and environmental grade) and mechanical variations (including package size, baseplate and pin options). Using these specifications, CMDS will test the feasibility of the design in real time, usually less than 30 seconds. If feasible, CMDS will provide a unique part number and unit price.

Wide range trimming with variable loads

Typical preload current for a given output voltage

Vicor Maxi, Mini and Micro modules can be programmed from 10 to 110% of their nominal output voltage. If the system always has a sufficient minimum load, trimming down is easily accomplished with a small low power resistor or potentiometer.

With a wide trim range, a preload is often needed to maintain a stable trimmed voltage, especially at light loads. A minimum load is frequently required, typically when the output is programmed below 75% of nominal, but it is always required if it is trimmed below 25%.

Click here, you will find an article that explores this topic further and presents two simple preload circuits. These circuits automatically turn on when required and vary in value according to the load on the system.

High Definition Display Unit

The LED backlighting Panel for a large format high definition display, used for high-end imaging application, is powered by V•I Chip.

The high brightness white LEDs requires a 4VDC power supply in very small package size. Our customer came up with an architecture based on the Vicor BCM, of which distributed 48Volts bus then stepped it down to 4V at 200A locally on each board to power the LEDs.

Each LED in the backlight is individually addressable so the light levels can be changed dynamically frame by frame and spacially microregion by microregion.

The 48V to 4V BCM (Bus Converter Module) is one of Vicor's new Factorized Power Architecture family of VI Chips. It is a high efficiency (>94%), narrow input range Sine Amplitude Converter- a new class of DC-DC converter topologies- that may be used to power non-isolated POL converters or as an independent source.

Vicor Product Catalog - A complete fold-out overview of all the products to enable you to propose the best Vicor solution.

Quality Center - Here you can create a custom quality report or take a 'virtual tour' of Vicor's 230,000sq. ft factory, showing the key stages in the manufacture of our products.

Vicor Factory Tour CD - The CD shows a virtual tour of our 230,000sq. ft factory and walk through every step of our quality process.

Mike McNamara, who has been with Vicor since 1995, is Vice President of Quality. Mike heads up a highly experienced team of 30 quality experts. They are responsible for ensuring exacting standards at every step of the manufacturing process, all the way through from vendor quality to finished product and follow-on customer support and service.

Recently, Mike's team has been responsible for the smooth introduction and full on time implementation of the European Union's RoHS directive. The approach Vicor has taken has proven to be customer-friendly by offering both RoHS and non-RoHS products to our customers worldwide. To support this important transition, Vicor has created an information pack that provides customers with key details to facilitate their acquisition of new RoHS products.

Want to win a 512MB USB!

Pls direct your answers to vicorhk@vicr.com with 'Quiz6' as the subject no later than April 1st. All entrants submitted the correct answers will be entered into a prize draw to win one of 10 USBs.

**The Quiz is not open to Vicor employees or distributors**

(1) Which of the following are the advantages of using V•I Chip products?
a) high efficiency
b) high power density
c) cost effective
d) (a) & (b)
e) (a) & (b) & (c)

(2) Use Vicor online calculator to determine values of Rd, Ru as shown in below diagram, for trimming a 28V output module V24A28C400BL operating at 19-30V range. Note potentiometer Pot shown in the diagram is pre-defined as 1K.

Output : 19-30V

Rd = __________

Ru = __________