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Flex Power Modules’ New Point-Of-Load Regulator Aims to Pack Power, Save PCB Space

November 08, 2019 by Gary Elinoff

The BMR4615001/001’s input ranges from 4.5 to 14 volts, while its output ranges from 0.6 to 3.3 volts.

Flex Power Modules is responding to the call for more energy-efficient PoL regulators without taking up more PCB space. 

The BMR4615001/001 is a new variant of the BMR461 series of digital point-of-load (PoL) regulators. The company claims a typical power efficiency of 96% for the series as a whole. This is at a realistic 80% load with 12 volts input and 3.3 volts output.

 

BMR4615001/001

The BMR461 series from Flex Power Modules

 

The new module works from an input voltage that can range from anywhere between 4.5 to 14 volts. The output power can be as high as 50 watts, and the maximum output current can be up to 15 amps.

The output voltage is adjustable within 0.6–3.3 volts. At 3.3 volts specifically, the BMR4615001/001 can deliver 15 amps. This represents a 25% improvement over the 12 amps available from any of the earlier members of the BMR461 series.

Flex Power Modules hopes that the new module will enable greater design flexibility for a number of applications, including wireless and fixed telecom infrastructures, network routers and datacenters, process automation, and other Industry 4.0 solutions.

 

More Power in the Same Compact Package

The BMR4615001/001 was conceived in response to customer demands for ever more power despite limited board space.

The company’s response was to pack an extra 25% of power into the same 12.2 x 12.2 x 8.0mm (0.48 x 0.48 x 0.315in) package of earlier members of the BMR461 series.

Olle Hellgren, Director of Product Management and Business Development at Flex Power Modules, explains, “Our customers are telling us they have increased current requirements, including for the I/O and core voltages for FPGAs, ASICs, and processors, and they are also looking for higher power density. The new regulator meets these demands, and builds on the success of our familiar, reliable BMR461 series.”
 

Design Specifics

The BMR4615001/001 can be configured, monitored, and controlled using the industry-standard digital PMBus. The device’s input idling power is 0.8 watts maximum, and input standby power is 0.25 watts.

The switching speed is 600 kHz. However, it can be configured through the PMBus to anywhere between 300 kHz and 1 MHz.

 

Data Specs for BMR4615001/001

 

The BMR4615001/001, along with the previous members of the BMR461 series, are documented in the series’ datasheet. It conforms to the safety standards enumerated in IEC/EN/UL 62368-1.

With an exceptional MTBF of 24 million hours, reliability is unusually high for a power component with such compact dimensions.

 

Around the Industry

Today, the needs for specific voltage levels at various locations within a PCB’s real estate are generally being met by PoL converters.

Centrally located power supplies, with the long, troublesome power buses that they’d require, are largely being eschewed by modern engineers. As such, there are many entrants in this highly active field.

The µPOL series of PoL converters from TDK measure at a tiny 3.3 x 3.3 x 1.5 mm. Series members FS1306, FS1404, and FS1403 can deliver 6, 4 and 3 amps output, respectively.
Maxim Integrated’s MAX20073 switches at 2.2 MHz and can deliver up to 3 amps. Output voltages can range from 0.5 to 3.8 volts.

 


 

What are some ways that you make the most of your circuit board space? Share your ideas in the comments below.