Server battery backup units (BBU)

Build high-density server BBU systems for telecom and data centers applications with Infineon’s integrated BMS and DC-DC converter solutions

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Overview

A server BBU is an integrated backup power supply that prevents data loss during unexpected outages. Within this unit BMS ensures safe lithium-ion operation by tracking SOC and SOH. In telecom and data centers, BMS is coupled with bidirectional DC-DC converters. To ensure peak efficiency and reliability across the power conversion chain, Infineon offers discrete solutions and power modules, controlled by PSOC™ Control C3P MCUs and EiceDRIVER™ ICs

Benefits

  • More efficient charge and discharge
  • Efficient DC-DC topologies
  • Accurate battery protection
  • Safe and reliable solution

Block diagram

About

How to achieve 24/7 uptime with Infineon’s server BBU solutions?

Due to the complexity of modern data centers, safeguarding uninterrupted operation is a crucial task. BBUs are critical to providing a reliable source of power during an outage or grid failure, ensuring the continuous operation of AI workloads. 

However, as these workloads demand more power, traditional backup systems often become too bulky for dense server BBU racks.

How to design compact server BBUs for AI data center applications?  

To solve this, Infineon's BBU solutions utilize advanced converter architectures like partial power converter (PPC) and DP-CF-SUSD topologies. By leveraging Infineon’s CoolSiC™, CoolGaN™, and OptiMOS™ technologies, these systems enable efficient and reliable power conversion. 

This combination provides the BBUs with seamless, scalable power conversion that fits within existing rack footprints, allowing for maximum computing power without expanding the physical footprint.

Watch our webinar on BBU for AI operations
Explore Infineon’s BBU roadmap for AI data centers
How does low RDS(on) improve efficiency in bidirectional switches?

The evolution of SMPS topologies has revolutionized the realm of BBU systems. This advancement has enabled designers to ensure safe charging and discharging of the equipment’s battery using bidirectional converters through the same terminal. 

However, to meet the safety requirements and prevent damage and failures within a server BBU, these SMPS systems must be equipped with advanced protection switches. 

How do bidirectional switches protect a server BBU?

Bidirectional switches protect server rack battery backups against: 

  • Inrush current and overcurrent
  • Short-circuit and reverse voltage
  • Overvoltage and undervoltage

With over 40 years of MOSFET expertise, our continuous package and technology innovation has led to significantly decreased RDS(on) values when moving from OptiMOS™ 3 to OptiMOS™ 5 in the same package to enable better performance. 

In applications such as bidirectional power switches (BDPS), achieving a low RDS(on) is critical. By reducing resistance, Infineon enables higher efficiency, better thermal management, and superior power density, ensuring your server BBU design delivers maximum uptime with minimum energy loss.

Explore OptiMOS™ for bidirectional switching
Explore Infineon’s 12 kW BBU reference design
How to enhance server BBU efficiency using PSOC™ Control C3P MCUs?

High-performance MCUs are essential for BBUs to manage rapid AI power cycles and maximize system efficiency.

Infineon’s PSOC™ Control C3P family of MCUs offers significant benefits for server BBUs by enhancing the performance and efficiency of power conversion systems. 

  • Precise and reliable power management: Advanced analog features like high-performance ADC and high-resolution PWM, enable stable and reliable power delivery
  • Faster and accurate monitoring: True synchronous "idle" sampling processes up to 16 analog signals 25% faster, eliminating sampling jitter for higher data accuracy
  • Rapid charge and discharge cycle management: TCPWM with less than 100 ps resolution enables clean and efficient signal generation and in-cycle control, even at switching frequencies up to 2 MHz

By integrating these real-time analog peripherals with PSOC™ Control, BBU designers can reduce system BOM, minimize hardware complexity, and optimize overall costs.

In addition, PSOC™ Control C3 provides the flexibility to incorporate WBG switches, essential for creating next-generation power systems with higher efficiency and durability.

Design AI-ready server BBU with PSOC™ Control C3P
How to achieve maximum reliability in SiC & GaN with EiceDRIVER™ ICs?

In high-stakes server BBU environments, the right gate driver is the critical link between peak efficiency and system reliability.

Modern power electronics employ advanced switches that demand optimal gate drive solutions to ensure thermal stability and robust performance.

To meet the versatile needs of the server rack battery backup, Infineon offers the market-leading gate driver portfolio with over 500 EiceDRIVER™ gate driver ICs.

What are the key protection features of a gate driver? 

EiceDRIVER™ gate drivers provide a wide range of typical output current options, from 0.1 A up to 10 A to suit any application. To safeguard your server rack battery backup, EiceDRIVER™ integrates mission-critical protection features, including: 

  • Fast short-circuit protection (DESAT)
  • Active Miller clamp
  • Shoot-through protection
  • Fault shutdown
  • Overcurrent protection

These robust features make EiceDRIVER™ ICs well-suited for both silicon and wide-bandgap power devices, including CoolGaN™, and CoolSiC™. 

