99% Efficient Digital Inrush Current Controller Reference Design
IXYS Corporation today announced the release of a reference design that makes use of Zilog's 8-bit Z8F3281 microcontroller - Digital Inrush Current Controller. With efficiency as high as 99.5 percent and the input operating voltages ranging from 80- to 240-Vac, it provides programmable inrush current limitation, instant overcurrent protection as well as corrective actions by the MCU.
Especially useful for systems with high power loads, current in the order of tens of amperes under normal operating conditions, the IXYS Digital Inrush Current Controller controls inrush current in a typical ac-dc rectifier with a capacitive load by limiting the capacitor pre-charge current to a predetermined value at each half sine wave cycle. Its features include programmable overload protection, “power good†signal, insensitivity to power outage/brownout or ambient temperature variation and a load current up to 3A. It can be programmed to operate at 50 Hz, 60 Hz or any other line input frequencies.
This reference design consists of a microcontroller module and power component board. Implemented as an add-on device, the MCU module is powered by a 3.3V auxiliary power supply. A 12V power supply is also required for the gate driver IC. The controller can be used to develop a number of power management applications, including ac-dc power supplies for data servers and storage networks, high-power ac-dc rectifiers and ac-dc PFC converters.
“We developed this reference design to demonstrate MCU based digital power management in a world that is still dominated by analog designs. Low cost MCUs are keys to added flexibility and programmability in power supply designs, where digital communication, control sequencing and improved efficiency over a wide power load range are desirable. With the full range of power semiconductors that we offer, we provide a full solution to our customers,†commented Dr. Nathan Zommer, Founder and CEO of IXYS. The Digital Inrush Current Controller is available for purchase.
