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400-W, 12-V Eval Board Accelerates Design of Eco-Certified Power Supplies
STMicroelectronics’ EVL400W-EUPL7 evaluation board implements a royalty-free reference design for a ready-to-use 400-W, 12-V power-supply solution that meets the ENERGY STAR Version 6.1 requirements for computers and many other of today’s toughest eco-design requirements. Able to adhere to global eco-standards while operating on a wide range of ac inputs (90 to 264 V; 45 to 65 Hz), the EVL400W-EUPL7 provides a compact, cost-effective solution for applications such as ATX supplies, small servers and workstations, medical equipment, signage, and LED panels.
The supply is based on ST’s SRK2001 synchronous-rectification control, L4984D current-mode power-factor-correction (PFC) controller, and L6699 resonant half-bridge controller. With the SRK2001 synchronous-rectification controller, the supply can achieve high average and typical efficiency across a wide load range. In addition, a much smaller heatsink can be used on the secondary-side power device. The SRK2001's integrated active high-voltage startup circuitry, designed for use with a depletion MOSFET, reduces the residual consumption in normal operation to a negligible level and ensures a fast startup time.
Both the L4984D and L6699 support burst mode, allowing the board to achieve high efficiency at light loads and eliminate the need for an auxiliary switched-mode power supply (SMPS). In addition, the L6699’s self-adaptive dead-time function further reduces primary current draw.
Thanks to these features, the reference design can deliver a full-load efficiency greater than 93% at 230 V ac and over 91% at 110 V ac, with a no-load mains consumption of less than 0.150 W. In turn, it’s able to meet ENERGY STAR Version 6.1 requirements for computers, European EuP Lot 6 Tier 2 requirements for household and office equipment, and CoC (Code of Conduct) Version 5 Tier 2 for external power supplies. The EVL400W-EUPL7 has also achieved CLEAResult1 Plug Load Solutions 80 PLUS2 certification, rated Platinum at 115 V ac and Gold at 230 V ac.
The EVL400W-EUPL7 is available to order now at the budgetary price of $180.00. Please visit http://www.st.com/evl400w-eupl7-pr for more information.
1CLEAResult is the largest provider of energy-efficiency programs and services in North America.
2The 80 PLUS performance specification is referenced by ENERGY STAR. It requires multi-output power supplies in computers and servers to be 80% or greater energy efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% of rated load with a true power factor of 0.9 or greater.
Smart Power to the People? An Insider Weighs in on Next-Gen Energy Meters
Even for those who aren't directly involved with smart energy meters, their increasing presence could have significant impact on many power-related products, as well as on the folks who design and manufacture them. At the very least, many appliances, EV chargers, lighting and HVAC elements, and industrial equipment will have to incorporate the connectivity and management protocols being adopted the utilities and smart metering industry.
But how long will smart power functionality become a basic requirement for power-related equipment? And which connectivity technologies will dominate the market? Some of those answers can be found in "Staying Power: Next gen smart energy meters on the rise,” an informative op-ed written by Lorenzo Amicucci, Business Development Manager, at Nordic Semiconductor.
According to Amicucci, the rapid adoption of smart metering is a foregone conclusion "being driven by the utility companies themselves, as they continue to invest in grid intelligence, security and edge computing technologies that will improve their operational efficiencies and reduce costs." His assertion is affirmed by, among other things, a report from Navigant Research that predicts smart meters will be installed in 6 out of 10 homes worldwide by 2028.
However, when it comes to the technology that will connect smart meters to the grid, the loads they serve, and the functionality they will support, the future is a tad less certain. Amicucci says that, "for meter-to-consumer connectivity no single protocol dominates, with Wi-Fi, cellular, Thread, Zigbee, and Bluetooth LE solutions all touted." To gain further insights on the forces driving Smart Energy metering, and the applications they will support, click here to see the complete blog.
IGBT Power Module: Higher Output, Lower Losses for Mid-Power EV Traction Inverters
Infineon Technologies introduced the HybridPACK DC6i, an IGBT power module tailored to the needs of electric-vehicle traction inverters in the 80- to 100-kW power class. This six-pack module, based on the company’s proven EDT2 IGBTs, is optimized to provide improved performance and reduced manufacturing costs to hybrid and small battery electric vehicles.
Infineon leveraged its experience in advanced package technologies and thermal management to create a second-generation module that matches the 7.2- × 14-cm form factor of HybridPACK 1 while providing 50% higher power output and a 20% reduction in light-load power losses. In addition, the new module features a low-inductive design that uses six screw connectors to the dc-link capacitor to reduce its stray inductance of 15 nH.
The DC6i's packaging has been designed specially to support efficient high-volume automated production. It incorporates press-Fit pins and additional guiding elements that eliminate the need for time-consuming selective soldering, enabling the gate-driver board to be mounted in a few seconds. Thermal management is handled by Infineon’s direct-cooling wave baseplate, which offers a thermal resistance of only 0.17 K/W between the IGBT chip junction and the cooling fluid.
The new HybridPACK DC6i is fully qualified according to the AQG324 norm for automotive power modules and is in production, with general availability at distributors in September 2020. The product datasheet and additional information is available at www.infineon.com/DC6i.
65-W, GaN-Based, QR Charger Reference Design Ups the Efficiency, Lowers the EMI
GaN Systems' new reference design for a high-power-density 65-W quasi-resonant (QR) charger offers high efficiency and enhanced EMI performance for consumer electronics applications like mobile phones, tablets, and laptop computers. The GaN devices used in the charger feature high switching speed, low on-resistance, and zero reverse recovery, enabling the design to meet growing consumer demand for smaller, lighter, more energy-efficient, and faster-charging devices. The reference design includes an operating evaluation unit and all of the design documentation needed to fine-tune the design to a particular application's requirements and optimize it for rapid, low-cost production.
Key Details:
- Input: 90-265V, ~ 50/60Hz
- Output: USB-C 5V3A, 9V3A/12V3A/15V3A/20V3.25A 65W max
- EMI: CISPR22 Conduction and Radiation Class B
- Power density with case: 18.5 W/in.3
- Supports PD3.0, PPS, QC, QC4.0+, BC1.2
- Comprehensive protection: OVP, OCP, SCP, and open loop
GaN Systems says that these features will enable customers to benefit from fewer redesigns, fewer PCB respins, and fewer trips to the lab for testing. The decrease in development time makes it possible for companies to accelerate time to market for new products.
Download the reference design guide here or visit GaN Systems’ Design Center for additional resources.
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