It’s that time of the year when we take a look at what products Electronic Design readers sought out in the components category of our Products of the Week newsletter. Each week, this newsletter features the latest and most innovative semiconductors, components, boards and modules, and design, assembly, and test products. Data culled from these newsletters, such as the number of clicks on specific items and follow-throughs to company Web sites, enable us to deduce which products were the most popular—the ones you were looking for most—over the past year.
Before embarking further, it should be clear that any product’s position or ranking on our list is in no way a figure of its merit, performance, or quality over any other similar product or other components in general that appear in the list (see the table). For example, say 100 readers take interest in an 80-W switch-mode power supply while only 40 view a 20-W unit. Yes, 80 W is more power than 20 W, but the 20-W unit is not underperforming the 80-W supply. At that given point in time, most likely more designers were in need of the higher-power product—no more, no less.
POWER SOURCES DOMINATE TOP 10
Power sources occupy five of the top 10 slots in this year’s list, two of which come from Micropower Direct (see the table, again). Also in the top slots are entries from the sensors, interconnects, passive components, and display/indicator sectors (see “Compiling The Top 101 Components List”).
Taking the first position, the LD24E series dc-dc LED drivers (Fig. 1) from Micropower Direct enable pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming and deliver 17 W of output power via a constant current output and an efficiency up to 95%. Five models in the series operate from an input voltage range of 5.5 to 36 V dc and deliver constant-current outputs of 300, 350, 500, 600, or 700 mA.
Other features of the series include short-circuit protection, remote on/off inputs, and a mean time before failure (MTBF) beyond 2 million hours as per MIL HDBK 217F. The components come in miniature 0.9- by 0.4-in. packages with industry-standard pin outs and specify an industrial operating temperature range from –40°C to 85°C ambient with no derating or heatsinking. Cooling is via free-air convection.
In second place, also from Micropower Direct, the MPS-03S series single-output, switching power supplies (Fig. 2) pack up to 3 W of output power. Available in compact single-inline packages (SIPs), six standard models operate from a universal input of 85 to 264 V ac and provide regulated outputs of 3.3, 5, 9, 12, 15, or 24 V dc. The modules also suit applications with an input of 100 to 400 V dc. Standard features include continuous short-circuit protection, an I/O isolation of 2 kV ac, and very low leakage current.
Murata Electronics North America takes the third slot with its MYLG miniature dc-dc converters (Fig. 3) for both intermediate bus and distributed power architectures in the telecom and data-communications sectors. Measuring 12.4 by 12.4 by 5.6 mm, the 3-A and 6-A converters feature a unique land-grid-array (LGA) structure that enables an easy board-mount inspection and a low profile. The components also provide efficiencies up to 93%, wide input voltage ranges, programmable output voltages, plus tracking and remote logic features.
Coming in at number nine on the list, the 48525 and 48530 smart battery isolators (Fig. 4) from Cole Hersee promise to prevent loads on the auxiliary battery from draining the starting battery. According to the company, they’re more flexible than traditional isolators since they aren’t specific to an alternator type.
The isolators are smaller and lighter and generate less heat than comparable components. They also reduce charging system workloads by not connecting to the auxiliary battery until the primary battery charges to 13.2 V. As a result, there is less strain on the charging components. The smart battery isolators are available in 85-A and 200-A versions.
Taking tenth place, Foster Transformer addresses green issues with its dimmable LED power supply (Fig. 5). Designed to be easy to install and use, the unit works with many household dimmer switches. Patented short-circuit and overload protection makes the supply suitable for commercial, residential, industrial, and institutional applications.