DC/DC converter helps reduce energy consumption

Ericsson Power Modules has introduced three PKD-E products: the PKD4218LE SI providing 1.2V at 20A, the PKD4218HE SI providing 1.5V at 14A, and the 3.3V at 15A-rated PKD4510E SI. The products are aimed at existing PKD customers seeking cost-optimization programs, low building height applications requiring surface-mount DC/DC modules, and applications requiring fast time-to-market and a reliable power source.

Mostly targeting the telecom and datacom (router, servers, interface) industries, the PKD-E series also addresses a wide range of applications – such as process control – that use 48V distributed power architectures. The product is chiefly driven by cost-reduction programs, and by customers concerned with reducing the overall energy consumption and environmental impact of their businesses.
Using the single-side components mounting and board-to-board techniques, PKD-E offers a cost saving of 15-20 percent compared to the original PKD.

Combining the proven synchronous rectification topology and identical components used in the original PKD and PKM-E series, the PKD-E has a high efficiency that reduces heat and component stress. This results in an MTBF greater than 1.7 million hours.

Because PKD-E is fully interoperable (mechanically and electrically) with the original PKD, customers already using PKD can easily implement PKD-E when developing new applications or reducing cost on existing systems.

For versatility, PKD-E’s low profile of just 7.7mm enables its use in compact systems. The PKD-E series products comply with the European RoHS directive and meet the requirements of high temperature, lead-free, and reflow soldering processes.

PKD-E is the latest incarnation of an innovative and market-leading platform developed in 2000 in response to high volume demand for mid-power surface mount products and RoHS legislation. Based on a ceramic substrate and laser-welded lead frame, the original PKD released in 2001 was the first lead-free DC/DC converter product in the world.

The board-to-board technology introduced by Ericsson Power Modules in the BMP (board-mounted product) segment is an important step when it is necessary to comply with cost efficiency without compromising other parameters.

By simplifying the building practice, and using lower thermodynamic sub-assemblies, the PKD-E requires less energy during its manufacturing process and when being assembled into the customer’s host equipment.

It is not always possible to accommodate full functionality on one side of a board. But when it is possible, the board-to-board technique is the best-optimized platform for reducing cost and overall energy consumption during manufacturing and final assembly. Ericsson Power Modules is the first company in the board-mounted power industry to use such technology in low and mid-power DC/DC converters.