• Flat efficiency curve provides 1/4 brick performance levels in an 1/8 brick format while reducing power consumption
• Read & write PMBus compliant ready for forthcoming regulations requiring energy data measurement
• Dynamic dead-time optimization and firmware-specific bring unprecedented efficiency level to a 5V output power-module

Optimized for 5V intermediate bus voltages and other applications requiring a tightly regulated 5V supply, Ericsson Power Modules’ BMR454 0002/004 is the latest variant of the 3E* world’s first digitally controlled, PMBus compliant, BMR454 DC/DC module that was launched last year.

Benefiting from Ericsson’s firmware-specific and dynamic dead-time optimization, the BMR454 0002/004 has a typical efficiency of 94% at 50% load and 93.5% at 100% load. Thanks to digitally controlled dead-time optimization combined with a highly efficient power-train, the BMR454 0002/004’s flat efficiency curve reduces power losses to an absolute minimum, making it possible to pack as much power into an eight-brick format, as would normally only be possible in a quarter-brick module.

In addition to lower power consumption, the PMBus interface makes it possible to monitor and control DC/DC converter parameters, and to forward operational information such as output-voltage and current, power-status, temperature and many other parameters making it possible for system architects to integrate the converters into their global energy management monitoring systems and optimize energy consumption down to single board level.

Factors driving the demand for this type of product are the need for increased performance levels embracing lower power consumption, reduced heat generated by power conversion stages, reduced environmental impact and total cost of ownership, and forthcoming regulations requiring energy data measurement.

Ericsson’s BMR454 0002/004 delivers 38A at 5V, or a maximum output power of 190W across its operational range of 36V to 75V.

To minimize power losses at application level, through the PMBus the output voltage can be dynamically widely adjusted in the range of 3.0 to 6.7V, accommodating intermediate bus voltages to the most optimized condition required by point-of-load, or FPGA, ASIC and others, without unwanted energy losses in the conversion process.

For fixed voltage applications, the BMR454 0002/004’s output voltage can be set externally by an additional resistor, and a pre-trimmed 3.3V output version, BMR454 0002/003 is also available. This version delivers 3.3V/40A, 132W.

Offering a power density figure of more than 14W/cm2 (93W/in2), the BMR454 is pin compatible with the quarter-brick BMR453 (5V output version coming soon), making it simple for designers to upgrade to higher power when upgrading boards with new functionalities.

“The vast majority of applications powered by intermediate bus voltages are in the sub 5V region, and from the very beginning, the ideal intermediate bus voltage has always been debated. From experience gained over the past five years of applications, it has become apparent that optimizing the bus voltage to match load requirement results in lower power losses, reducing energy consumption and heat dissipated.” Said Patrick Le Fèvre, Director of Marketing and Communication. “Complementing the original BMR454 which was designed to power 8.1V to 13.2V intermediate bus systems, the BMR454 0002/004 now makes it possible for systems architects to access the most efficient power-conversion solution to power 5V bus applications with the flexibility to adjust the bus voltage from 3.3V to 6.7V.”

The most important application areas for the BMR454 0002/004 are 48V Information and Communication Technology applications such as radio base stations, servers, routers, and also a broad range of systems powered by 48V DC migrating to a 5V intermediate bus voltage, or straightforward conversion from 48V system bus voltage to load, eliminating an unnecessary point-of-load device in the conversion chain.

To ease BMR454 0002/004 evaluation and pre-configuration, an evaluation kit embedding a USB-to-PMBus interface, heavy-duty input and output sockets, with room for three digitally controlled 3E point-of-load units, and 3E Silver Edition software is also available.

In OEM quantities, the BMR454 0002/004 are priced at $37 per unit.
* Enhanced Performance, Energy Management, and End-user Value are the key benefits that Ericsson’s range of 3E digitally-controlled dc-dc converters deliver.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 11, 2010 — Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced its Fault Detective Test Optimization and Diagnostic Software Version 4.7 delivers results from 10 to 1,000 times faster than previous versions.  The new version expands support for multi-core processors and implements new algorithms that provide increased diagnostic rendering speed and improved accuracy.

Improved memory management allows the software to build complex models up to 10 times larger than before and with more detail to accurately pinpoint the defective component the first time the diagnosis is run. The more complex the model, the more improvement the user will see. Speed improvements allow the user to realize time savings whenever a diagnosis is run. And now, the user has the ability to add component cost information to make decisions based on both cost and probability of failure, saving additional time and money. Another enhancement includes support for Windows 7.

Agilent’s Fault Detective is a two-tiered software suite, providing test strategy optimization as well as root-cause failure diagnosis. The software enables design, test and manufacturing engineers to obtain a more thorough understanding of their testing strategy while simultaneously making accurate and easy-to-perform diagnostics.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

Fault Detective 4.7, W1160C is available now. Development licenses start at $12,500 and runtime licenses start at $3,000. Register today for a free 30-day trial of Fault Detective.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company’s 16,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $4.5 billion in fiscal 2009. Information about Agilent is available on the
Web at www.agilent.com.

Starnberg, 12 March 2010 – qaqadu event gmbh, experts for technical education, announces the upcoming short course on “DSP for FPGAs” on May 4 to 7, 2010, in Munich, Germany. The intensive 4 day DSP for FPGAs course will present and examine the use of FPGAs for DSP algorithms, applications and architectures. This course will feature the entire software design flow from concept, to bit true simulation, to actual hardware implementation on a Xilinx Virtex II Pro device. Special attention is paid to practical experience; after each presentation a hands-on session will follow in which attendees will be able to simulate and implement the structures and architectures introduced. Each attendee will receive a comprehensive set of notes and examples for in depth study after the course. This course will be led by Professor Bob Stewart and integrate presentations and design sessions from other experienced design engineers from SteepestAscent. It has been successfully presented in the USA at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) twice per year since 2002, and each year at ISLI since 2004.

“FPGAs with DSP functionalities are a rapidly growing market with great market potential,” stated Joachim Hueggenberg, General Manager with qaqadu event gmbh. “A broad field of applications reaching from industrial, automotive and even to communication systems like for example base stations, broadcast video SD/HD, image processing, infotainment, communications, radar, sonar and security systems.” The growing requirements for processing speeds of the order of 10-100 billions of operations per second, the need for rapid prototyping and software definable architectures will further the penetration of FPGAs into the DSP communication market. “

Further information and syllabus are available at http://www.hightech-events.com/event/1/DSP-for-FPGAs

Registration form download at: http://www.hightech-events.com/pdf/downloads/course-registration-form.pdf

About qaqadu event gmbh

The qaqadu event gmbh offers professional education with technical trainings, seminars and trade shows. In addition to providing and hosting events as technical courses, the MOST Forum and the automotive roadshow, the Starnberg based specialists in event management also support companies in organizing their events. The offered services reach from conception and planning through organization and marketing up to the realization of the event.

About Steepest Ascent

Steepest Ascent provides digital signal processing solutions in the form of consultancy services, training courses and simulation products. They have built a successful business on their extensive knowledge of DSP, particularly in the area of digital communications. Steepest Ascent has a blue chip client list and the customers have benefited greatly from their capabilities in system level design, software development, digital hardware design / implementation and on-site training. Steepest Ascent simulation products include software libraries for 3G, CDMA2000, Adaptive DSP and automatic HDL code generation. For more information see http://www.steepestascent.com.