Powerquark announced the launch of PQ812C0, a high-current point-of-load (POL) power supply designed for the industrial market and capable of parallel operation. This solution delivers high efficiency and superior transient performance for applications such as edge computing SoCs, communications equipment, servers, and switches. PQ812C0, which measures just 4mm*5mm, supports a PMBus interface, delivers up to 30A per chip, and can be scaled by paralleling up to eight modules to achieve high-current applications of up to 240A.
POL Requirements in Industrial Power Applications
As a DC-DC buck converter positioned close to the load, POLs are widely used in applications like servers, telecommunications and network infrastructure. In these scenarios, a distributed power architecture is typically employed, where a 12V bus voltage is distributed to multiple POL voltage rails to power chips and sub-circuits. These voltage rails impose stringent demands on sequencing, accuracy, margining, and monitoring capabilities, with current requirements that can reach hundreds of amperes. The core advantages of a POL solution include reduced transmission losses, improved power efficiency, and enhanced power supply robustness at the system design level for industrial equipment. Furthermore, POL modules are often designed to be compact and support parallel operation of multiple units, enabling easy scaling of current capacity to meet the demands of high-power loads.
PMBus Interface Support for Flexible Design
In complex industrial systems, the number of POL voltage rails can exceed 50, each with potentially different voltage, sequencing, and current requirements for various processors or ASICs. To enable more flexible power rail management, PMBus – a standardized, convenient digital interface – is used to simplify configuration, sequencing, and power monitoring.
PQ812C0 supports a PMBus interface with clock frequencies up to 1MHz and is compatible with the latest PMBus 1.3.1 protocol. Users can flexibly configure the following parameters via PMBus:
Output voltage (0.4V-5.5V)
Switching frequency (400kHz/600kHz/800kHz/1MHz)
Operating mode (FCCM or Pulse-Skipping Mode)
Output current limit threshold
Loop compensation
Additionally, PQ812C0 can monitor input voltage, output voltage and current, and junction temperature in real time. It incorporates a range of protection features – including input undervoltage protection, output undervoltage/overvoltage protection, output current limit protection, and overtemperature protection – and provides PG and PMB_ALT# pins for fault management and reporting, ensuring system reliability in industrial applications.
Excellent Transient Performance with Parallel Multiphase Output
In high-current complex systems, load current variations can cause significant disturbances. Furthermore, interference between the control loops of different phases may increase power losses and affect system stability. To enhance system transient performance, pq812C0 leverages Powerquark's proprietary VCARM-COT™ (Voltage Control Adaptive Ramp for Multiphase – Constant On Time) technology. This precisely controls the output current across different phases, preventing abrupt current changes and ensuring stable, reliable operation in industrial systems. The VCARM-COT™ technology also facilitates more flexible system control, provides higher noise margin, and allows the system to transition smoothly between PFM and CCM modes.
With integrated low RDS MOSFETS (4.0mΩ/1.4mΩ), PQ812C0 delivers a high-efficiency, high-transient-performance 30A power management solution on a single chip. When an external VBIAS is provided, it supports a wide input voltage range of 2.75V-16V; without VBIAS, the supported range is 4.5V-16V. The output voltage is adjustable from 0.4V to 5.5V.
PQ812C0 can be easily scaled by paralleling up to eight modules to achieve high-current applications of up to 240A, meeting the demanding current requirements of emerging applications like edge computing. The diagram below illustrates a two-phase PQ812C0 parallel circuit:
