What is POWER SUPPLIES IC? | Infineon Technologies Technical Column | NEXTY Electronics, an electronic components and semiconductor trading company

Power is needed to operate the electrical appliances around us. POWER SUPPLIES ICs are used to provide this power. However, you may not know much about POWER SUPPLIES ICs other than from the perspective of power supply. In this article, we will explain what POWER SUPPLIES ICs are, introduce the basics, the benefits of using them, and introduce the different types. By reading this article, you will understand the importance of POWER SUPPLIES ICs.

Basic knowledge of POWER SUPPLIES ICs

As the name suggests, POWER SUPPLIES IC is a device that supplies the power necessary for electrical appliances to operate and function. It may be easier to understand if you think of household electrical appliances. Every device uses AC POWER CORDS plugged into an outlet. This AC POWER CORDS, known as an AC cord, takes in 100V AC POWER SUPPLIES and converts it into the power needed to operate the device. As such, devices contain multiple electrical and electronic circuits. For each circuit to operate stably and perform its intended function, the required amount of power must be supplied to each circuit. Since the power required by each circuit varies, the power must be converted to a voltage appropriate for each circuit. This voltage conversion is performed by POWER SUPPLIES IC. So, in what situations are POWER SUPPLIES ICs often used?

What are POWER SUPPLIES ICs used for?

Many people probably have a strong image of power supply ICs in terms of the devices we use in our daily lives. Take, for example, computers, smartphones, TABLETS, home game consoles, TVs, washing machines, and other household appliances. Many devices spring to mind when you look around you. Of course, POWER SUPPLIES ICs are also built into the AC cords used in these devices. Furthermore, POWER SUPPLIES ICs are also used in in-vehicle devices and components, such as car navigation systems, rearview cameras, audio systems, and engines. Looking at a broader perspective, power supply ICs are also used in multifunction printers used in offices, ultrasound and X-ray equipment used in hospitals, and POS terminals in restaurants and retail stores. POWER SUPPLIES ICs are also indispensable in the industrial sector. For example, POWER SUPPLIES ICs are used to supply power to industrial robots and machine tools used in manufacturing plants, including automobile production plants. These examples demonstrate that POWER SUPPLIES ICs are essential for any device that requires power.

What happens if you don't use POWER SUPPLIES IC?

Without POWER SUPPLIES IC, you would have to design your own POWER SUPPLIES circuit and assemble the necessary components. In other words, you would have to create the functions that POWER SUPPLIES IC would provide from scratch. This process takes time and effort, and you also need the knowledge to select the appropriate materials when selecting components. This requires knowledge of electronics. If you fail to do so, the power supply may not be as expected, or it may even damage the device due to excessive power. Using POWER SUPPLIES IC eliminates these problems and enables a stable power supply.

Disadvantages and advantages of using POWER SUPPLIES IC

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages, and this also applies to POWER SUPPLIES ICs. In order to make the right choice, it is important to understand what disadvantages there are and what advantages outweigh them.

What are the disadvantages?

There are three major disadvantages to using POWER SUPPLIES IC: cost, limitations on customization, and the impact of failure.

1. Cost
In cases where electronic devices are mass-produced, this can be more expensive than building your own POWER SUPPLIES circuit.

2. Customization limitations
POWER SUPPLIES ICs only have preset functions, so it can be difficult to meet special requirements.

3. Effects of failure
POWER SUPPLIES ICs only have preset functions, so it can be difficult to meet special requirements.

Disadvantages and advantages of using POWER SUPPLIES IC: Image

What are the benefits?

The benefits of using POWER SUPPLIES IC include "making it easier to create POWER SUPPLIES supply circuits," "facilitating voltage conversion and current control," and "enabling a stable power supply." In addition, the following points can also be considered as benefits.

Space saving in mounting area
If you try to create a circuit yourself that has similar functionality without using POWER SUPPLIES IC, you will have to combine various components to create the circuit, which means the mounting area is likely to be larger than if you use POWER SUPPLIES IC. However, POWER SUPPLIES IC can perform the desired function on its own, and it is also small in size. When designing a small electronic device, you need to save space as much as possible, and in such cases, the size of POWER SUPPLIES IC makes it possible to design in a space-saving manner.

