Product category: Design and Development Software
News Release from: Fairchild Semiconductor | Subject: FETBench and PFC Toolkit
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 24 February 2004
Online tools speed PSU design
The FETBench and PFC Toolkit are novel web-based tools that will allow designers to dramatically shorten design times and speed time to market
These online tools offer choices of topologies, product selection, simulation creation, and many other features. The newly upgraded FETBench provides comprehensive mosfet device selection, application analysis, and a new thermal simulation tool based on common power conversion schemes. A new design tool, the PFC Toolkit, gives designers access to a power factor correction tutorial and selector modules.
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 24 February 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Information on these and other design tools can be found at Fairchild's design centre web page.
Fairchild's FETBench offers user interface and graphing tools, improved application simulations, comprehensive thermal modelling, and many new device models.
Based on device behavioural models, provided by Fairchild and user-selected parameters, this simulation tool is able to graph accurate curve tracer waveforms of input/output characteristics, such as ID against VGS, RDS(on) against ID, gate charge against VGS, RDS(on) against VGS, and others.
The FETBench database uses a library of over 300 Fairchild mosfet devices to recommend particular devices based on a selected application.
Designers have access to customisable design optimisation tools such as a curve tracer, dynamic characteristics test circuits, and circuit simulations.
Further reading
Load switches improve thermal performance
Load switches integrate current-limited P-channel MOSFET with protection and control features to simplify design, reduce component count and minimise board space
Two-way voltage translator goes low
Single-bit bidirectional voltage translator is guaranteed to operate from 1.1 to 3.6V
FET and driver combine for compact power
Optimised and integrated FET plus driver power stage solution replaces discrete alternative to save more than 80% of PCB real estate
Additionally, FETBench features a detailed thermal modelling tool, which is an invaluable resource for designing applications with stringent heat dissipation requirements.
Initially introduced in 2000 to assist in mosfet selection and design, FETBench now offers designers the ability to evaluate the mosfet selection in conjunction with an actual PWM controller IC for a synchronous rectified buck convertor.
This feature represents two new capabilities to benefit designers: the FETBench application circuit is built around an actual controller (and driver) IC and it offers a much faster simulation engine than using Spice models for switching power convertors.
Another FETBench improvement focuses on the rising popularity of synchronous buck DC/DC convertor applications.
Fairchild's advanced FET selection capability now allows the user to define such items as detailed circuit requirements, including input and output voltages, output current, number of phases, number of paralleled mosfets per phase, and switching frequency.
FETBench then provides a list of recommended mosfet design combinations that can fulfil the specified requirements.
This list can be sorted using weighting factors based on efficiency, board area, parts count and cost.
Fairchild's new PFC Toolkit includes an interactive tutorial on power factor correction and associated regulations.
Control methods such as peak current, discontinuous peak current, and average current are reviewed and compared, identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each.
A selection tool is available to help choose the topology as well as the optimal Fairchild product for the topology.
Elements that are taken into consideration include output power, the chosen control method, architecture, and desired features.
In addition to online design tools, Fairchild offers archived webcasts and information tailored to facilitate designs for computing, consumer, industrial, ultraportable and automotive applications.
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