Introduction

Highlights of this issue include new product releases from Intersil, Texas Instruments, Linear Technology and Maxim Integrated Products; design features on microinverters and power optimizers, and highly-integrated power modules; power electronics-related design ideas; schedule of the PowerGrid Europe and the ISIE 2010 conferences; and research studies on the world market for photovoltaic cells and modules.


 

12 February 2010

Power module in compact QFN package
Intersil has announced the ISL8200M, a scalable power module. The module provides designers an easy-to-use general-purpose power solution that satisfies a range of POL (point-of-load) power requirements.
Intersil


12V dual-channel synchronous buck converter with integrated FETs
Texas Instruments (TI) has introduced a dual-output, fully synchronous SWIFT power management integrated circuit. The TPS54290 1.5A/2.5A converter simplifies power design in consumer electronics with a 12V power supply, such as a set top box or digital TV.
Texas Instruments


Piezoelectric energy harvesting power supply
Linear Technology has announced the LTC3588-1, a complete energy harvesting solution optimised for low energy sources, including piezoelectric transducers. The device integrates a low-loss, full-wave bridge rectifier with a high efficiency buck converter to harvest ambient vibrational energy via piezoelectric transducers and then convert it to a well-regulated output to power application microcontrollers, sensors, data converters and wireless transmission components.
Linear Technology


Complete PMIC with integrated EEPROM
Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the MAX17106, a fully integrated PMIC (power-management IC) that minimises BOM cost and solution size for notebook LCD panels. This device is equipped with two boost regulators, an LDO, a programmable VCOM calibrator with buffer, three high-speed op amps, a high-voltage level-shifting scan driver, and 18kbyte of EEPROM.
Maxim Integrated Products
 

Microinverters And Power Optimizers: Power Conversion Migrates Down To The PV Panel
Alternative forms of power have become increasingly popular as utilities react to rising fuel prices and government mandates. Photovoltaic cells usually receive most of the attention as solar-energy cost drivers, but the AC/DC inverter design is equally important to overall system efficiency and cost.


National opts for familiar outline for DC/DC modules
National Semiconductor has entered the market for highly-integrated power modules with a range of step-down dc/dc converters in a new package. Some packages that other vendors have employed for such modules have had limitations, National asserts.
National Semiconductor

Inexpensive power switch includes submicrosecond circuit breaker
The circuit in Figure 1 lets you switch high-voltage power to a grounded load with a low-voltage control signal. The circuit also functions as a submicrosecond circuit breaker that protects the power source against load faults. Power switches to the load when you apply a logic-level signal to the output-control terminal.


IR qualifies DirectFET MOSFET package for automotive designs
International Rectifier has introduced a new variant of its DirectFET package for power-switch devices, with features optimised for automotive designs. DirectFET is a metal-can package that holds a single FET die. It takes the form of an inverted dish, of the same depth as the die thickness, and IR uses it for vertical FETs, with source and drain connections on the front and back of the silicon.
 

PowerGrid Europe, 8-10 June, 2010, at Amsterdam, The Netherlands
POWERGRID Europe, together with POWER-GEN Europe and Renewable Energy World Europe represent electricity transmission and distribution, conventional, nuclear and renewable power generation - the four key facets of the power industry.


ISIE 2010, 4-7 July 2010 at Bari, Italy
IEEE-ISIE is an international forum to share breakthroughs in research, emerging technologies, and success stories in industrial electronics and applications. Topics of interest for this conference include: control systems and applications; sensors, actuators and system integration; power electronics; electrical machines and drives; signal processing and computational intelligence; factory automation and industrial informatics; robotics and mechatronics; and emerging technologies.

 

The World Market for Photovoltaic Cells and Modules
The PV market – in terms of both new installations and shipments of PV modules and inverters grew substantially in 2009 according to recently released analysis from IMS Research. Latest results from its recently published report ‘The World Market for PV Cells and Modules’ reveal that PV module shipments grew considerably once again in 2009 – by over 25%, to more than 8GW; however analysis also revealed that new installations grew just 5-10%.
 

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