Murata Manufacturing has become the newest member of the Point-of-Load Alliance (POLA), a group that promotes multisourcing of pin-compatible, nonisolated, point-of-load power modules. Existing members of POLA include Texas Instruments, Emerson's Astec Power, Artesyn Technologies and Ericsson Power Modules. Murata will offer telecom and data communications power supply designers pin-compatible footprints that provide the same functionality and form factors as products produced by other members of POLA.
POLA plug-in power modules, available today in volume production, are based on the PTHxx series with Auto-Track sequencing, introduced by TI in 2003. Murata’s plug-in modules are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2005.
“In the Japanese communication-infrastructure market, Murata’s isolated power converters continue to maintain high market share because of our unique, state-of-the-art circuit design and module structure. However, a wider variety of products is required because of the recent popularity of distributed power architectures,” said Harufumi Mandai, vice president, Module Unit of Murata. “Therefore, we believe it is very appropriate to participate in POLA, which will let the market know our name and technologies. This also opens the market for Murata’s isolated power converters by having products based on the POLA market standard.”
To date, POLA companies have manufactured and introduced more than 70 products with the same electrical designs to ensure full interoperability and true second sourcing.
For more information, visit www.murata.com.