Scalable power modules from digital to 5G
Flex Power Modules designs and manufactures a wide range of isolated DC/DC converters and non-isolated Point of Load (PoL) converters intended primarily, although not exclusively, for the Information and Communications Technology market, including Servers and High-Performance Computing applications. We also offer specialized power module solutions suitable for other markets including RFPA, Industrial & Railway.
Our product portfolio also includes front end Power Interface Modules (PIM) for ATCA and other applications, as well as leading edge engineering design tools, which includes the Flex Power Designer software, which helps support the configuration and control of a wide range of Digital DC/DC Intermediate Bus Converters and Digital PoL converters.
The technology-driven portfolio features ultra-high efficiencies up to 97%, and extremely high reliability, with MTBF figures of up to 50Mhrs. The digital product portfolio offers extensive customer configuration and control capabilities using the open-standard PMBus communication protocol.
Key features include:
- Nominal Input bus voltages of 3.3V, 5V, 12V, 24V, 48V, 53/54V, 72V, 96V and 110V
- Power levels per module from 1W to 1.3kW
- Output currents from 2A to 120A in single modules (offering solutions up to 480A in total)
- Output voltages from 0.5V to 55V
New products and solutions are constantly in development – if you don’t see exactly what you need, please contact us.
Flex Power Designer Software
Sketch, simulate, configure and monitor your digital power system with the Flex Power Designer software.
Product Information
Design Support Documentation
AN323 - Input Filter Design - 3E POL Regulators
The 3E Digital products can be configured, controlled and monitored through a digital serial interface using the PMBus™ power management protocol. This application note provides information on how to design input filters for the 3E POL regulators.
AN322 - In-System Programming Guide – 3E Series Power Modules
This application note provides information on communicating with Flex 3E Series Digital Power Modules while they are already placed “in-system”. Specifically, we discuss what changes are available while the power output is enabled, referred to as Operation Changes. We also guide through designing your power system to support in-system configuration updates - allowing you to potentially configure parts without the need of ordering pre-configured products or using a contract manufacturer.
AN321 - Output Filter Impedance Design - 3E POL Regulators
The 3E Digital products can be configured, controlled and monitored through a digital serial interface using the PMBus™ power management protocol. This application note provides information on how to design the output filter impedance of 3E POL regulators.
AN320 - Snapshot Parameter Capture – 3E PoL Regulators
The snapshot function enables the user to read comprehensive information of device status and parameters via a single PMBus read transaction. The snapshot function also makes it possible to automatically capture the same parametric data in response to a pending fault, and store that data to Non-volatile Memory (NVM). This can be of great value when making a root cause analysis of a fault situation.
AN319 - Repair and Rework Recommendations for Flex Power Modules
In case that a module needs to be replaced on the hosting board, recommended processes and guidelines described in this section should be applied. Instructions are listed after fundamental principles and recommendations for rework processes for power modules.
AN318 - Parallel Operation - PKM 4817LNH
The PKM 4817LNH offers passive load sharing allowing multiple products to be connected in parallel. This feature is typically used to increase power output on the same rail, providing redundancy against a product failure, or distribute thermal heat over a larger board area. Paralleling may also aid in streamlining your Bill of Materials by replacing the need for separate products with higher power requirements.
AN317 - LGA Design and Assembly Considerations
LGA (Land Grid Array) is a connection method with a grid of contact pads on the connection side of the PCB. The grid of contacts consists of pads without any pre-deposit of solder. Interconnection between an LGA module and a connecting PCB is achieved by printing solder paste on the connecting PCB which will melt during the reflow process and create a solder interconnection between the module and connecting PCB.
AN314 - First and Second Generation 3E POL Regulators - A Comparison
This document provides an overview of the differences and compatibility between the first and second generation of 3E digital point-of-load (POL) regulators. This useful information applies both when considering the choice of regulator for a new design and when updating BMR450/451 with BMR462/463/464 in an existing design.
