Highly efficient DC/DC-converter for a 160 GBit ATM-switch-low voltage, high current power supply with fully isolated synchronous rectifiers

A new highly efficient DC/DC power converter of 500 W output power has been developed to supply an ATM switching module in the new Siemens 160 Gbit/s switching core ASNG 160 (ATM Switching Network Giga) which is a part of the system MainStreetXpress 36190. One of the main goals of this development was to minimize the conversion losses of the power converter. High reliability and low susceptibility to disturbances also had to be guaranteed. This is why the resulting circuit scheme had to be robust and as simple as possible. The finally chosen topology is a forward power converter with synchronous rectifiers. The MOSFET rectifiers are controlled by novel driver stages. The input and outputs are fully isolated. This paper provides an insight into the development process of the new circuit configuration. The main characteristics of this type of power converter are illustrated using measurements