
Hollywood goes clean energy: Vicor power modules power movie sets with ReVolt
ReVolt has developed a better way to power film sets and studio exteriors by providing clean, mobile, and always-on electricity
Switching regulator solutions are offered in various levels of integration, offering a broad spectrum of performance, features, and packaging. They range from open frame discrete solutions to fully integrated modules.
Figure 1. Different levels of Integration in Regulator Solutions
There are numerous tradeoffs to each type of design, but the one that takes the lead in performance vs. cost for the 50W to 100W-type point-of-load design is the SiP-type regulator, especially when combined with a ZVS switching topology. These SiP-based regulators, like our Vicor ZVS regulators, are built on an over-molded substrate, which integrates power FETs, passive components, and predefined compensation components. This packaging approach integrates the majority of the regulator system except for the inductor and input/output capacitors.
With an external inductor, board-level heat dissipation is superior vs. the module approach where heat is concentrated in one location (the inductor can generate 40-50% of the total regulator heat). Without being constrained by package profile limitations external inductor design can be optimized for efficiency. Lower switching losses of the Vicor ZVS topology translate into higher efficiency, lower heat dissipation, and higher density. On the cost side, competitive modules from various IC vendors, including Vicor, typically hold a 1.5x to 3x premium over SiP-based regulators.
Considering that module performance lags vs. SiPs, and they cost more, designers might ask if the modules’ small gains in density are really worth it. At least for the Vicor-based SiP regulators, our density (power delivery vs. x-y board area consumption) is on par with modules, even when including all the required components (the external inductor and input/output capacitors). This is because the modules also require external input/output capacitance. Vicor’s ZVS topology supports high frequency operation (without sacrificing efficiency) and this allows for smaller passives.
Applications vary and hence there is a need for various levels of regulator integration, however, when looking at efficiency, size, and cost, our ZVS regulators set a performance/cost metric that surpasses that of many fully integrated modules. This can be counter intuitive to many designers especially when not aware of the added benefits of a ZVS switching topology regulator.
Related content
Product overview: ZVS buck switching regulators
Hollywood goes clean energy: Vicor power modules power movie sets with ReVolt
ReVolt has developed a better way to power film sets and studio exteriors by providing clean, mobile, and always-on electricity
ReVolt’s carbon-free power platform electrifies movie sets
Film production sets are getting more electrically intensive, and using gensets can lead to engineering constraints and environmental problems
在電動汽車(EV)中將高壓轉換為安全特低電壓(SELV)的 8 大挑戰
汽車與輕型電動車出行領域正在面臨對於更小、更輕的電源解決方案的需求挑戰
問答:Vicor 賦能新一代主動懸架系統
電動汽車不斷進化以支持更高效能、更輕重量和更佳駕乘動態,電源系統設計正被推向新的極限