PMBus Trends

Increasingly, computer-based systems employ digital control of power supplies to improve power-management flexibility, maintainability, and reliability. Standardized PMBus commands encourage semiconductor and powersupply manufacturers to develop t

Sam Davis 2

Jan. 12, 2006

Increasingly, computer-based systems employ digital control of power supplies to improve power-management flexibility, maintainability, and reliability.
Standardized PMBus commands encourage semiconductor and powersupply manufacturers to develop the appropriate technology to control a power supply's operating parameters, monitor its operation, and perform corrective measures in response to faults or operational warnings.
Starting with 45 executable commands, the PMBus specification will expand as new technologies and circuit configurations evolve.
Semiconductor and power-supply manufacturers use Windows-based
GUIs to support PMBus designs.
Evaluation boards help designers understand PMBus operations.
The greater use of online design and simulation tools helps to optimize power-supply operation and verify its performance.

About the Author

Sam Davis 2

Sam Davis was the editor-in-chief of Power Electronics Technology magazine and website that is now part of Electronic Design. He has 18 years experience in electronic engineering design and management, six years in public relations and 25 years as a trade press editor. He holds a BSEE from Case-Western Reserve University, and did graduate work at the same school and UCLA. Sam was the editor for PCIM, the predecessor to Power Electronics Technology, from 1984 to 2004. His engineering experience includes circuit and system design for Litton Systems, Bunker-Ramo, Rocketdyne, and Clevite Corporation. Design tasks included analog circuits, display systems, power supplies, underwater ordnance systems, and test systems. He also served as a program manager for a Litton Systems Navy program.

Sam is the author of Computer Data Displays, a book published by Prentice-Hall in the U.S. and Japan in 1969. He also authored the book Managing Electric Vehicle Power. He is also a recipient of the Jesse Neal Award for trade press editorial excellence, and has one patent for naval ship construction that simplifies electronic system integration.

You can also check out additional articles on his other author page.