/> Benefiting from Ericsson's firmware-specific and dynamic dead-time optimization, the BMR454 0002/004 has a typical efficiency of 94% at 50% load and 93.5% at 100% load. Thanks to digitally controlled dead-time optimization combined with a highly efficient power-train, the BMR454 0002/004's flat efficiency curve reduces power losses to an absolute minimum, making it possible to pack as much power into an eight-brick format, as would normally only be possible in a quarter-brick module.

In addition to lower power consumption, the PMBus interface makes it possible to monitor and control DC/DC converter parameters, and to forward operational information such as output-voltage and current, power-status, temperature and many other parameters making it possible for system architects to integrate the converters into their global energy management monitoring systems and optimize energy consumption down to single board level.

Factors driving the demand for this type of product are the need for increased performance levels embracing lower power consumption, reduced heat generated by power conversion stages, reduced environmental impact and total cost of ownership, and forthcoming regulations requiring energy data measurement.

Ericsson's BMR454 0002/004 delivers 38A at 5V, or a maximum output power of 190W across its operational range of 36V to 75V.

To minimize power losses at application level, through the PMBus the output voltage can be dynamically widely adjusted in the range of 3.0 to 6.7V, accommodating intermediate bus voltages to the most optimized condition required by point-of-load, or FPGA, ASIC and others, without unwanted energy losses in the conversion process.

For fixed voltage applications, the BMR454 0002/004's output voltage can be set externally by an additional resistor, and a pre-trimmed 3.3V output version, BMR454 0002/003 is also available. This version delivers 3.3V/40A, 132W.

Offering a power density figure of more than 14W/cm2 (93W/in2), the BMR454 is pin compatible with the quarter-brick BMR453 (5V output version coming soon), making it simple for designers to upgrade to higher power when upgrading boards with new functionalities.

The vast majority of applications powered by intermediate bus voltages are in the sub 5V region, and from the very beginning, the ideal intermediate bus voltage has always been debated. From experience gained over the past five years of applications, it has become apparent that optimizing the bus voltage to match load requirement results in lower power losses, reducing energy consumption and heat dissipated. Said Patrick Le Fèvre, Director of Marketing and Communication. Complementing the original BMR454 which was designed to power 8.1V to 13.2V intermediate bus systems, the BMR454 0002/004 now makes it possible for systems architects to access the most efficient power-conversion solution to power 5V bus applications with the flexibility to adjust the bus voltage from 3.3V to 6.7V.

The most important application areas for the BMR454 0002/004 are 48V Information and Communication Technology applications such as radio base stations, servers, routers, and also a broad range of systems powered by 48V DC migrating to a 5V intermediate bus voltage, or straightforward conversion from 48V system bus voltage to load, eliminating an unnecessary point-of-load device in the conversion chain.

To ease BMR454 0002/004 evaluation and pre-configuration, an evaluation kit embedding a USB-to-PMBus interface, heavy-duty input and output sockets, with room for three digitally controlled 3E point-of-load units, and 3E Silver Edition software is also available.