Power: First AdvancedTCA Power Modules Hit The Street

One sign that AdvancedTCA, the telecom industry's open standard for equipment manufacturers, is gaining traction is the announcement of the first power-input module for AdvancedTCA boards. The PIM200 modules incorporate all of the power-management features required by the AdvancedTCA PICMG 3.0 specification. They're rated for 200 W of maximum output power and an input voltage range of ­38 to ­75 V dc, suitable for both ­48- and ­60-V dc distribution. They also provide a charging current at 72 V dc for external holdup/energy storage bulk capacitors. Efficiency is 97% at ­48 V dc. The PIM200 modules cost $41.20 in 1000-unit quantities.