The ever-present march toward better semiconductor devices warrants a fresh look at the forward vs. flyback debate.
In this article, we discuss the characteristics of active-clamp forward and continuous-conduction flyback isolated power supply topologies and demonstrate the design and performance trade-offs of each using two telecom-oriented power supplies as examples. Brief overviews of each topology are provided to aid in the understanding of their similarities and differences and of their strengths and weaknesses.
