Infineon Technologies launched its 48 Volt smart eFuse family and a reference board for hot-swap controllers for 400 and 800V power architectures in AI data centres. This enables developers to design a reliable, robust and scalable solution to protect and monitor energy flow.
With the expansion of its power protection portfolio Infineon supports the growing requirements for power path protection solutions for current and future high-power AI server ecosystems ranging from 48V to +/-400V and 800V. Smart eFuses as well as the hot-swap controller technology are essential in high-performance computing environments to enable monitoring, reduce disruptions, and maximise server uptime which becomes increasingly important to minimise the total-cost-of-ownership (TCO).
“To ensure high reliability, availability, density, and design simplicity in AI data centres, advanced power protection solutions such as eFuse and hot-swap controller functionality are vital, as downtime is directly impacting revenue, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency,” says Magdalene Boebel, Senior Vice President and Business Line Head of Power System IC at Infineon. “With Infineon’s comprehensive portfolio of power protection solutions, system designers can confidently develop next-generation AI data centres with the highest levels of protection, enabling them to maximise server uptime and ensure optimal performance.”
Introducing a family of smart eFuse ICs optimised for 48 V
Infineon’s eFuse ICs XDP730, XDP720, and XDP721/22 are a critical component in 48 V power delivery systems of current AI data centre. The eFuses are designed to protect against overcurrent and other power-related faults ensuring a reliable and efficient power flow from grid to core. They integrate a range of products, including a digital protection controller, an OptiMOS FET, a gate driver, and a current sensor. eFuses enable hot swapping, the ability to connect or disconnect IT and power equipment to the DC bus while the system is still powered on and operating. They react extremely fast to overcurrent or short-circuit events, provide protection for the equipment and real-time telemetry data such as voltage, current, energy, and power as well as faults and anomalies.
Hot-swap controller reference design for 400 and 800V
In higher voltage systems of 400 and 800V hot-swapping becomes more difficult because of its high energy demand. That is why Infineon has launched the REF_XDP701_4800 hot-swap controller reference design optimised for future 400 / 800V rack architectures. The reference design is based on its market and application proven XDP hot-swap controller – a key safety component in future AI data centre power delivery systems. Among all high voltage power technologies suitable for operation on a high-voltage DC bus, the 1200-V-rated CoolSiC JFET provides the best combination of RDSon*A figure of merit and robustness to operate as hot-swap device.
In combination with Infineon’s 1200V SiC JFET technology the digital hot-swap controller allows to control the device in a linear mode which lets the power system run safely and reliable without being damaged or degraded in case of over voltage events. The simplified design and reduced component count of Infineon’s hot-swap controllers allow for efficient power delivery and reduced downtime in AI data centres. The new Infineon hot-swap controller reference board enables designers to program the optimal trajectory for controlling the inrush current based on the device’s SOA (Safe Operating Area), delivering a nominal Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 12 kW.
By maximising server uptime and reducing the risk of power-related failures, Infineon’s power and protection solutions help AI data centre operators to maximise service up-time, lower their operational expenses and extend the lifespan of their equipment in a more sustainable AI ecosystem. With a strong partnership network, Infineon collaborates closely with leading customers to develop and deploy these solutions, ensuring that they meet the specific needs of AI data centres.
