With the ability to share current across multiple devices, its range can be expanded up to 300 amps for high-end FPGAs and ASICs used in high-density power supplies for servers, storage equipment, and base stations. Used in conjunction with the PowerNavigator™ graphical user interface (GUI), the ZL8801 simplifies system power conversion and accelerates the design process.
The ZL8801 utilizes the latest advancements in Intersil's digital power technology, leveraging the patented ChargeMode™ control loop architecture to deliver transient response performance far superior to current analog controllers. Inherently stable, the ZL8801's fully digital control loop corrects errors cycle by cycle, eliminating the need for compensation. Its wide control loop bandwidth reduces the amount of output capacity required to meet the latest transient requirements of high-end FPGAs and ASICs, resulting in a smaller board size and lower material costs. The ZL8801 can be combined with the output stage of the ISL99140 40A DrMOS (Integrated Driver and MOSFET) to create a complete voltage regulator solution.
The ZL8801 supports Intersil's DDC (digital DC) bus technology for controller-to-controller communication. This bus enables system-based sequencing, fault management, and current sharing with other Intersil digital power ICs, all on a single wire. Configuration is easily managed with the PowerNavigator graphical tool, providing drag-and-drop control of the sequence, which is autonomously managed within the system by the ZL8801. Current sharing is also possible thanks to the DDC bus, allowing up to four ZL8801s to be connected in parallel for high-power system designs
Modern systems have increased the complexity and reliability demands placed on designers to control and monitor each power line to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime. Historically, this has been achieved through the use of numerous discrete monitors, sequencers, and system controllers to provide additional functionality around the POL converters. The ZL8801 integrates all these functions, allowing a designer to monitor and control every aspect of the power supply via a PMBus™ interface. All telemetry data can be read using the PowerNavigator GUI, including input voltage, input current, output voltage, output current, temperature, and all fault conditions.
Features and Specifications
• Dual-phase output for high-current applications
• Offset-free modulation technique allows designs to meet transient specifications with minimal output capacity, saving cost and board space.
• 1% accuracy of output voltage over line, load, and temperature.
• Single-input operation simplifies design, eliminating the need for multiple power rails to the controller.
• Integrated 80 mA LDO, 5V for external controller supply voltage eliminates the need for an additional power rail for gate control, saving board space.
• 200kHz to 1.33MHz switching frequency range allows for a variety of power stage and output filter options.
• Instant fault logging capability captures telemetry and fault information to non-volatile memory in the event of a failure, enabling diagnostic and system debugging.
• Cycle-to-cycle adjustable current spike inductor protection allows for rapid reaction to overcurrent faults, preventing saturation and damage to the load.
• Supports a wide range of output voltages (0.54V to 5.5V) operating from input voltages of 4.5V to 14V.
The ZL8801 is available in a 7 mm x 7 mm, 44-pin QFN package. Two demo boards are available: the ZL8801-2PH-DEMO1Z 80A dual-phase demo board, and the ZL8801-4PH-DEMO1Z 160A four-phase demo board.
