Review
It need not be emphasized that power sources, from batteries to high-power rack-mount and benchtop supplies, provide the heartbeat in all electronic products. Equally obvious, these components can be universal, custom tailored to specific applications, or breakthrough designs in terms of power levels, efficiency, size and more. From basic accessories to complex designs, there was no deficit of offerings this year.
In the realm of dc/dc converters, the industry's first sixteenth-brick converters were reported in the form of Astec Power's (astec.com) 50W ALX series. They measure 41.9 mm x 20.3 mm x 8.3mm, while maintaining quarter-brick and eighth-brick pin outs. With input voltages from 36V to 75V, models are available with output currents from 15A to 20A and output voltages of 1.2, 1.8, 2.5, and 3.3V. Efficiencies are as high as 88% for a 1.8V model with minimal power derating at high temperatures.
Ascom Rompower (ascom-usa.com) also claimed a first with its Xena 50 dc/dc converters that have a quarter-brick pin out in a true eighth-brick package. The converters measure exactly 50% smaller than industry-standard quarter-bricks, while delivering up to 30A with a 1.5V output. Via proprietary planar magnetics, efficiency at full load is typically better than 90%.
And yet another first came from DATEL (datel.com) with its LEN Series of high-current, point-of-load (POL) dc/dc converters. The devices take a 12V ±15% input, such as from an on-board intermediate bus, and convert it to 0.8V to 3.3V at 28A or 5V at 25A. These eighth-brick converters use a 2-phase, fixed frequency (320 kHz), buck regulator design that is said to deliver efficiencies ranging from 85% for 0.8 VOUT to 96% for 5 VOUT, low noise of 20-30 mVP-P, quick step response of 100 µs, and a wide operating temperature range up to 70°C without derating.
In the ac- adapter arena, the Net+Power internal ac- adapter module from Maverick Power Systems (maverickpower. com) integrates a 14-Mb/s HomePlug PHY that permits the module to be connected to a motherboard's Ethernet MAC interface. It also includes an off-line switching supply that provides up to 10W of regulated power at popular voltages. Measuring just 3.5" x 3.5" x 1.0", the module plugs into a connector on the board and provides an ac-input receptacle, eliminating the need for any internal wires.
For LCD modules backlit by one or two CCFLs, Endicott Research Group's (ergpower.com) P44WD dc/ac inverters widened operating temperature ranges to −30°C to +85°C. The component delivers a 15W output with a starting voltage up to 2.4 kVRMS. Other features include a vacuum encapsulated high-voltage section to provide resistance to shock, vibration, and humidity.
An interesting entry in switching power supplies this year was the S8VS from Omron Electronics (omron.com). Through use of a 3-digit, 7-segment LED display, the switch-mode power supplies can indicate maintenance-related information. Both life-time and run-time conditions can be monitored, with the life-time monitor used to estimate the supply's remaining service life and the run-time monitor indicating how long a load has been operating, enabling networked power supplies to indicate to another device to take corrective action. The switchers are available in 60W, 90W, 120W, and 240W versions.
SOLA/Hevi-Duty's (sola-hevi-duty.com) hot-swappable S5K modular uninterruptible power system (UPS) allows users to perform upgrades in the field, for example, increasing VA ratings and adding N+x parallel redundancy. Said to be a more cost-effective alternative than installing additional UPSs, the system requires only a few modules to expand protection for the target system.
On the battery front, the CR2450-HR and CR2450HR-EX Li/MnO2 coin cell batteries from Maxell Corp. of America (maxell.com) are designed for high-temperature operation. Specifically for use in on-board tire pressure monitoring systems, the batteries can withstand temperatures ranging from −40°C to +120°C and −40°C to +150°C, respectively. Both cells measure 24.5 mm in diameter x 5 mm high and have a nominal voltage of 3V. The HR cells have a standard capacity of 550 mAh, weigh 6.8g and are for standard-size vehicles, while the HR-EX cells have a 525 mAh capacity, weigh 6.7g, and are for high-performance, premium vehicles.
—Mat Dirjish
Outlook
Power To The Products
Both driven by and dependent on every electronic OEM market, the power-sources sector will be facing some tough challenges in the years to come. Based on the massive and controversial power outages this year in the US and Europe, future electronics products will have to reign in power consumption, as well as deal with environmental considerations. New power sources will have to accommodate these trends, while meeting some of the same parameters.
Eventually, those venerable AA, AAA, C, and D cells will shrink in size while lasting longer. Perhaps they will be supplanted by a unique design based on emerging developments in the areas of Chemistry and Physics.
—MD
