Page 26 - PEN eBook July 2023

Semiconductors

DC-to-DC CONVERTER EVALUATION

The system integration provided by the EPC2310x family enables the design of high-efficiency and
high-power–density DC-to-DC converters, including hard-switched topologies. The common QFN

package for all family members, with compatible pinout and footprint, provides multiple design
choices for optimum performance across a wide range of operating conditions and cost targets. For
simple evaluation of each product, EPC offers dedicated development boards—EPC90147, EPC90151
and EPC90152—with the critical components needed to test them in most existing converter
topologies. Figure 2 shows three examples comparing efficiency and power losses in 48-V to 12-V
power-conversion and USB-PD applications tested using the development boards.

The left graph compares the three ePower Stages in a 48-V to 12-V buck converter switching at
500 kHz, with a 2.2-µH inductor (IHTH1125KZEB2R2M5A). In this application, the high inductor

current ripple favors the lowest-on-resistance member of the family, EPC23102, with efficiencies
exceeding 96% up to 240 W of output power. The same three products are also compared in the
center graph in a 12-V to 48-V boost converter operating at 2 MHz with a small and low-profile 1-µH
inductor (PA5405.102NLT). The results highlight the performance advantage of the smallest member
of the family, EPC23104, in a switching-loss–dominated application.

The right graph shows the difference between EPC23103 and EPC23104 in a 28-V to 12.3-V buck

converter suitable for USB-PD, switching at 1.8 MHz using a 1-µH inductor (PIMB103E-1R0MHU). Both
parts greatly exceed 96% efficiency, with EPC23104 outperforming EPC23103 until approximately
140-W output power. In this case, adding a heatsink and/or some forced-air cooling would enable
higher output powers, favoring the EPC23103 beyond 140-W output power.

Figure 2: Experimental results of applications using EPC23102, EPC23103 and EPC23104 in development boards
EPC90147, EPC90151 and EPC90152, respectively

26 JULY 2023 | www.powerelectronicsnews.com