AN310 - Sequencing Configuration – 3E POL Regulators
The 3E Digital products can be configured, controlled and monitored through a digital serial interface using the PMBus™ power management protocol. This application note provides information on different methods for sequencing of the 3E POL regulators.
AN309 - Synchronization and Phase Spreading - 3E POL Regulators
In systems with multiple switching products, the switching phase between products may need a delay to reduce undesired effects in the system. This application note provides information on how to synchronize the 3E POL regulators and use phase spreading for optimized performance.
AN308 - Fault Spreading - 3E PoL Regulators
With the rising complexity and robustness requirements of many systems, the ability to monitor and control the power distribution has become increasingly more critical. This application note provides an introduction to the serial bus interface of the 3E Digital products and accessing the 3E products using a general purpose microcontroller.
AN307 - Parallel Operation with Load Sharing - 3E POL Regulators
The 3E Digital products can be configured, controlled and monitored through a digital serial interface using the PMBus™ power management protocol.
This application note provides information on how to parallel two or more 3E POL regulators.
AN306 - Optimizing Load Transient Response For ID & NLR Control Loops – 3E Series Power Modules
This application note provides information on optimizing load transient response performance on Flex 3E Series Digital Power Modules. This app note focuses on Point of Load products that use a digital PID control loop with an additional ‘Non-linear Response’ feature.
AN304 - Microcontroller Programming for 3E Digital Products
This application note provides an introduction to the serial bus interface of the 3E Digital products and accessing the 3E products using a general purpose microcontroller.
AN302 - PMBus Command Set - 3E Series Power Modules
Flex’s 3E Series modules are designed with state-of-the-art digital controllers. This provides the user with superior electrical performance and a broad capability to configure,
control and monitor the products in the engineering lab, in the factory, and in the field.
AN206 - Set-Up and Design of the Hold-Up Function with PIM4300
Telecom systems and many other applications require very low ohmic power distribution. To handle short circuits and other power supply interruptions, a hold-up function is included on the majority of the boards in a system.
DN030 - Powering FPGAs Using Digitally Controlled Point of Load Converters
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) require several high quality power supply lines. Designers experience several challenges when designing FPGA power solutions which are elaborated in this design document. All of these challenges are much easier to accommodate when using digital power technology. Moreover, using digitally-controlled DC/DC converters dramatically reduces the time taken to design the FPGA’s power supply system.
DN029 - Conducted EMC Filters for Flex Board Mounted Power Supplies
This design note is intended to alleviate confusion regarding EMC requirements by showing how Flex board mounted power supplies, BMPS, can be easily integrated into a wide range of electronic systems while meeting the system level EMC requirements.
DN028 - Thermal Characterization of Board Mounted Power Supplies in Sealed Box Applications
This design note describes the thermal performance of board mounted power supplies when used in applications with no or limited convection cooling. In these conditions, often referred to as ‘sealed box’ applications, the main part of the power losses is dissipated by conduction through the power supply’s baseplate coupled to a large thermal mass (cold wall).
DN027 - Test Methods for DC/DC Power Modules
This design note addresses techniques and considerations for accomplishing such testing, and should be used in conjunction with the Technical Specification for the particular product being evaluated as well as other Flex design notes that will be referenced. Contents include precautions that should be kept in mind when testing DC/DC power modules, the appropriate test setup and test equipment, and a procedural outline for performing many of the most common types of tests. By following the guidelines presented here, valid test results that may be compared to the parameters listed in the product Technical Specification will be obtained.
DN025 - Forced Air Cooling of DC/DC Power Modules at High Altitude
Due to lower air density at higher elevations, the convective heat transfer capabilities of air can vary depending on elevation. For uncontrolled environment this adverse effect is offset by a lower ambient temperature at higher elevations. This Design Note will focus on the relationship between air convective heat transfer and elevation. This should be considered within the context of cooling DC/DC converters and their associated thermal derating curves.
