Two-Phase Desktop CPU Core Supply Controllers with Controlled VID Change

Active: In Production.

The MAX1937/MAX1938/MAX1939 comprise a family of synchronous, two-phase, step-down controllers capable of delivering load currents up to 60A. The controllers utilize Quick-PWM™ control architecture in conjunction with active load-current voltage positioning. Quick-PWM control provides instantaneous load-step response, while programmable voltage positioning allows the converter to utilize full transient regulation limits, reducing the output capacitance requirement. The two phases operate 180° out-of-phase with an effective 500kHz switching frequency, thus reducing input and output current ripple, as well as reducing input filter capacitor requirements.

The MAX1937/MAX1938/MAX1939 are compliant with AMD Hammer, Intel®‚ Voltage-Regulator Module (VRM) 9.0/9.1, and AMD Athlon™ Mobile VID code specifications (see Table 1 for VID codes). The internal DAC provides ultra-high accuracy of ±0.75%. A controlled VID voltage transition is implemented to minimize both undervoltage and overvoltage overshoot during VID input change.

Remote sensing is available for high output-voltage accuracy. The MOSFET switches are driven by a 6V gate-drive circuit to minimize switching and crossover conduction losses to achieve efficiency as high as 90%. The MAX1937/MAX1938/MAX1939 feature cycle-by-cycle current limit to ensure that the current limit is not exceeded. Crowbar protection is available to protect against output overvoltage.

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