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Primarion Launches New Digital Multi-Phase Power Controller for VR11 Server and Desktop PC Core Power Applications

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 09:00 CST

Four-phase PX3539 Power IC Interfaces with Both Discrete

and Integrated Power Stages to Optimize Design Cost and Space

Requirements for Mainstream Products

Primarion, a mixed signal semiconductor company that provides digital control of power and I/O solutions, today announced the launch of the PX3539, the company's latest VR11 digital multi-phase power controller for core power regulation and intelligent point-of-load (POL) power regulation in server and desktop PC applications.

Based on the recently released five- and six-phase PX3538, the new four-phase PX3539 controller IC is designed to address more mainstream server and high-end desktop applications. Supporting Intel VR10.x and VR11 VID codes, AMD 5-bit and 6-bit VID codes and custom microprocessors, the PX3538 and PX3539 power conversion and power management ICs are priced competitively with existing analog solutions to ensure broad customer access to the value of purely digital solutions for four- to six-phase applications.

"With the significant acceptance of the PX3538 in server applications, we believe this product family takes digital power into the mainstream for high-performance desktop computers." said Ron Van Dell, president and CEO of Primarion. "Because the PX3538 and the PX3539 enable interface with both discrete and integrated power stages, our customers now have the flexibility, performance and low cost options they need for multi-phase core power applications."

Like the PX3538, the PX3539 offers unique dual operation with discrete power stages for lowest-cost designs as well as with integrated power stages for applications requiring the smallest board space. With up to four phases, each capable of up to 2MHz operation, the PX3539 can be used to build DC-DC converters that provide up to 130A with excellent efficiency, low ripple and the lowest component count. The PX3539 also operates on a single +3.3V supply and has a frequency switching range of 100KHz to 2MHz.

Monitoring, control and configuration functions for the PX3539 can be managed over an industry standard I2C-bus serial interface for maximum flexibility in interoperability. Configurations for the PX3539 are easily loaded, edited and saved to the on-chip non-volatile memory (NVM) using Primarion's graphical user interface (GUI). With configurations stored on the IC, the controller can perform real-time adjustments to the designer's previously configured settings to optimize performance accuracy without the delay of accessing outside memory storage. Using other technologies, many of these functions would typically require an external microcontroller.

The PX3539 provides superior loadline accuracy through internal calibration that measures and corrects current sense error sources upon startup. The programmable current sense temperature compensation allows the designer to tailor the response for best loadline accuracy over temperature, helping to reduce component count and solution cost. To further reduce component count, the PX3539 incorporate the same patented Active Transient Response (ATR) technology as the PX3538, allowing the fastest response to transient events for reduced output capacitance.

Key features of the PX3538 and PX3539 digital multi-phase power controllers for core power regulation and intelligent point-of-load (POL) power regulation include:

-- Support for four-, five- or six-phase control -- Support for Intel VR10.x and VR11 VID codes, AMD 5-bit and 6-bit VID codes and custom microprocessors -- Digital temperature sensor compensation -- Active Transient Response (ATR) enables meeting transient requirements with reduced output capacitance -- I2C-bus interface for monitoring, control and configuration -- Internal NVM to store custom configurations with eight programmable active voltage position (AVP) system configurations -- Internal high-precision voltage reference with +/-10mV voltage setpoint accuracy -- Precision digital current sense calibration -- Precise digital current balancing with programmable offsets for thermal balancing -- Digitally programmable loadline and loop compensation -- Differential voltage sense -- Extensive fault detection capability with two user configurable output fault pins (FAULT1, FAULT2) includes: -- Input Under-voltage -- Output Under-/Over-voltage -- High side short -- Per Phase and Total Output Current -- Multiple Internal and External Temperature Limits -- NVM Configuration -- Calibration Range and Time-Out -- Configurable latched fault or autonomous recovery shutdown

The Primarion PX3538 and PX3539 digital power controllers are both available in a RoHS-compliant 7mm-x-7mm 48-lead Micro Lead Frame (MLF) package. The PX3538 is shipping in production volumes to top-tier customers and is available for general sampling. Samples of the PX3539 are also available now and release for full production is expected in January 2006.

Pricing for the PX3538 and the PX3539 starts at US$1.60 and US$1.09, respectively, in quantities of 1,000.

More information about the PX3538 and PX3839 products is available by contacting Primarion at (866) 321-7746 or sales@primarion.com or by visiting the company's Web site at http://www.primarion.com.

About Primarion:

Primarion is a mixed signal integrated circuit company that addresses key inflection points in power and I/O driven by the exploding demand for digital content and information. Primarion's Digital Power ICs are positioned to beat traditional analog power ICs in cost per amp, performance and features with advantages that grow with each new processor generation. Primarion I/O ICs enable digitally controlled optical links for storage, networking and computing. Headquartered in Torrance near Los Angeles, California, the company also has offices in Phoenix, Arizona, and Taipei, Taiwan. Primarion has received venture funding from eminent venture funds and strategic partners such as Accel Partners, Lehman Brothers, APV Technology Partners, W Capital Partners and Intersil. Additional information is available online at http://www.primarion.com.

Source: Business Wire

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