Power product achieves up to 95% peak efficiency

International Rectifier (IR) introduced the IR3550, the first in a family of integrated PowIRstage products that deliver higher efficiency and better thermal performance than traditional solutions, along with a very small footprint, while simplifying the dc-dc converter design for high-performance servers, storage, and communication systems.

The 60-A rated IR3550 simplifies the design and implementation of high- current, high-performance multiphase buck regulators. The resulting system solution helps enable fewer phases and lower cost compared to alternative solutions.

The new PowIRstage product integrates a high-performance synchronous buck gate driver, IR’s latest generation control and synchronous MOSFETs featuring extremely low on-state resistance (RDS(on)) and gate charge, and a Schottky diode into a high density, low profile 6 x 6 x 0.9 mm PQFN package. The IR3550 offers superior performance compared to alternative power stage solutions, by achieving up to a 3% improvement in electrical efficiency to help reduce overall power losses and heat generation in the system, thereby reducing dependency on complex thermal management techniques and associated costs as well as improving reliability.

The IR3550 is compatible with most analog and digital controllers available today, providing designers the flexibility to select the PWM controller of preference. The PowIRstage solution features an integrated current sense amplifier that achieves superior accuracy and signal-to-noise ratios compared to alternate controller-based inductor DCR sensing techniques. Additionally, the device achieves industry best peak and Thermal Design Current (TDC) electrical efficiencies, with up to 95% peak efficiency. The high switching frequency capability of the IR3550 allows for the miniaturization of output inductors, while input and output capacitors help reduce overall solution size.

For more information, contact International Rectifier, 233 Kansas St., El Segundo, CA 90245. Phone: (310) 252-7105.