Small POL MonoBK - Vitec Power

Non-Isolated DC-DC converter module

Murata’s DC/DC converter modules offer small package designs with high efficiency, effectively supporting engineers facing space constraints.

Small POL MonoBK™ (Mono-Block)

Murata has designed compact, low-noise DC-DC converter modules, MonoBK™, which include not only products but also add-on components as well. Murata’s MonoBK™ solves the issue of equipment space.

What is a DC-DC converter?

A DC-DC converter is equipment that converts DC into DC.

Each IC or other component mounted on the board of the set has an intrinsic working voltage range, and in addition the required voltage accuracy differs from one component to another.
When power is supplied from a power source that does not produce a stable voltage, issues such as malfunctioning will occur.
It is therefore necessary to use a DC-DC converter to convert the voltage to the correct value and to stabilize it.

Kinds of DC-DC converters

Kind	Column 2
Power supply equipment that reduces the voltage	Buck converter, Step-down converter
Power supply equipment that increases the voltage	Boost converter, Step-up converter
Power supply equipment that increases and decreases the voltage	Buck-Boost converter
Power supply equipment that generates a negative voltage	Negative voltage converter, Inverting converter

What is POL (Point of Load)?

POL is a DC-DC converter installed in the immediately vicinity of a microprocessor or an LSI (Large-Scale Integrated circuit) such as a DSP, FPGA or ASIC.

POL Trends

In recent mega-trends represented by 5G or IoT, equipment such as a base station or a server must be processed to enable it to operate at high speed and to ensure that it has large capacity.
To this end, the LSI is manufactured using a more precision process, thus enhancing the performance of the chip.
Along with the refinement of the process, demands will arise to decrease the voltage and increase the current supplied to the power supply circuit that supplies electric power to the LSI.

When using reduced voltage, it is necessary to increase the voltage accuracy and increase the high-speed response to load fluctuations, in order to prevent malfunctioning of the LSI.
When using large current, power from the switching power supply is output from the LDO. This makes the circuit difficult to design, even though it could previously be designed compactly and with ease.
In addition, when the switching power is generated, the issue of noise arises.

In the light of this background, POL is required to have “voltage accuracy,” “load fluctuation transient response,” “low radiation noise,” and “compactness.”