Power supplies celebrate diversity
By Bill Schweber -- EDN, January 8, 2004
Anyone who supposes that power supplies are monolithic system functions is mistaken, judging from the variety of recent announcements. For example, the PTH series of nonisolated, point-of-load dc/dc converters from Artesyn Technologies Inc encompasses 15 units with current outputs of 6 to 30A (Picture). Input/output pairings are 3.3/0.8 to 2.5, 5/0.8 to 3.6, and 12/1.2 to 5.5V. The converters’ footprints range from 0.87×0.5 to 1.37×1.12 in., and their prices range from $9 to $24.86 (10,000).
Yet, many applications do not require low voltage and high current. For laser and pulsed-light systems, as well as medical applications, the SM10 from HiTek Power can give you 100V at a “simmer” current as high as 100 mA from a 24V-dc supply. The $325 (production volumes) supply measures 4.5×2.4×2.2 in. and includes a trigger-pulse output to drive an external trigger transformer, which some system designs require.
If you are designing for military/aerospace applications, you need a supply that meets the unique qualifying specifications of this market, but may not have found one with an output voltage as low as 3.3V dc. VPT Inc offers such a supply, the DVGF+ series of 12.5W triple-output dc/dc units, with an input range of 15 to 50V dc and outputs at 3.3 and ±12 or ±15V, depending on model (Picture). The 24g supply comes in a welded hermetic package, measures 0.33 in. high, and meets the relevant military specs for performance and long-term reliability, including no internal optocouplers, for example. It includes 80V transient resistance for 1 sec. You obtain this level of performance at greater expense than that for mass-market units; price is $409 (100).
The miniature fluorescent lamps that find use in space-constrained applications, such as inspection bore scopes and pipe inspection, also have unique power-supply needs. Targeting those applications, the BXA-12576 from JKL Components Corp transforms a 12V-dc source into an 800V rms ac output (Picture). Input current is 150 mA, and the supply delivers 4 mA rms at a 105-kHz operating frequency. The pencil-shaped supply measure 0.25 in. in diameter and 1.4 in. long, and the lamps it powers typically measure 2×25 to 5×150 mm. The inverters sell for $9 (100).
Artesyn Technologies Inc, www.artesyn.com.
HiTek Power, www.hitekpower.com.
VPT Inc, www.vpt-inc.com.
JKL Components Corp, www.jkllamps.com.
