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DC-DC Converter Module and IC Trends: Economic Factors, Application Drivers, Business Models, Packaging, VRMs and Technology Developments. Ninth Edition


Description: DC-DC CONVERTERS: ECONOMIC FACTORS, MARKET DRIVERS AND TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS

Conditions in the dc-dc converter market change regularly. Currently, this market is rife with dynamics that will create shifts that provide both opportunities and threats for power supply makers. In the past, this market has thrived on innovation, which provided growth for the power supply industry, but today a number of economic and business model changes provide a plethora of possibilities. Industry consolidation, both in end markets and in the dc-dc converter market, is creating a number of disruptions

This report chronicles potential opportunities and reports on critical threats in a qualitative manner. Topics discussed in this chapter are economic factors, market drivers, business model changes and technology developments. The trends affecting the share of modules and discrete solutions will be analyzed in both a quantitative and qualitative manner. Additionally, the emerging trend towards integrated solutions, which are currently reaching as high as 10A, will be examined. The adoption of digital power management and digital power control will also be evaluated.

Methodology

The data presented in this report are derived from a comprehensive study of the worldwide dc-dc converter market. The detailed analysis is based on primary data gathered in discussions with major users of dc-dc converters in all regions of the world. All original equipment manufacturer (OEM) consumption data were gathered on a confidential basis. These consumption data were supplemented with a few discussions with major makers of dc-dc converters. It should be emphasized that the input to this study was the result of firsthand discussions with OEM users of dc-dc converters. The conversations with dc-dc converter makers were limited and secondary in importance in the preparation of this report. Of greater importance were discussions with makers of key system components, such as advanced microprocessors, which are primary drivers of key trends in the dc-dc converter market.

Primary data were obtained using "open questionnaires." A combination of telephone and in-person interviews were conducted. In-person interviews were conducted either in the plant where the individual works or at various trade shows. The interviews conducted at trade shows were typically performed in a more informal atmosphere and were generally very successful in gathering good quantities of hard data and insights from the individuals being interviewed. All interviews conducted in the course of this research were performed on a confidential basis. The data were used in combination with the responses from all other respondents.

The primary and secondary research included all possible major application areas for dc-dc converters. The data-gathering methodology included primary research in all regions worldwide and was not limited in any way to North America. Secondary research was performed using all available published sources including, but not limited to, non-proprietary, previously performed and related work, all available trade journals, proceedings from related trade conferences, previous industry studies, annual reports, 10Ks, advertising, product literature, and so on.


Contents: Introduction
Economic Factors
Application Drivers
AdvancedTCA® & MicroTCA
Blade Servers
PoE Plus
Business Models
Consolidation of the Power Supply Industry
Revenue and Pricing Issues
Second Sourcing
Packaging Trends
Modules versus Discretes
Cost Advantages of Modules over Discretes
VRM Developments
Technology Developments
Digital Control
Data Centers
Intermediate Bus Architecture

Graphs
Graph 1 - North America Power Supply Market, Ratio of Peak Sales to Current Sales (select companies)
Graph 2 - Advertised Pricing for DC-DC POL Converters ($ per Amp)
Graph 3 - Normalized Pricing for DC-DC Converters ($ per Amp)
Graph 4 - Component Manufacturing Costs


Summary: Dc-dc converters are traditionally one of the most dynamic segments of the overall power electronics market. Many of the design, topology and architecture innovations occur in these products, and system-level demands can often be addressed at this level. Although it is a smaller market than ac-dc power supplies, pricing has kept revenues high. This model has slowly been changing over the past several years, however, as dc-dc converter module and semiconductor products have moved closer and closer together.

In this analysis of the dc-dc converter market, we introduce dc-dc converter discrete solution forecasts, and this chapter will look at some of the applications, technologies and products driving this market. "MicroPOLs," power-system-on-silicon, hybrid converters - these are new product models from companies like Enpirion and Linear Technology that could challenge the traditional dc-dc converter module.

The applications driving the dc-dc converter market continue to be computer and communications technologies, such as blade servers and Power-over-Ethernet. AdvancedTCA® and MicroTCA are telecommunications architectures that are migrating into the computer space, although adoption has been spotty. The success of these architectures would open up opportunities for dc-dc converter makers.

Of more importance to power supply manufacturers are the continued consolidation of the power supply industry and pricing trends. Semiconductor sales growth is continuing to be strong, while power supply company growth is flattening out. The exceptions are companies like Delta and Lite-On, who focus on high-volume production and extremely competitive pricing. Whether other companies can follow this model (or whether the former companies can maintain their high growth rates) is currently being debated. There is no question, however, that dc-dc converter pricing is undergoing a downward shift, and this is likely to continue.

Power supply efficiency in data centers is driving ac-dc power supply sales, and although the driver is not as strong for dc-dc converters, this trend could carry over at an overall system level. The degree to which bricks, bus converters and point-of-load converters can improve server efficiency will also help drive dc-dc converter sales.


Companies Mentioned -AcBel -Acme Packet -AMD -Artesyn Technologies -Astec -Atmel -Ault -Bell South -C&D Technologies -California Power Research -Cisco -Delta -EMC -Emerson -Enpirion -EPA -Ericsson -Hewlett-Packard -IBM -Intel -International Rectifier -Intersil -Linear Technology -Lite-On -National Semiconductor -NetPower Technologies -Nortel -Phihong -Power Integrations -PowerDsine -Power-One -Primarion -SBC -SMIC -STMicroelectronics -Texas Instruments -TSMC -Tyco Electronics -Valere -Verizon -Vicor -Xinwei Telecom Technology


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