News & Events
Multiphase Controllers Offer Flexibility and Scalability for DC/DC Conversion

— Chipset family for multiphase power architectures targets core-voltage regulation for microprocessors
Superior performance meets the demanding core power needs of multiple generations of microprocessors

PALM BAY, FL, October 25, 1999 — Intersil Corporation today introduced a new family of advanced multiphase controllers designed to meet the demanding needs of next-generation central processing unit (CPU) core power requirements. AMD’s Athlon and Intel’s Willamette are the first processors that benefit from Intersil’s multiphase power delivery architecture that delivers unparalleled DC/DC conversion performance in both embedded motherboard and voltage regulator module (VRM) design. Intersil’s multiphase chipset enables the highest performance and most cost effective core power solution by implementing patented control technology in a flexible, modular chipset.

Intersil’s new chipset consists of main controllers and FET drivers and features the industry’s most advanced phase-to-phase current balance and reference voltage tolerance, providing two to four phase architecture and optimizing converter designs fitting 35-100+ amp (A) requirements. Scalable architecture enhances manufacturing flexibility and enables a single power system design to provide core power for multiple generations of microprocessors.

The chipset features the industry’s best channel to channel current balance scheme with a closed loop individual channel feedback architecture (patents pending). This scheme allows the motherboard designer to avoid overdesigning power components, often necessary when less capable balance methods such as precision duty cycle matching are implemented. Intersil’s proprietary closed loop active current balance implementation results in channel to channel current balance of better than 10 percent. Typically, phase current mismatches are on the order of 30 percent or greater when employing precision duty cycle matched converters, necessitating the use of significantly higher current FETs and inductors.

The multiphase controllers are part of Intersil’s HIP6000 family, consisting of three controllers (HIP6301, HIP6302 and HIP6303) and three gate drivers (HIP6601, HIP6602 and HIP6603). Together, controllers, drivers and MOSFETs provide the total core-voltage power system for advanced microprocessors. Intersil’s multi-phase converters control several small synchronous-rectified buck converters to supply large load current, typical of advanced processors. The integrated circuits (ICs) gate each power channel out-of-phase, increasing the output ripple frequency above the fundamental channel switching frequency and reduce the input ripple current to enable the use of small capacitors and inductors and minimizes dynamic response time.

Intersil’s multi-phase approach overcomes inherent difficulties with scaling single-phase synchronous-rectified buck converters to higher-current applications. Channel inputs are designed to fill in composite input current waveshape with low amplitude pulses, resulting in a significant reduction in input capacitance. Multi-phase power channels utilize small, surface-mounted components, easing thermal design and minimizing component placement issues.

"With the introduction of multiphase technology, Intersil provides the optimal solution to the problem of economically supplying load with multiple power channels," said Steve Rivet, product manager at Intersil. "With this chip set, Intersil demonstrates the development of forward-thinking technology by providing next-generation power solutions for computer CPUs with more than double the load current than present power conversion options."

The HIP6601 drives the lower MOSFET in a synchronous-rectifier bridge to 12 volts (V) while the upper MOSFET can be independently driven to 5V or 12V. The HIP6602 and HIP6603 drive both the upper and lower MOSFET to either 5V or 12V. This flexibility allows design engineers to trade off MOSFET switching and conduction losses for any application. Output drivers in the HIP6601, HIP6602 and HIP6603 efficiently switch power MOSFETs at frequencies up to 1.5 Megahertz (MHz). The resulting aggregate converter frequencies reach as high as 6MHz for 4-phase systems, and as high as 3MHz for 2-phase systems. Compared to p–channel FETs, each Intersil driver contains an internal boot strap device, allowing efficient use of higher-performance, less costly n-channel MOSFETs without the cost and space penalties of an external bootstrap diode.

Intersil’s HIP6301, HIP6302 and HIP6303 monitor, protect and regulate microprocessor core voltage. The HIP6302 features two phase power conversion, while the HIP6301 and HIP6303 offer multiphase power conversion with automatic selection of two, three or four phase operation and automatic reconfiguration for the number of active channels. The microprocessor voltage identification (VID) codes vary with each device, featuring 5-bit VID input with the HIP6301 and HIP6302, and 4-bit VID input when utilizing the HIP6303. The HIP6301 and HIP6302 VID inputs range from 1.1V to 1.85V in 25 millivolt (mV) steps, and the HIP6303 VID ranges between 1.30V and 2.05V in 50mV steps. Intersil has designed all of the devices with over-current protection, fast transient recovery time, digital soft-start and programmable channel frequencies between 50 kilohertz (kHz) and 1.5 MHz.

Pricing and Availability
Intersil’s HIP630X and HIP660X families are now sampling and will be available in production quantities in December. Evaluation boards optimized for Athlon and Willamette applications are now available to qualified OEMs.

Pricing for 10,000 piece quantities are as follows:

Part No. Package 10K Piece Price
HIP6301CB 20 lead SOIC $2.97
HIP6302CB 16 lead SOIC $2.74
HIP6303CB 20 lead SOIC $2.97
HIP6601CB 8 lead SOIC $1.18
HIP6602CB 14 lead SOIC $2.30
HIP6603CB 8 lead SOIC $1.18

About Intersil Corporation
With a broad portfolio of products, Intersil Corporation is the recognized leader in power soltuions for desktop PCs, file servers, and workstations. Intersil uses analog, mixed-signal, power and radiation-hardening technologies to develop advanced integrated circuits and discrete semiconductors for high-growth segments of the communications, power and space/defense markets. Intersil Corporation employs 5,800 worldwide and utilizes the rich intellectual property heritage from Harris, GE Solid State and RCA. The company’s Web site is located at http://www.intersil.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Specific risks include worldwide demand and product pricing for integrated circuits, and reductions in the U.S. and worldwide defense and space budgets. In addition, Intersil cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends and events to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.