Page 7 - PEN eBook July 2023
P. 7
Cover Story — Design
Figure 1 shows a typical variety of applications for non-isolated miniaturized DC/DC converter power
modules in different environments. The power module in a camera system for security purposes is
supplied by 5 V. The DC/DC module generates then the needed 3.3 V for the image processor IC. The
current consumption is time-dependent; the system needs energy only when a picture is taken.
Figure 1: Typical range of applications for DC/DC power modules
Battery-powered applications like wearables and portable devices require a highly efficient power
supply to ensure long battery life. The internal battery is supplied by a DC/DC power module that
generates 3.6 V to charge the battery out of the 5 V.
Oscilloscopes need analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) as an essential part of measuring the
voltages and converting them to a digital value. The 5 V for the ADC is generated with a power
module that is supplied from the internal 12-V DC bus of the oscilloscope.
Control units for warehouse logistics are directly connected to a 24-V DC bus. They must be robust
against transients that are always present on the supply bus.
Each of the applications described has a specific requirement for the supplying DC/DC converter.
This article looks at the individual requirements and gives an overview of how a DC/DC power
module can fulfill these requirements.
JULY 2023 | www.powerelectronicsnews.com 7
