Vicor Introduces Wide Input Range Brick Bus Converters With 98% Peak Efficiency

ANDOVER, MA--(Marketwire - March 29, 2011) - Vicor Corporation (NASDAQ: VICR) today announced its IBC050 series of wide input range VI BRICK™ Bus Converters. Available as drop-in upgrades for industry standard 5:1 and 4:1 converters, the new eighth and quarter bricks achieve up to 98% efficiency from a 36V to 60V input voltage range at power levels of up to 650W. With its wider input range, the IBC050 series also provides 2,250Vdc isolation from input to output.

The IBC050 series expands upon the 38V to 55V input range of recently announced IBC048 modules. The wider input range complies with ETSI EN300 132-2 for -48V telecom applications requiring 5:1 or 4:1 bus conversion from input voltages as low as 36V and as high as 60V. The higher input-to-output isolation complies with IEEE 802.3 Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) standards. Owing to their low effective output resistances, IBC050 series modules support output bus voltages of 7V to 12V (5:1) or 8.7V to 15V (4:1) over the line and load range. 

IBC050 series modules, using Vicor's Sine Amplitude Converter™ topology, are pin-compatible with, technologically superior to, and offer higher performance than industry standard "square wave" bus converters, which are fundamentally limited by switching losses to low operating frequencies, low power densities and low bandwidth.

The new VI BRICK Bus Converters utilize the same Vicor patented ZCS/ZVS resonant converter technology that powers V•I Chips™ in high performance Factorized Power Architecture™ applications. Switching at approximately 10 times the frequency of square wave converters, IBC050 modules cut transient response time by a factor of 10, eliminating the need for external bulk capacitors. Superior power density and conversion efficiency enable competitive advantages for OEMs seeking to maximize performance across a range of applications, including telecommunications, computing, data storage, networking and Power-over-Ethernet.

"The IBC050 family extends the capability of the Vicor IBC product line by offering a wider input range for telecom applications and higher isolation needed for Power-over-Ethernet," said Robert Marchetti, Senior Manager of Product Marketing for Vicor's Brick Business Unit. "The performance of the IBC050 series is indicative of the benefits of V•I Chip technology. Serving the near-term needs of customers whose applications require bus converters and synch-buck regulators underscores the breadth of our capability to address power system requirements from the wall plug to the Point Of Load with advanced Factorized Power Architecture products, including VTM™ current multipliers and other flexible, modular power system components."

Priced at less than $0.12 per Watt in OEM quantities, IBC050 modules are a cost-effective, high performance alternative to obsolete bus converters and DC-DC converters that dissipate twice as much heat and obstruct air flow with their larger volume. Samples of IBC050-series bus converters are available from stock. 

For datasheets and additional information on Vicor DC-DC and AC-DC power products, please visit the Vicor website at www.vicorpower.com. To order, contact Vicor Customer Service at 800-735-6200 or e-mail custserv@vicr.com.

About Vicor Corporation

Vicor Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets modular power components and complete power systems used primarily by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the communications, computing, defense electronics, industrial control, medical, networking, and test equipment markets.

Factorized Power Architecture, Sine Amplitude Converter, Vicor, V•I Chip, VI BRICK, and VTM are trademarks of Vicor Corporation.

Contact Information:

Technical contact:

Robert Marchetti
Sr. Manager, Product Marketing
978-749-3511