Power Supply Design

Wolfspeed specifically designed its latest generation of SiC MOSFETs to be a better fit for both hard- and soft-switching power systems.

Based on a new manufacturing process, the split-gate MOSFETs developed by Renesas show significant improvements in power handling.

48 V is emerging as the new standard for automotive power. But Molex warns that bridging the gap between current 12-V and future 48-V power systems poses challenges for engineers...

Inside the latest 16-phase power controller from Alpha and Omega Semiconductor and how it helps feed power-hungry GPUs and other AI chips.

Improving the window of usable power supplies for core voltages of devices helps ensure operation within the valid operating power-supply range.

GaN switches promise higher efficiency and higher power density in SMPS. This article discusses the readiness of this technology and its challenges, and provides an outlook on...

According to Infineon, these wafers—the thinnest of its type to be mass-produced—will enhance the efficiency, density, and reliability of its power converters.

Galvanic isolation is imperative in everything from onboard chargers in EVs to the power electronics feeding AI chips in data centers, said Skyworks’ John Wilson.

Frederik Dostal, author of Dostal’s Designs on Electronic Design, talks about developing power systems.

Explore several of the most common misconceptions about EV batteries and one of the most promising new technologies in the industry: the wireless BMS.

Learn more about the single monitoring unit (SMU) from LEM and how it could facilitate higher-accuracy, intelligent battery management in EVs.

A deep dive into the challenges of AI power delivery and how startup Empower Semiconductor attempts to tackle them with its Crescendo family of voltage-regulator ICs.

In an exclusive interview with TI’s director of power management R&D, we explore the role of advanced packaging in low-voltage power electronics.

The MC33777 combines critical pack-level monitoring functions into a single device for faster, safer, and more reliable EV battery management.

Learn more about ROHM Semiconductor’s LogiCoA solution, which blends the concepts of analog and digital power-supply control.

High-precision, coreless current-sensing technology sits at the heart of Molex’s new Percept family of busbar current sensors.

Check out some of the latest real-time MCUs and digital controllers suited for high-density power supplies.

Silicon capacitors are trending up when it comes to high-performance decoupling. Learn more about how these components could help optimize the “last inch” of power delivery to...

Inverting buck-boost circuits are commonly used to generate negative supply voltages from positive voltages. However, additional level-shifting circuits may be necessary if the...

Any engineer testing electronic devices cares about accuracy, which depends on the DC programmable power supply’s specifications, how it monitors the output, and how it’s wired...

As electronics technology advances, concerns mount about EMI. This article looks at EMI mitigation methods when dealing with high frequencies in switching power supplies.

Power Integrations’ BridgeSwitch-2 expands available output to 746 W, improves inverter efficiency to 99%, and reduces sleep-mode consumption to below 10 mW.

Get noise out of your power supply with a multi-prong approach. Filters, bypassing, and post-regulation all can help achieve that goal.

Various methods, from shielding to optimized PCB layout, can be applied to significantly reduce high levels of EMI in power supplies.

The high-efficiency switching power supply has become a staple ingredient in many of today’s electronic systems. What are its origins and how has it evolved over the decades?

Rather than use linear surge stoppers for overvoltage protection, opt for switching surge varieties, as the load will continue running even when surges last for a long time.

High-voltage power technology will help lead us to a more viable future. What are some of the different avenues being taken to make it happen?

In circuits and power-distribution systems, there are many ways to measure harmonics, e.g., using a clamp meter, and methods to reduce them, such as via K-rated transformers.

Thanks to innovations in silicon and packaging, these MOSFETs push the limits of power density.

Switching power supplies offer significant advantages over their linear counterparts, but they’re not without drawbacks.

The Renesas SLG47105 can be used to implement a range of DC-DC converters.

How exactly is the correct inductance value chosen? Frederik Dostal looks at the considerations and what happens when selecting a current ripple that’s too high or too low.

