Vicor’s Factorized Power Architecture separates, or ‘factorizes’, regulation and voltage transformation functions into flexible, high performance building blocks. PRM modules accept an unregulated input voltage and produce a regulated output; VI Chip VTM Current Multipliers provide isolation and voltage and current transformation. Used together, they offer the industry’s highest density and efficiency in converting an unregulated 48V bus to the low voltages – as low as 0.5 VDC – required by contemporary electronics. The architectural flexibility and performance advantages of FPA enable the creation of power distribution and conversion systems in less space, with minimal complexity and with significantly less power loss than conventional power conversion architectures.
Incorporating an advanced version of Vicor’s proprietary high frequency ZVS buck-boost technology, the new PRM modules can deliver up to 500 Watts at over 97% efficiency, at unprecedented power densities of up to 1,700 W/in3 (103 W/cm3). Models are available in both full-chip and half-chip packages, with input voltage ranges of both 36-75V and 38-55V, and can generate an isolated 0.5 V to 55 VDC output when used with VTM current multipliers. Customers can configure operation in any of three selectable modes of regulation – adaptive loop, local loop and remote sense operation – to ensure voltage accuracy at the point of load in their application.
“The superior power density, efficiency and design flexibility of Factorized Power Architecture enables system designers to realize their aggressive design goals,” said Stephen Oliver, VP of VI Chip product line, Vicor. “Server and telecom systems built upon the FPA framework using our new PRM regulators provide significant energy cost savings while reducing the overall system footprint.”