News & Events
Intersil Releases the Industry's Best Multiphase PWM Controller for DC-to-DC Applications

-- Higher integration of features brings savings to power solutions for CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs and systems

MILPITAS, CA, May 18, 2004 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a world leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog solutions, today announced the new Endura™ ISL6564, the industry’s most advanced four-phase synchronous-buck PWM controller. This 6-bit VID (voltage identification) controller delivers the industry’s lowest VID voltage range, tightest phase balance, most precise voltage regulation, only self-clocked VID (no external clock required), output current indicator, and many more features that improve performance, save space and reduce costs.

“This is an exciting product for us, the ISL6564 is the industry’s highest performing and most flexible PWM controller for precision high-current DC-DC converter applications,” said Cindy Drapcho, vice president of Intersil’s Power Products. “The ISL6564 represents the best in power technology and innovation and brings great value to our customers. It raises the bar on performance and cost savings for a wide range of high-current precision voltage conversion and regulation applications. While the ISL6564 is ready to power next-generation CPUs in computing systems, it is also positioned well to service other markets such as embedded computing, large-scale ASICs and FPGAs and other point-of-load needs.”

Its full range of integrated features, use of up to four phases and a choice of either lower-MOSFET RDS(ON) or inductor DC resistance (DCR) current sensing make the ISL6564 the industry’s most flexible controller that brings high performance to a very wide range of applications where high-current voltage conversion and regulation is required. Such applications include powering CPUs in computers, servers and data storage systems along with powering ASICs, FPGAs and systems in consumer, industrial, medical and communications equipment.

The ISL6564 multiphase PWM controller, combined with Intersil HIP660XB or ISL661X MOSFET drivers or Intersil ISL6571 integrated power stages, forms a complete high-performance high-current power solution that provides high power efficiency and cost savings. The ISL6564 greatly simplifies power design by being compatible not only with Intersil MOSFET drivers, but with integrated power stages (MOSFET driver and MOSFETs in one chip). With a switching frequency range up to 1.5 MHz per phase, an ISL6564-based voltage regulator requires fewer components and less PCB area in DC-to-DC converter applications.

In utilizing the ISL6564, designers have a choice of current sensing techniques, each of which offer high performance and reduced parts count. Current sensing can be accomplished using either a patented technique to measure the voltage across the lower MOSFET on resistance, RDS(ON), or the DCR of each output inductor during conduction intervals. Current sensing provides the needed signals for precision droop, channel-current balancing, and over-current protection. Unlike competing products, the ISL6564 has a load current indicator pin that system designers can monitor to get a real-time measurement of the multiphase buck converter.

Dynamic VID™ technology allows seamless on-the-fly VID changes that adjust the output voltage in tiny millivolt increments. The self-clocked Dynamic VID feature is an industry first. The ISL6564 can detect the difference between the actual output voltage and the VID input, and can control its own transition to the new VID setting. This ensures smooth ramp up to the new, programmed output voltage without false triggering of the over-voltage protection circuit. An offset pin allows accurate voltage offset settings that are independent of the VID setting.

The ISL6564 features a high bandwidth control loop to provide optimal response to load transients. Fast response to sudden load changes that cause voltage fluctuations is important to ensure system stability.

A unity-gain differential amplifier is provided for remote voltage sensing. Any potential difference between remote and local grounds is completely eliminated using the remote-sense amplifier. Eliminating ground differences improves regulation and protection accuracy.

The threshold-sensitive ENABLE input is available to accurately coordinate the start up of the ISL6564 with any other voltage rail. This feature eliminates additional supervisory circuits.

ISL6564 Technical Summary

• Up to four-phase PWM control with up to 1.5 MHz switching per phase
  • Minimizes input and output capacitor count
  • Reduces size of inductors
  • Improved thermal performance
  • Design flexibility
• Self-clocked 6-bit VID – Intersil’s Dynamic VID for intelligent on-the-fly voltage changes
• Industry’s lowest voltage range down to a Vout of 0.525 V
• OFS pin for offset programming of output voltage
• Choice of either RDS(ON) or DCR current sensing
• 5-V chip bias with built-in shunt regulator to allow 12-V bias (12V-only operation) using only a small external limiting resistor
• Differential voltage and current sensing for tight voltage and loadline regulation and phase balancing
• Extensive monitoring and protection
  • Over-voltage protection
  • Over-current protection
  • Iout load indicator
  • Logic-level ENABLE
• 40-pad 6 X 6 mm quad flat no-lead (QFN) package saves space and offers superior thermal capability

ISL6564 Pricing and Availability
The ISL6564 is available now. The suggested resale price in 100 to 999-unit quantities for the ISL6564CR is $1.95 each. ICs are available on tape and reel. Additional information on these and other high-performance power solutions can be obtained online from Intersil’s Power Web site at: http://www.intersil.com/power/ About Intersil
Intersil Corporation, a NASDAQ 100 Index company, is a leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog semiconductors. The company’s products address three of the industry’s fastest growing markets: flat panel displays, optical storage (CD and DVD recordable) and power management. Intersil products include power management devices for battery management, hot-swap and hot-plug controllers, linear regulators, supervisory ICs, switching DC-DC regulators and power MOSFET drivers; optical storage laser diode drivers; DSL line drivers; video and high performance operational amplifiers; data converters; interface ICs; analog switches and multiplexers; crosspoint switches; voice-over-IP devices; and ICs for military, space and rad-hard applications. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company’s web site and career page at www.intersil.com.

This release may include "forward looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. For information identifying economic, political, climatic, currency, regulatory, technological, competitive and some other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements, see Intersil’s Safe Harbor Forward Looking Statement disclaimer found at http://www.intersil.com/legal.asp, as well as Intersil’s SEC filings as updated from time to time, found at http://www.sec.gov. Intersil, Endura and Dynamic VID are trademarks of Intersil Americas Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.