| Power Management ICs Enable Optimized Power for Automotive ADAS
Maxim Integrated Products has announced a series of power-management ICs (PMICs) that enable designers to optimize power for automotive advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) functions to achieve high performance, small size, efficiency and electrical protection. ADAS functions, many of which are now mandatory or will be soon, increase vehicle safety and enhance the driving experience. These features include smart braking for collision avoidance, GPS/navigation, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, lane-departure warning and back-up/surround video. Although these functions receive considerable design attention, managing DC power in electrically harsh vehicle environments is a less-publicized yet critical challenge. These involve significant issues of functions, features, performance, efficiency and footprint.
The series of PMICs which Maxim has released includes a 3.2 MHz dual step-down power supply in a 2 mm à 3 mm package, an ASIL-grade camera module protector IC with an I2C interface, synchronous step-down converters with low quiescent current plus peak and valley mode options, and a triple-output converter featuring one synchronous boost and two synchronous step-down converters.
DC Panel Meters Display Voltage, Current and Power Measurements Murata Power Solutions has introduced its DCM20 series of multifunction panel meters. For DC systems, these meters measure DC voltage and current, calculate power up to 96 kW, and display values either manually selected or continuously cycling. The miniature panel-mount product provides an input voltage range of 0.5 VDC to 72 VDC, with 10 mV of resolution. The meter also supports current measurement ranges from 5 A to 1,200 A when used with an external user-supplied resistive shunt. Targeted for use in 12 V, 24 V or 48 V systems, out-of-the-box accuracy of the product is +/-1 % for voltage and +/-2 % for current. Packaged in a rugged, one-piece polycarbonate housing, with dimensions of 2.1" x 1.43" (53.3 mm x 36.3 mm), the DCM20 fits in 0U and 1U racks making it well-suited for laboratory instrumentation as well as industrial and telecom equipment. Threaded mounting studs and caged terminal blocks for application wiring ensure reliable operation in harsh environments.
Applications for the product include, but are not limited to, real-time monitoring and display of DC power in telecom power distribution systems, battery management/backup systems, laboratory instrumentation and alternative energy and marine installations.
Designing a Debug and Test Tool By William Holt, Sequim Tek During a career largely spent developing mixed signal IC products, I often longed for a personal, simple to use, analog and digital pattern generator tool. Numerous occasions arose where it was necessary to check the performance or parameters of an IC, a breadboard or an application board. Sometimes the setup was trivial: a few supplies and a signal generator or two. And sometimes the setup was quite complex. I had a few tools for the tougher problems but there was usually something not quite matching up---logic or interface voltages, offset, synchronization, limited pattern width/length and limited pattern control options. So after retiring, I decided to create a personal debug and test tool and here is the result. |
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The DCM ChiP (Converter housed in Package) is a DC-DC converter module that operates from an unregulated, wide range input to generate an isolated, regulated DC output. With its high frequency zero-voltage switching (ZVS) topology, the DCM converter consistently delivers high efficiency across its entire input voltage range.