Power Integrations Announces Power Supply Design Software Suite

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Power Integrations Announces Power Supply Design Software Suite
August 4, 2008
Power Integrations launched the latest version of its power supply software designtool, PI Expert® v7.0. The new software incorporates algorithmsto optimize multiple output power supplies and to design theprimary side clamp circuit and input EMI filtering components. PIExpert v7.0 also includes support for recently releasedTOPSwitch-HX, LinkSwitch-II IC families, as well as adding flybacktopology support for the DPA-Switch® range.
Doug Bailey, Vice President of Marketing, commented, "Many consumerproducts require multiple voltage rails – for example, a DVDplayer may use 3.3V for the logic, 5V for analog components, 12Vfor the drive mechanism motors and -12V for a vacuum fluorescentdisplay. The most cost-effective way to achieve this is to design asingle transformer and arrange the secondary winding turns-ratiosto generate the required output voltages. The difficulty is tomanage cross regulation between the rails so that, for example, the3.3V logic rail does not fall to 2.5V when the 12V drawer-openingmotor is activated. This requires a detailed knowledge oftransformer design and, typically, many iterations. The new PIExpert release incorporates real-world engineering experience andsome highly complex mathematics to deliver the best design given anarray of user-selectable input parameters."
The PI Expert v7.0 also incorporates a physical model of thetransformer. The new software calculates whether the transformerwindings required to achieve the power-transfer goals of thetransformer will fit into the winding window of the user-selectablecore and bobbin combination. If the windings do not fit the window,PI Expert v7.0 presents alternate solutions. The transformer designfrom PI Expert v7.0 can be submitted to the PI RTSS (RapidTransformer Sampling Service) for rapid prototyping and delivery.
In a flyback topology power supply, the clamp circuit is used torecover leakage inductance energy and protect other parts of thepower supply from high voltages during line surges and rapid loadtransitions. Clamp implementation cost can be traded off againstpower supply efficiency and ruggedness. The new PI Expert v7.0includes clamp circuit design algorithms which calculate thenecessary component values, and provide all corresponding componentpart numbers for the optimum solution.
All switch-mode power supplies generate EMI (Electro-MagneticInterference) as a consequence of switching high voltages at highfrequencies. Suppression of the conducted portion of the EMI isdone by adding filtering components on the input of the powersupply, but these components are a cost-overhead because they donot add to the power conversion function. Based on a knowledge ofthe circuit design and software input parameters, PI Expert v7.0 issaid to select an EMI filter design, calculate and optimize thecomponent values and provide part numbers for implementing the mostcost-effective filter.
The PI Expert v7.0 suite is available immediately for freedownload.
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