Vicor Introduces 650W Quarter-Brick Bus Converters With 98% Peak Efficiency

Vicor Corporation (NASDAQ: VICR) has announced quarter-brick modules in its IBC048 series of VI BRICK™ Bus Converters. Available as drop-in upgrades for industry standard 5:1 and 4:1 converters, the new quarter-bricks achieve up to 98% efficiency, delivering up to 650W at 9.6V or 12V from a nominal 48V within a 38V to 55V input range. The new modules expand upon the capabilities of recently announced IBC048 eighth-brick modules with 300W and 500W power ratings. IBC048 series modules, using Vicor's Sine Amplitude Converter™ topology, are pin-compatible with, technologically superior to, and offer higher performance than industry standard "square wave" bus converters, which are fundamentally limited by switching losses to low operating frequencies, low power densities and low bandwidth. The new VI BRICK Bus Converters utilize the same Vicor patented ZCS/ZVS resonant converter technology that powers V.I Chips™ in high performance Factorized Power Architecture™ applications. Switching at approximately 10 times the frequency of square wave converters, IBC048 modules cut transient response time by a factor of 10, eliminating the need for external bulk capacitors. Superior power density and conversion efficiency enable competitive advantages for OEMs seeking to maximize performance across a range of applications, including computing, data storage, networking and Power-over-Ethernet. "Vicor stands ready now to support customers with cost-effective, high performance bus converter products in industry standard, pin compatible formats," said Robert Marchetti, Senior Manager of Product Marketing for Vicor's Brick Business Unit. "The performance of the IBC048 series is indicative of the benefits of V.I Chip technology. Serving the near-term needs of customers whose applications require bus converters and synch-buck regulators underscores the breadth of our capability to address power system requirements from the wall plug to the Point Of Load with advanced Factorized Power Architecture products, including VTM™ current multipliers and other flexible, modular power system components." Priced at less than $0.12 per Watt in OEM quantities, IBC048 modules are a cost-effective, high performance alternative to obsolete bus converters and DC-DC converters dissipating twice as much heat and taking up a larger volume obstructing air flow. Samples of IBC048-series bus converters are available from stock. For datasheets and additional information on Vicor DC-DC and AC-DC power products, please visit the Vicor website at www.vicorpower.com. To order, contact Vicor Customer Service at 00 800 8426 7000 or e-mail custserv@vicr.com.