Top 5 power products in April

1. XP Power has announced the introduction of the HDL3000-HV series of single-phase input 3kW AC/DC power supplies with output voltages from 150V to 400VDC, with up to 800VDC realised by connecting units in series. All models feature output voltage and current adjustment ranging from zero to 105% using analogue (via voltage or resistance) or digital (I2C, RS485 and RS232) interfaces enabling the user to optimise and tailor the power solution to the application.

The HDL3000-HV series, with both constant voltage and constant current operation, addresses applications that require higher supply voltages including battery test and simulation systems, test and burn-in equipment, laser systems, LED curing, lighting and heating, electrolysis, motor drives and cathodic protection.

Five output voltage versions are available: 150, 200, 250, 300 and 400V, each with a 5V/0.5A or 9V/0.3A user-selectable standby output. The output can be trimmed within ±5% in addition to the output programming function. For applications requiring higher current, up to eight models can be connected in parallel with active current sharing and built-in ORing diodes simplifying interconnections.

2. ROHM has announced the new BD34301EKV, a 32-bit D/A converter IC designed for high fidelity audio equipment – capable of high-resolution playback of audio sources. At the same time, ROHM also provides BD34301EKV-EVK-001 evaluation boards to test the performance of ROHM’s new IC that is sold via distributor channels.

Designed to maximally extract and convert high resolution audio data to analogue, audio DAC chips are one of the most important components for determining the quality in audio equipment. Leveraging 50 years of expertise in developing audio ICs, it allowed ROHM to establish ‘sound quality design technology’ capable of extracting the full amount of information from sound sources and offer products that deliver superior sound quality, including sound processor and power management ICs.

The BD34301EKV DAC chip, developed as part of ROHM’s high-grade MUS-IC series representing the pinnacle of audio ICs, emphasises ‘spatial resonance’, ‘sense of scale’ and ‘quietness’, which are qualities important for reproducing classical music. Original sound quality design technology makes it possible to successfully reproduce the target sound quality by incorporating a circuit in the signal processing block to check audio quality.

3. Power Integrations has announced that its HiperPFS-4 power factor correction (PFC) controller IC is now available with an integrated Qspeed low reverse recovery charge (Qrr) boost diode. This combination delivers greater than 98% full-load efficiency in PC, TV, and similar applications between 75 and 400W.

Power Integrations’ Product Marketing Manager Edward Ong, said: “Designs using HiperPFS-4 ICs show very high efficiency across the load range with as little as 36 mW of no-load power consumption at 230VAC. The HiperPFS-4 family is ideal for PCs and TVs, and also for battery chargers, power tools, industrial power supplies and LED lighting. The active devices incorporated into HiperPFS-4 ICs are rated to 600V, which eases compliance with frequently requested 80% de-rating specifications.”

The HiperPFS-4 IC combines continuous conduction mode (CCM) PFC control circuitry, the boost diode and a 600V MOSFET in one device. Including the boost diode reduces heatsink mounting, leading to a simpler design and better thermal performance.

4. TDK has announced the introduction of the 750W rated TDK-Lambda i7A series of non-isolated buck DC/DC step-down converters, packaged in the industry-standard 1/16th brick footprint. The output voltage of these 24V nominal input step-down converters can be adjusted from 3.3 to 18V with a maximum current of 45A.

The i7A models can be used to derive additional high-power outputs from a 24VDC power supply, at a lower cost and higher efficiency than isolated DC/DC converters. These very compact products are suited for use in robotics, drones, medical, industrial, test, measurement and portable battery-powered equipment.

Efficiencies of up to 98.5% dramatically minimise internal losses and allow the i7A to operate in ambient temperatures of -40°C to +125°C, even with low airflow conditions. The i7A’s design provides a low output ripple and excellent response to dynamic loads. Minimal external components are required, compared to discrete solutions, saving cost and printed circuit board space.

5. The STMicroelectronics MasterGaN4 power packages integrate two symmetrical 650V gallium nitride (GaN) power transistors with 225mΩ RDS(on), alongside optimised gate drivers and circuit protection to simplify the design of high-efficiency power-conversion applications up to 200W.

The latest addition to ST’s MasterGaN family, MasterGaN4 simplifies design using wide-bandgap GaN power semiconductors by taking away the complex gate-control and circuit-layout challenges. With inputs tolerant of voltages from 3.3V to 15V, MasterGaN4 can be controlled by connecting the packages directly to Hall-effect sensors or a CMOS device such as a microcontroller, DSP, or FPGA.

Leveraging the higher operating frequencies enabled by the superior switching performance of GaN transistors, as well as their increased efficiency that reduces thermal dissipation, designers can choose small magnetic components and heatsinks to build more compact and lightweight power supplies, chargers, and adapters. MasterGaN4 is well suited to use in symmetrical half-bridge topologies as well as soft-switching topologies such as active clamp flyback and active clamp forward.