Demand for greater power density and smaller printed circuit boards (PCBs) continues to escalate within markets such as building automation and automotive infotainment. To keep up with these trends, there’s a push to convert discrete power circuits to fully or partially integrated solutions.
Discrete components such as diodes, fuses, and metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) are being replaced by integrated devices that not only replicate their functionality, but also provide improved performance—including up to 5X higher power density—and other features benefiting the overall application. This article highlights some of the common discrete circuits used for power distribution and protection, as well as the most appropriate integrated solutions to replace them.