What is an Intelligent Power Supply?
A power supply is an essential component for any machine. It provides an uninterrupted source of electrical power to devices such as sensors and motors.
Intelligent power supplies provide a wide range of features and functionality that can be programmable by remote users. These include smart power management, diagnostics and connectivity.
Functions
Generally speaking, an intelligent power supply transforms an alternating current from a main supply into a direct current output power for an electronic equipment. It also reduces an operating temperature of the intelligent power supply and an operating temperature of the electronic equipment, as well as sends out an alarm signal when it detects an unusual operating status. It can prevent the intelligent power supply and the electronic equipment with it from being damaged and save the user from suffering from the damages caused by the unexpected operation of the intelligent power supply and the electronic equipment.
Various protection functions are provided by the intelligent power supply, such as overcurrent protection, thermal shutdown, open load detection and dissipation of demagnetization energy stored in an inductive load. In addition, the intelligent power supply has an adjustable current limit control and a retry counter for limiting restarts.
These features are not a new feature for the designer of power-supply circuits, but they can be implemented in the case of an intelligent power module (IPM). They enhance performance, improve manufacturability, lower costs, increase system reliability, simplify implementation and accelerate time to market.
A detecting module, for example, can be used to detect the temperature, voltage, current and fan rotational speed of the intelligent power supply 100. When the detecting module detects an unusual operating status, the intelligent power supply 100 will be immediately sent out an alarm signal by the buzzer 170.
Another function is the display 180, which displays the operating status of the intelligent power supply 100. If the detecting module detects an unusual operating temperature of the intelligent power supply 100, the display 180 may be composed of light-emitting diodes to inform the user of the details of the unusual status.
An intelligent power supply also includes a battery charger, which is used to charge a backup battery that the intelligent power supply can use in the event of a breakdown. The battery charger can be connected to the detecting module to detect the operation of the intelligent power supply and to send out an alarm signal when it detects an abnormal operating temperature.
Design
The design of an intelligent power supply is a complex process that requires a great deal of attention to detail. This can be especially challenging when designing high-density power supplies with a large component count.
One solution is to use digital power management and control to optimize power efficiency and performance. These techniques can include auto compensation for changes in load and system temperature, dynamic voltage scaling for optimal system performance, adaptive dead-time control and robust protection under various fault conditions.
Digital power management also helps to reduce power consumption by automatically adjusting to the environment and optimizing efficiency, while lowering weight and component cost. For example, Silanna semiconductors’ Intelligent power supply OptiMode(tm) digital controller maintains high efficiencies across varying line, load and temperature operating conditions, resulting in industry-leading power densities with low component costs and minimal heat sink or thermal potting compound requirements.
As factories and other connected environments increase the number of devices, equipment and sensors that communicate with each other and require reliable power to operate, there is a growing demand for programmable, intelligent and agile power supplies. Cotek’s AD-1500 ac-dc converter series, for example, offers a choice of communications options and an intelligent GUI (graphical user interface) that facilitates parallel set-up and operation.
Another advantage of digital power management and control is the ability to monitor and analyze the power supply’s performance. This allows users to quickly assess power supply performance and parameters, so they can optimize their circuitry for a specific application.
A further advantage of digital power management is that it can be used to reduce the size and complexity of the Intelligent power supply design of the power supply itself. Using these techniques can save time and money on design, testing and manufacturing.
Finally, digital power can improve performance by allowing the power supply to change its operating frequency, ensuring that the switching frequency does not vary across the range of loads and lines being powered. This can be achieved by de-tuning the internal oscillator, which is very simple to implement and requires only a few lines of code.
In addition, digital power can help to protect against electromagnetic interference (EMI). This is a major concern for many electronic systems and can result in costly downtime when the system is not protected from EMI.
Applications
An intelligent power supply can be used in a variety of applications. These applications include motor control, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), inverters, and renewable energy systems.
These applications have a variety of different requirements for the components they use to transform alternating current into direct current and vice versa. As a result, they often require the use of a power-switching circuit to handle the high voltage and large current that goes into these devices.
The power-switching circuit in these devices can include a gate-drive circuit that has to apply a proper voltage and supply a sufficient amount of current for fast switching. It can also contain control and protection circuitry, which can prevent high-side and low-side IGBTs from conducting simultaneously.
Another feature is a programmable undervoltage lockout, which lets the designer set a minimum supply voltage. This feature can help reduce startup time, which saves money on development and manufacturing costs.
Alternatively, the design can incorporate adaptive current limit controls that let the designer specify separate current limits for different phases of operation. For example, an elevated current limit at startup for capacitive loads might be programmed, along with a reduced current limit for operating in high-temperature environments.
These features can be implemented using microcontrollers to help speed the development of a reliable, efficient, compact circuit for power-switching. They can also be useful for implementing supervisory functions, such as a trigger voltage input, output overcurrent detection, and automatic power-up restart.
In addition, these modules can be based on digital signal controllers (DSCs), such as dsPIC33 DSCs, that provide a more programmable solution than analog ICs with fixed functionality. They also allow designers to program complex sequences for the power-up, startup and fault recovery.
Moreover, these modules can be used in various industries, including smart factories, where they are often installed in harsh environments with a high level of noise and vibration. In such environments, it is crucial to ensure that the power supply can work safely and efficiently. An intelligent power supply can help ensure this, making it safer to operate in these environments.
Pricing
The pricing of an intelligent power supply can be a tricky thing to figure out. As it’s been noted above, this is because of the amount of work involved in making such a machine a reality. This includes designing the best components, building in the right technologies to deliver the most efficient performance and putting them together at the right time and in the right place. Luckily, there’s a small army of experts ready to help you with this.
The first thing you need to do is decide what type of power supply you want, or need, to build. There are many types of power supplies to choose from, and some are more suited to a certain application than others. It’s a good idea to understand what you need before attempting to design one, as this will save time and money in the long run.
It’s also a good idea to consider what you want to pay for it, as this can affect how much power you get for your money and how long it lasts. The best place to start is by looking at the prices of your options. This will give you a better sense of what you can expect to pay, and what’s available on the market today.