DN024 - DC/DC Power Modules Basics
This design note covers basic considerations for the use of on-board switch mode DC/DC power modules, also commonly known as BMPS, i.e. board mounted power supplies.
DN023 - Selection of Architecture for Systems Using Bus Converters and POL Converters
Most telecom and datacom systems now contain integrated high performance processors, ASICs and FPGAs. These systems are characterized by high levels of current demand at multiple low supply voltages, tight regulation requirements, large and fast dynamic currents. This environment leads to the utilization of some type of distributed power architecture (DPA) to supply operating voltages to these circuits rather than using centralized power architecture.
DN022 - Output Ripple and Noise Measurement Methods for Flex Power Modules
There is no industry-wide standard for measuring output ripple and noise in DC/DC converters. The methods and test setups vary from supplier to supplier, which sometimes can cause confusion. Flex uses methods that give meaningful and reproducible results to the user, but the test methods and assumptions used are not the same for all series of Flex products due to the wide range of power levels and end-use applications.
DN021 - On/Off Control Using the Remote Control (RC) pin on Flex Power Modules
Most DC/DC converters throughout the industry offer some type of remote control function to enable the converter to be turned on or off by means of an external control signal. While some degree of standardization exists between converter suppliers, the standardization is far from complete.
DN019 - Thermal Characterization of Flex Power Modules
The latest power modules feature extremely compact form factors and high efficiency operation. The high packaging density is accomplished by using materials with excellent thermal properties in conjunction with extensive attention to the details of thermal design.
DN015 - 48V On/Off Control Using Remote Control (RC) Pin
In some applications it is necessary to have a precise turn on and turn off level. The example used in this note is useful for setting turn on and turn off in the range of 36-75 V.
DN014 - Voltage Monitor Circuit Configuration
In some applications it is necessary to monitor the output voltages and shut down all converters if any of these fails. The examples in this design note shows how to monitor two outputs.
DN013 - On/Off Control Using Remote Control (RC) Pin
In some applications it is necessary to have a precise turn on and turn off level.
DN012 - Output Overvoltage Protection with Latching Function
This design note shows how to use the Remote Control (RC) pin of an Flex DC/DC power module to stop the operation when there is an over voltage condition.
DN007 - Output Voltage Alarm Circuit
This design note shows one example on how to detect output voltage and provide a status signal by using LED diodes.
DN002 - Reliability Aspects on Power Supplies
As power supplies are the very heart of every electronic equipment, special attention must be paid to their reliability. For other electronics a certain failure mode, at least for a part of the total system, can often be tolerated without serious (critical) after-effects.
TP023 - Non-volatile Memory Reliability in 3E Products
TP022 - Loop Compensation and Decoupling Design with the 'Loop Compensator'
TP021 - Complex Power Relationships Without All The Wires –3E Point Of Load Regulators
TP020 - Verification and Qualification Considerations for Digital Power Modules
TP018 - Safety Requirements for Board-Mounted DC/DC Converters
TP017 - Scalable Footprints Extend Flexibility of Digital Converters
TP016 - Get Ahead with 3E Digital DCDC Converters & PoL Regulators
TP015 - Digital Power Techniques for Flexibility of Board Mounted Power Modules
TP013 - Digital DC/DC PMBus Connect
TP012 - Redundant MicroTCA Power Systems
TP011 - Digitally Controlled Board Mounted Power Converters
TP009 - From Digital Confusion to Digital Conversion
TP007 - Intelligent Energy Management for Improved Efficiency
TP006 - Digital Control in a MicroTCA Power System
TP005 - Performance, Cost and Reliability Considerations in a MicroTCA Power System
TP004 - Digital Control Techniques Enabling Power Density Improvements and Power Management Capabilities
TP003 - Implications of Digital Control and Management for a High Performance Isolated DC/DC Converter
TP002 - Performance Improvements for OEM System Designers
TP001 - Digital Power
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