Product Focus

Conferences and Forums

Recent Developments in the World of Point-of-Load Technology

Doug Bess
Editor, PowerPulse.Net

The past several months significant new product releases, technological developments, and industry news related to the field of Point-of-Load conversion technology.

In December, Micrel, Inc. rolled out its new SuperSwitcher II™ family of integrated MOSFET buck regulators for high power density dc-dc applications. The new MIC26xxx family comprises six dc-dc buck regulators leveraging Micrel’s proprietary HyperSpeed Control™ and HyperLight Load® architecture. The devices target distributed power systems, communications networking and infrastructure, and industrial applications.

"System designers need to implement power supplies that are as efficient and as small as possible," stated Brian Hedayati, marketing vice president for the analog division at Micrel. "Micrel’s proprietary HyperSpeed Control and HyperLight Load Control architectures used in SuperSwitcher II family allow designers to create minuscule power supplies optimized for efficiency at the most important power level for each design. The common footprint of Micrel’s SuperSwitcher II family also enables maximum design re-use over a wide range of output currents."

For the complete story, see http://www.powerpulse.net/story.php?storyID=25035

In January, Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) announced an expansion of its high-voltage point-of-load product line by introducing what it says is the industry’s first 100V synchronous buck regulator with integrated MOSFETs. The 600mA LM5017 is the first in a new family of step-down switching regulators that reduce PCB area and system cost while improving high-voltage reliability in telecommunication, industrial, smart grid and automotive systems. Used in conjunction with the award-winning WEBENCH® online design tool, the LM5017 simplifies high-voltage dc-dc conversion and speeds the design process.

The 600mA LM5017, together with the 300mA LM5018 and 100mA LM5019 available in April, enables direct point-of-load voltage regulation from input voltages as high as 100V. This eliminates external transient voltage suppressors or clamps required to achieve reliable operation in high-voltage applications. Integrated MOSFETs eliminate freewheeling Schottky diodes and improve efficiency. Pin-compatible 4 by 4mm LLP packaging offers a scalable solution that covers a wide range of power requirements. Constant on-time (COT) control architecture provides excellent load transient response with no loop compensation required, further reducing the PCB area and simplifying the power supply design process.

For the complete story, see http://www.powerpulse.net/story.php?storyID=25215

In March, TDK-Lambda Americas announced their new family of non-isolated SMT dc-dc converters that comply with the latest 2nd Generation DOSA standards for Point-of-Load (PoL) Converters.

Key advantages of the new DOSA-2 models include high power densities; no external tuning components (plug & play), low profiles, high efficiencies, and Edge Plated Castellation (EPC) pads for easy SMT solder joint inspections. These converters are ideal for harsh telecom/broadcast mast-mounted applications, as well as industrial, test & measurement, and medical equipment.

TDK-Lambda’s DOSA-2 product line is comprised of four series with output current/power ratings as follows, iCF: 3A/16.5W, iCG: 6A/33W, iBF: 12A/66W and the iAF: 20A/110W. All of these operate with a wide input voltage range of 4.5V to 14V and feature adjustable output voltages from 0.7V to 5.5V with conversion efficiencies up to 97%. These miniature 2nd Generation DOSA modules range in size from 12.2 x 12.2 x 4.45 mm (less than 0.5 square inch) to 33 x 13.46 x 7.75 mm. Optional LGA (Land Grid Array) SMT solder pads are available instead of the standard EPC pads.

For the complete story, see http://www.powerpulse.net/story.php?storyID=25410

Another March release saw Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduce the PowerCAD Simulation tool, a free online tool that gives engineers a fast and convenient way to test and optimize dc-dc circuits built with Vishay Siliconix regulator ICs.

Using an intuitive interface, the PowerCAD Simulation tool supports both experienced analog and power designers as well as junior or digital designers with less experience in high-power, high-frequency voltage regulator design.

Based on the required operating conditions, the engineer can select the appropriate regulator from the Vishay product offering and generate a full circuit schematic for the application. The schematic can then be edited as required for more advanced users or for performance comparison purposes.

For the complete story, see http://www.powerpulse.net/story.php?storyID=25499

Printable Page

Next Page >