The Dynamic Bus Architecture (DBA) is poised to be the “next big thing” in the power supply industry, advancing the distributed power architecture model in ways that will change how power supplies are designed and implemented, according to Darnell Group. The DBA is already being designed into some high-end systems, and widespread adoption is expected in the next few years.
The challenge for dc-dc converter module makers is how the Intermediate Bus Architecture (IBA) has been evolving: customers are demanding more efficiency, as well as configurability and optimization. These demands have led to the DBA, which consists of board-mounted dc-dc converters or point-of-load (POL) regulators that communicate with a centralized power system host control via a digital communications bus. The firmware is reconfigurable to specific applications, with “energy optimization algorithms” built in.