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    Hard- and Soft-Switched

    D13.4 - Switched Capacitor-Coupled Buck: a Regulated IBC Solution for 48V-to-5V

    Thursday, March 26, 2026
    12:00 PM - 1:45 PM CT
    Location: Poster 2
    The increasing power demands of modern data centers have made 48V power distribution essential for improving efficiency and reducing losses. However, the wide voltage variation of the 48V bus (40–60V) creates challenges for point-of-load VRMs, which must account for the full range of input voltages, leading to design complexity and reduced system performance. A regulated Intermediate Bus Converter (IBC) addresses these issues by stepping down the 48V input to a stable mid rail. This digest introduces a 48V-to-5V regulated DC-DC converter with a power capability of up to 450W. The design offers significant advantages over state-of-the-art solutions by requiring fewer FETs and reduced complexity, while still achieving a peak efficiency of over 96%.