Bourns’ new family of circuit-protection devices can dissipate surges of up to 1 or 2 kA.

Excessive current flow must be prevented so that the electrical circuit can be reliably protected.

This article series aims to provide a simplified understanding and renewed appreciation for the art of power-supply design.

Continuous supply voltage via an uninterruptible power supply is crucial for a number of applications, but it can be tough to ensure at all times. This Idea for Design offers ...

On display at APEC, the new GaN power IC is designed for USB Type-C PD adapters that support up to 100 W.

With a single-inductor, multiple-output (SIMO) converter, multiple voltages can be generated with just one energy-storage inductor, providing for a more compact power-supply architectur...

Infineon is seeking to expand its power electronics ecosystem through an acquisition of rival GaN Systems.

When the need arises for the generation of a negative voltage rail, the inverting buck-boost topology offers the best compromise between high efficiency and small form factor....

Delivering a lower-cost, higher-efficiency option, Pulsiv’s new converter targets 100- to 250-W applications but could scale higher to support 10 kW or more.

Wolfspeed said it will spend up to $5 billion in a new silicon-carbide materials facility in North Carolina.

TI's Dorian Brillet de Cande provides tips and details for dc/dc converter designers.

The half-bridge, one of the most fundamental building blocks in power electronics, now comes in GaN.

Miniaturizing a supply not only saves on space, but it lowers cost due to smaller board space requirements as well as offering the possibility of building higher-functionality...

Anker's new generation of mobile fast chargers marks another major win for gallium-nitride power devices.

The differences and benefits are compared between traditional monolithic UPS systems versus more newly designed modular UPS systems.

When the right parameters are checked, via LTpowerCAD or another tool, the number of output capacitors in a power supply can be minimized, saving money and board space.

Power modules might be the semiconductor industry’s answer to some constant problems. With advanced component integration, optimization, and performance, modules deliver a power...

Murata's Steve Allen talks about the technology behind the UltraCP MYC0409.

Stricter guidelines imposed by version 3 of the IEC standard for harmonic current emissions push designers to embrace power-factor-correction methodologies.

This two-part series presents validated SMPS designs for remote-patient vital sign monitoring applications, including biosensors with excellent system signal-to-noise performance...

This series shines the spotlight on how to get the most out of your power-supply designs, taking a deep dive into noise issues that plague signal-processing chains and methodologies...

Real-world behavior must be taken into account to build a reliable power system, and that means an input voltage must be within the permissible range for the given switching regulator...

Dr. Ray Ridley presents issues and answers for power-supply designers.

Delve into voltage regulators and DC-DC power supplies

Today’s architecture tools for power-supply design have become very sophisticated and powerful enough to meet the demands of complex systems, yet are now easy enough to use for...

Sponsored by Digi-Key and RECOM: The make vs. buy decision when it comes to power supplies becomes more onerous due to demands designers must meet. However, some of the latest...

Sponsored by Texas Instruments: Batteries of course power an extensive range of devices from consumer to industrial, and extending their lifetime is crucial in design. That’s ...

With a good company, you’re buying much more than the chip. You’re also obtaining the confidence that the chip was in good hands, because it’s usually designed by experts in the...

Sponsored by Texas Instruments: Software tools speed and simplify the design of most power-supply types, which otherwise tends to be a difficult task if you’re not well-versed...

Sponsored by Texas Instruments: Though long recognized as a superior option for small power adapters, implementation difficulties have held back the topology’s widespread use....

It’s imperative that designers better understand the complex nature of digital power. In this article, an analog-based SMPS is converted into a digital-feedback supply.

Sponsored by Texas Instruments: When going about choosing a power topology, first nail down the required specs and then decide on whether you’re going linear or switch-mode.

Buy or build? Paul Rako recalls his and Bob Pease's experience on this matter regarding test equipment, and with one engineer who was determined to build his own power supply...

The design of switching power supplies requires significant attention to detail, from component placement and thermal analysis to careful testing for a wide range of operating...