Increased efficiency
POWER SUPPLIES ICs are designed to use power efficiently, preventing unnecessary power consumption. This reduces the load caused by electrical charges inside devices and helps extend the life of batteries and other devices.

The advantage of using POWER SUPPLIES IC is that it increases the efficiency and stability of electronic device operation while also enabling smaller designs, which will be a major benefit for those who make electronic devices.

Types of POWER SUPPLIES ICs

POWER SUPPLIES ICs are divided into several types depending on their function. They can be broadly divided into two categories: "general-purpose" ICs that can be used for general purposes without limiting their application, and "application-specific" ICs that are intended for specific applications. These categories are further subdivided into more specific types.

General-purpose type

General-purpose POWER SUPPLIES ICs include linear regulators, DC/DC converters, AC/DC converters, reset ICs, and SWITCHES ICs.
Linear regulators, DC/DC converters, and AC/DC converters are POWER SUPPLIES ICs designed to supply a constant voltage.
The purpose of the reset IC is to monitor POWER SUPPLIES and check whether POWER SUPPLIES is being supplied normally.
SWITCHES ICs are used to control the ON/OFF of POWER SUPPLIES. These general-purpose POWER SUPPLIES ICs do not incorporate multiple functions, but have the advantage that they are not limited to specific applications.

Specialized types

On the other hand, POWER SUPPLIES ICs for specific applications include "Li-ion SECONDARY BATTERIES protection ICs," "Li-ion SECONDARY BATTERIES charge control ICs," "LED lighting POWER SUPPLIES ICs," and "combined POWER SUPPLIES ICs."Unlike general-purpose ICs, these combine multiple functions into one.
Li-ion SECONDARY BATTERIES protection ICs are POWER SUPPLIES ICs that enable the safe and efficient use of lithium-ion batteries used in devices such as smartphones, and are equipped with protection functions against overcharging, over-discharging, overcurrent, and temperature.
POWER SUPPLIES ICs for LED lighting are used to control the operation of LEDs, and have functions such as switching LEDs on and off, maintaining a constant brightness, and adjusting the brightness.
Multi-POWER SUPPLIES ICs are used to manage and control the multiple POWER SUPPLIES required by electronic devices, and also have protection functions such as overcurrent, overvoltage, and temperature monitoring, which allows them to efficiently manage POWER SUPPLIES supply of electronic devices.
As such, the optimal POWER SUPPLIES IC varies depending on the application and purpose. The options available will vary depending on the application and the functions required.

Summary

POWER SUPPLIES ICs are essential for the stable and efficient operation of electronic devices. Although there are some disadvantages, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, so it is advisable to use them except in very special cases.
However, choosing the wrong product for your application could result in failure or damage to your electronic equipment. It's best to determine what product to choose after clarifying the application, purpose, and desired functionality. However, some people may find it difficult to choose the right product. If that's the case, please Inquiry Nexty Electronics. We'll help you choose the right POWER SUPPLIES IC.

Infineon Technologies POWER SUPPLIES IC Recommended Products

Automotive products
High-side/Low-side SWITCHES: Replace relays and FUSES. Automotive-quality smart SWITCHES for intelligent and safe power distribution and load control.
LITIX™ Automotive LED DRIVER IC: A highly efficient and reliable LED DRIVER IC optimized for automotive lighting. Supports a wide range of applications, from DRLs, taillights, to matrix headlights.
OPTIREG™ Automotive Voltage Regulators: Highly reliable and efficient POWER SUPPLIES solutions optimized for automotive ECUs. LDO, DC-DC, and PMIC solutions support a wide range of applications from ADAS to body control.
CoolSET: A highly efficient AC-DC POWER SUPPLIES IC that integrates a PWM controller and high-voltage MOS FETS. Compact, highly reliable, and simplifies SMPS design.

Industrial and consumer products
CoolSET: A highly efficient AC-DC POWER SUPPLIES IC that integrates a PWM controller and high-voltage MOS FETS. Compact, highly reliable, and simplifies SMPS design.