DSP technology promises power supply advances

Tyco Electronics Power Systems has unveiled its nWave technology, claimed to represent the latest advances in the use of DSPs in power supplies.

Tyco Electronics Power Systems has unveiled its nWave technology, claimed to represent the latest advances in the use of DSPs in power supplies.

Power supplies using this technology provide customers with benefits such as improved efficiency, reliability, density and control.

As systems get smaller and denser, heat management becomes a greater concern, prompting the need for greater efficiency.

More efficient rectifiers are desired not only because of lower energy cost, but also because they enable increased density.

Efficiency is also important for N+N and N+1 redundant systems where power convertors are not running at full load.

With the use of digital control techniques, it is possible to alter switching/control parameters to maximise efficiency for all load conditions.

One of the many benefits from using the nWave technology includes the ability to shorten time-to-market by allowing for software, as opposed to hardware, changes during the development cycle.

Furthermore, rectifiers with digital control technology can be easily customised through programming to meet particular customer needs, as compared with costly hardware modifications.

"We are fully committed to our nWave technology because it allows for more value-added features, improves reliability and reduces cost", says Sabi Varma, Vice President, Marketing and R and D at Tyco Electronics Power Systems.

"The potential of digital control to bring new value-added features to our customers is unlimited".

nWave technology can reduce parts count, allowing for smaller rectifier packages with increased power density.

It can also replace many of the functions that are performed by analogue means today, including PWM loop control, loop compensation, current sharing, current or power limiting, and external communications and their associated circuitry.

In addition, the nWave technology may be used to provide digital information through communication buses such as PMBus/SMBus without the need for a separate microprocessor.

"The use of nWave for full-control of the power supply will bring even more creative product features, without additional cost, as the technique evolves", says David Rosenbluth, Director, Research and Development at Tyco Electronics Power Systems "This technology will be integral in our future product releases".

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