Page 25 - PEN eBook February 2024

SMART ENERGY SMART ENERGY

electrical management presents enhanced adaptability sustainable energy landscape by adopting solid-state
and expandability in contrast with conventional power semiconductor architecture. This benefit can be
electronics solutions. The AC Direct DC Enabler ICs obtained due to the architecture’s increased durability
feature an extensive input voltage range of and reduced component count, which eliminates the
24–277 VAC, enabling the use of a single design across necessity for replacement parts.
an extensive global product portfolio. The input
voltage independence of AmberSemi’s technology Configurability
will further enhance the utility of its products in The device’s incorporated SPI interface provides
industrial applications requiring higher voltages, where designers with the capability of configuring power-
conventional products encounter difficulties, in future conversion parameters and establishing event
designs. thresholds for protective purposes. When integrated
with a processing unit, this device produces an
Scalability and system expansion are facilitated by intelligent power-conversion solution that facilitates
the chip’s seamless integration into a wide range real-time reporting on various internal operations,
of modular and generic design architectures, which including alarm event monitoring and subsystem-load
Figure 1: Conventional vs. AmberSemi-powered power supply solution (Source: Amber Semiconductor)
also permits the architecture to be more dynamic data recording.
and to utilize a greater capacity of power. Utilizing
In addition, the AC Direct DC Enabler IC’s inbuilt power delivery solution in the industry, this functionality, design engineers can devise APPLICATIONS
Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) allows for access to allowing system designers to incorporate more solutions that are flexible in response to fluctuating The AC Direct DC Enabler is highly compatible
the internal programmable registers, expanding the features into smaller form factors for the power requirements, thereby enabling the possibility with an extensive variety of electrical products, such
IC’s capabilities and configurability. When combined next generation of internet of things, artificial of reducing stock-keeping units (SKUs) for entire as doorbell cameras, thermostats, smart products,
with a processing unit like a microcontroller, this type intelligence of things and industrial IoT systems. product lines and facilitating adjustments to system appliances, intelligent HVACR and more. This innovative
of power-conversion solution becomes an intelligent architectures. technology will benefit virtually any electronic device
power-conversion solution that provides real-time that operates on DC power and is supplied by AC
reporting on a wide variety of internal activities. ADVANTAGES OF AMBERSEMI’S Dynamic control of power mains. Furthermore, this technology can be integrated
TECHNOLOGY AC Direct DC Enabler ICs are considerably more with critical semiconductor components, such as

A comparison of the dimensions of a power supply Besides a smaller footprint, higher power density and dynamic than conventional solutions due to the wireless transmitters and microcontrollers, to create
made with traditional technology and one based configurability through the SPI interface, AmberSemi’s digital management of electricity. This solution one-of-a-kind AC Direct semiconductor systems. Such
on AmberSemi’s solid-state technology can be AC Direct DC Enabler provides several key advantages, facilitates enhanced control by utilizing software to systems would provide power for both housekeeping
seen in Figure 1. The new technology allows for an such as reliability, scalability and dynamic control over deliver dynamic power. It achieves this by allowing for functions and external sensors from a single AC Direct
improvement in power density, area occupied on the output power. configurable output voltage ranges and automated system.
PCB and overall volume. mode switching, which ultimately optimize the efficacy
Reliability of all power outputs. The main applications in which the Enabler-FX and
The AC Direct DC Enabler product family comprises In contrast to conventional solutions, solid-state Enabler-SC series can be used are shown in Figure 2.
two series supporting an extensive array of architecture empowers power electronics companies Power module companies have the potential to
applications: to attain elevated levels of dependability and longevity. proactively contribute to the transition toward a more
By employing capacitors with lower voltage ratings in
▶ The Enabler-FX series provides engineers comparison with conventional systems, the AC Direct
with the greatest degree of flexibility when DC Enabler architecture demonstrates compatibility
designing systems. By utilizing external power with ceramic, polymer and electrolytic capacitors.
MOSFETs, the Enabler-FX provides designers
with the ability to optimize the device in terms Additionally, a significantly reduced component count
of cost, space, performance and dependability. contributes to enhanced sustainability and reliability.
The internal compensation network, minimal By utilizing standard power supplies that require
external topology and operational configurability up to 50% more components per kilowatt-hour of
of the device all contribute to a streamlined operation, the AC Direct DC Enabler ICs reduce the
system design that reduces the total number of thermal and electrical strain on critical components,
components and system size. thereby facilitating effective heat dissipation and
diminishing the likelihood of component failure caused
▶ For maximum space conservation, the by overheating. It additionally provides the capability of
integrated Enabler-SX provides the most utilizing ceramic capacitors rather than electrolytics in
compact design solution. Power MOSFETs are situations where maximum reliability is required, such
integrated into the Enabler-SX to produce a as in power supplies operating in switch mode.
completely integrated AC-to-DC converter
in a single, extremely compact LGA package. Scalability
The Enabler-SX offers the most compact The integration of solid-state architecture and digital Figure 2: Main product applications of the AC Direct DC Enabler product family (Source: Amber Semiconductor)

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