By choosing EiceDRIVER™, you ensure your server rack battery backup delivers maximum uptime with industry-leading durability.

Learn more about Infineon's EiceDRIVER™
How to achieve 24/7 uptime with Infineon’s server BBU solutions?

Due to the complexity of modern data centers, safeguarding uninterrupted operation is a crucial task. BBUs are critical to providing a reliable source of power during an outage or grid failure, ensuring the continuous operation of AI workloads. 

However, as these workloads demand more power, traditional backup systems often become too bulky for dense server BBU racks.

How to design compact server BBUs for AI data center applications?  

To solve this, Infineon's BBU solutions utilize advanced converter architectures like partial power converter (PPC) and DP-CF-SUSD topologies. By leveraging Infineon’s CoolSiC™, CoolGaN™, and OptiMOS™ technologies, these systems enable efficient and reliable power conversion. 

This combination provides the BBUs with seamless, scalable power conversion that fits within existing rack footprints, allowing for maximum computing power without expanding the physical footprint.

Watch our webinar on BBU for AI operations
Explore Infineon’s BBU roadmap for AI data centers
How does low RDS(on) improve efficiency in bidirectional switches?

The evolution of SMPS topologies has revolutionized the realm of BBU systems. This advancement has enabled designers to ensure safe charging and discharging of the equipment’s battery using bidirectional converters through the same terminal. 

However, to meet the safety requirements and prevent damage and failures within a server BBU, these SMPS systems must be equipped with advanced protection switches. 

How do bidirectional switches protect a server BBU?

Bidirectional switches protect server rack battery backups against: 

  • Inrush current and overcurrent
  • Short-circuit and reverse voltage
  • Overvoltage and undervoltage

With over 40 years of MOSFET expertise, our continuous package and technology innovation has led to significantly decreased RDS(on) values when moving from OptiMOS™ 3 to OptiMOS™ 5 in the same package to enable better performance. 

In applications such as bidirectional power switches (BDPS), achieving a low RDS(on) is critical. By reducing resistance, Infineon enables higher efficiency, better thermal management, and superior power density, ensuring your server BBU design delivers maximum uptime with minimum energy loss.

Explore OptiMOS™ for bidirectional switching
Explore Infineon’s 12 kW BBU reference design
How to enhance server BBU efficiency using PSOC™ Control C3P MCUs?

High-performance MCUs are essential for BBUs to manage rapid AI power cycles and maximize system efficiency.

Infineon’s PSOC™ Control C3P family of MCUs offers significant benefits for server BBUs by enhancing the performance and efficiency of power conversion systems. 

  • Precise and reliable power management: Advanced analog features like high-performance ADC and high-resolution PWM, enable stable and reliable power delivery
  • Faster and accurate monitoring: True synchronous "idle" sampling processes up to 16 analog signals 25% faster, eliminating sampling jitter for higher data accuracy
  • Rapid charge and discharge cycle management: TCPWM with less than 100 ps resolution enables clean and efficient signal generation and in-cycle control, even at switching frequencies up to 2 MHz

By integrating these real-time analog peripherals with PSOC™ Control, BBU designers can reduce system BOM, minimize hardware complexity, and optimize overall costs.

In addition, PSOC™ Control C3 provides the flexibility to incorporate WBG switches, essential for creating next-generation power systems with higher efficiency and durability.

Design AI-ready server BBU with PSOC™ Control C3P
How to achieve maximum reliability in SiC & GaN with EiceDRIVER™ ICs?

In high-stakes server BBU environments, the right gate driver is the critical link between peak efficiency and system reliability.

Modern power electronics employ advanced switches that demand optimal gate drive solutions to ensure thermal stability and robust performance.

To meet the versatile needs of the server rack battery backup, Infineon offers the market-leading gate driver portfolio with over 500 EiceDRIVER™ gate driver ICs.

What are the key protection features of a gate driver? 

EiceDRIVER™ gate drivers provide a wide range of typical output current options, from 0.1 A up to 10 A to suit any application. To safeguard your server rack battery backup, EiceDRIVER™ integrates mission-critical protection features, including: 

  • Fast short-circuit protection (DESAT)
  • Active Miller clamp
  • Shoot-through protection
  • Fault shutdown
  • Overcurrent protection

These robust features make EiceDRIVER™ ICs well-suited for both silicon and wide-bandgap power devices, including CoolGaN™, and CoolSiC™. 

By choosing EiceDRIVER™, you ensure your server rack battery backup delivers maximum uptime with industry-leading durability.

Learn more about Infineon's EiceDRIVER™
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Design resources

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