PWM controller for desktop and server applications

The multiphase controller is supported by the company’s latest release of the PowerNavigator graphical user interface, which allows designers to easily use Intersil’s digital power products without writing a line of code. The ISL6388’s patented enhanced adaptive pulse positioning (EAPP) architecture provides outstanding transient response using a linear control loop, avoiding beat frequency issues, and improving transient response over competitive solutions.

Designers need power management solutions that can exceed the power delivery requirements of modern processors, with all of the programming and monitoring capabilities of digital control. Intersil’s ISL6388 provides the best of both worlds with a fast control loop combined with full digital communication and telemetry options to enable ultimate flexibility and customisation. The ISL6388 was designed to enable users to load distinct configurations into each of the eight NVM banks to optimise their power design and increase the speed of development while providing support for multiple designs in production.

The configurability capabilities of the ISL6388 are further enhanced by Intersil’s PowerNavigator GUI, which is an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop, free downloadable interface that provides the flexibility designers need to quickly set up and control any power supply architecture. PowerNavigator's "hardware-free" mode lets users select components prior to hardware development, without design digital risk. The PowerNavigator 5.1 GUI provides access to all commands and setup configurations, including the ability to load predefined configurations for common applications. This enables unprecedented ease of use when coupled with the company’s digital controller solution.

In the computing market, transient performance and efficiency are some of the biggest concerns for designers, especially when fast transients can result in beat frequencies. The ISL6388’s advanced patented EAPP architecture utilises a linear loop, eliminating the setup complexity of competitive solutions while providing greater bandwidth, thus improving system performance and reducing output capacitance. Combined with adjustable auto phase dropping and diode emulation, the ISL6388 can deliver high efficiency across the entire load range.

The ISL6388 is highly integrated, incorporating internal, adjustable compensation and device settings through the PMBus interface to reduce the number of external components. As a result, the ISL6388 can implement a high power six-phase output with a minimal number of external components, reducing board space and BOM cost.

Mark Downing, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure and Industrial Power Products, Intersil, comments: “The introduction of the ISL6388 digitally programmable multiphase controller confirms Intersil’s leadership position in the server and high-end desktop space by providing a fully programmable digital solution with best-in-class transient response. With the ISL6388, our customers can quickly design and configure their core power systems on the fly with the assistance of our easy to use PowerNavigator GUI to reduce costly hardware changes and speed time to market.”

The ISL6388 is available now, priced at $3.98 (USD).