Digital power GUI simplifies system design

Free to download, the PowerNavigator tool offers designers the flexibility required to quickly set up and control any power supply architecture. The PowerNavigator GUI provides access to all commands and setup configurations, including the ability to load predefined configurations for common applications. Crafting the power architecture in PowerNavigator’s “hardware-free” mode lets users select components prior to hardware development, without design risk.

The GUI applies the saved settings and monitors all the rails once the initial hardware is developed. A selection of telemetric datacan display any number of rails. Designers make final system adjustments through the GUI with simple and intuitive controls. Sequencing of the rails is now possible through a visual drag-and-drop interface.

Intersil offers a rapidly expanding lineup of digital power ICs and modules which provide a PMBus serial interface to configure, control and monitor the power supply. Working in tandem with the PowerNavigator GUI to speed design time, Intersil has also today released the ZL8800 compensation free digital power controller.

Key features of the PowerNavigator GUI include: a hardware-free mode lets users design and architect power systems prior to hardware development; graphical monitoring makes display easy to read with entire system on one page; visual sequencing lets users sequence up and down multiple rails using drag–and-drop; command line tool enables simple access and control of any PMBus command; ability to save entire system project; and config files allow individual files to be saved for production programming.