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Top 30 Companies
(Power Electronics Technology)Dozens of companies have made outstanding contributions to power
electronics during the last 30 years. With great difficulty, the
editors of Power Electronics Technology (PET) magazine
identified 30 as having changed the industry. We apologize to those
not listed who have also made significant accomplishments during
this time frame and could have been added if time and space
permitted, especially to those who narrowly missed being in the Top
30.
The Top 30 consists of semiconductor suppliers, power supply
companies, motor control companies and power electronics component
suppliers.
Silicon and Other Semiconductors
Semiconductors have been the enabling technology for power
electronics. Products that include power semiconductors, analog
integrated circuits (ICs), power ICs and digital control ICs have
all changed significantly during the past 30 years. In most cases,
today's leading technologies were just introduced during this time
frame. While silicon has been the predominant material for
semiconductors, advance materials including silicon carbide (SiC)
and gallium arsenide (GaAs) provide higher performance in some
power electronics applications today.
The legacy of Power Electronics Technology magazine and
its impact on those in the power electronics industry began before
the semiconductor industry was even 30 years old. That anniversary
happened in 1977. Initially, bipolar power transistors
including thyristors and bipolar integrated circuits
provided the control for motors, power supplies and other loads.
Today's power electronics includes digital control from
microcontrollers and digital signal processors switching
mixed-signal smart power ICs, MOSFETs and IGBTs.
Many of the semiconductor companies in PET's Top 30 are
also in the Top 5 and even No. 1 supplier in industry market
research studies. However, the IC and semiconductor suppliers in
PET's Top 30 are definitely all leaders with significant
contributions to power electronics. Within the three decades of
PET's history, several changes have occurred in the
semiconductor industry with new names appearing and old names
disappearing through mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs. With
great pride, the editors of PET present the Top 30 companies
in the power electronics industry. (Companies are not listed in any
particular order or ranking.)
International Rectifierwww.irf.com
International Rectifier's (IR's) power electronics expertise
starts at the top of the organizational chart. Dr. Alex Lidow
joined International Rectifier in 1977, but he has been CEO since
March 1995. A co-inventor of the HEXFET power MOSFET, Lidow holds
nine patents on power semiconductor technology. Today, IR's R&D
is led by Dr. Michael A. Briere, executive vice president of
research and development. Leading two key business units are Gene
Sheridan, vice president of the Computing and Communications
Business Unit that developed the DirectFET technology (see the
timeline in Top 30 Power Milestones and Products on
pages 12-13), and David Tam, vice president of the Consumer,
Industrial & Automotive Business Unit whose organization
developed IR's iMotion approach to motion control.
The world's leading supplier of power MOSFETs, IR has had
industry-leading efforts in packaging recently with its FlipFET
chip-scale packaging and DirectFET. The DirectFET allows cooling on
both sides of the package to cut part count by up to 60% and board
space by as much as 50% compared to devices in SO-8 packages. In
addition to MOSFETs, IR also pioneered high-voltage ICs, launching
the first commercially viable high-voltage ICs in 1983.
IR's iMotion platform combines integrated hardware and software
for easier implementation of variable-speed motor drives. In
iMotion design, dedicated digital control ICs eliminate complex
software programming associated with digital signal processors or
microprocessor control units. IR's high-voltage IC (HVIC)
technology enables a linear current-sensing IC and a three-phase
inverter-driver IC. IR's integrated power silicon and integrated
power module technology provide the power stage.
Vishay Intertechnology (Siliconix)www.vishay.com
Vishay Siliconix introduced the first trench power MOSFETs in
1994. Since that time, most power MOSFET suppliers have developed
trench MOSFETs to take advantage of the technology's improved
efficiency and lower on-resistance.
Vishay Siliconix's WFET power MOSFETs use a thicker gate oxide
at the bottom of the silicon trench devices to enable a two-thirds
reduction in capacitance with minimal impact on on-resistance
performance resolving the trade-off between low conduction losses
and low switching losses. The result is an improvement in the
product of RDS(ON) and
QGD, a common figure of merit for power
MOSFETs in switching dc-dc converters. For example, the Si4368DY
has an on-resistance 3.2 m? max and a gate charge of 6.5 nC
typical.
To address the issues that external packaging poses to power
MOSFETs, Vishay recently introduced the PolarPAK, the first power
MOSFET package to combine double-sided cooling with an
industry-standard lead-frame and plastic-encapsulation
construction. In this design, the lead frame is exposed but the die
is not; therefore, the same board layout can be used even with
variations in the size of the die encapsulated in the package.
Unlike most other semiconductor suppliers, Vishay is also a
leading provider of many of the passive components required in
electronic systems, including a large portfolio of resistors,
inductors and capacitors. For example, Vishay thick-film power
resistors in TO-220 and TO-247 packages have values ranging from
0.010 ? to 550 k? with 30-W, 50-W and 100-W ratings. A
recently introduced wirewound, surface-mounted, shielded inductor
comes in a wide inductance range of 1 H to 1000 H.
Infineon Technologieswww.infineon.com
Infineon Technologies, formerly Siemens Semiconductor Group, has
a rich history of power semiconductor and power IC innovation and
leadership. In the mid-1980s, Infineon pioneered
chip-on-power-MOSFET-die attach technology to combine intelligence
with large-size MOSFET die for low on-resistance and high
current-carrying capability in one package without using a more
complex monolithic approach. More recently, they used this same
approach for adding intelligent control to ignition IGBTs.
Three people who have been important in Infineon's power
semiconductor product development include Dr. Reinhard Ploss, Dr.
Jenoe Tihanyi and Dr. Leo Lorenz. Reinhard Ploss is group vice
president and general manager, Automotive, Industrial and
Multimarket Group. He has been instrumental in driving Infineon's
power semiconductor activities over the last several years. On the
technology side, the late Dr. Jenoe Tihanyi, who died on July 10,
2005, was an Infineon Fellow and held many of the basic patents on
power semiconductor technologies. Lorenz is senior principal
engineer in the power semiconductor area.
Infineon's initial high-voltage CoolMOS (dubbed the S5) MOSFETs
were announced in the late 1990s, with the second-generation
refinement, CoolMOS C2, announced in June 2000. Infineon announced
a new generation of IGBT (thin-wafer with trench technology for
600-V to 1200-V applications) also in June 2000. In May 2002, the
company announced a 1200-V IGBT with the industry's first
trenchstop and fieldstop technologies. In January 2002, the
Deutscher Wirtschaftsclub Rhein-Main awarded Infineon's CoolMOS and
IGBT the Best Technological Innovation 2001 Award.
Fairchild Semiconductorwww.fairchildsemi.com
Perhaps with one of the most interesting historical backgrounds,
Fairchild is the largest supplier of power semiconductors,
according to a 2004 iSuppli report. With the acquisition of
Samsung's Power Device Division in 1999, Fairchild had a complete
line of power discrete devices and a broad line of
industry-standard analog components that included the top 100
highest-volume analog products. In 2001, the acquisition of
Intersil's discrete power business propelled Fairchild to the
second-largest power MOSFET supplier in the world.
Among its other IGBT accomplishments, Fairchild from its Harris
legacy pioneered the use of ignition IGBTs with Motorola for
production vehicles in 1993. In 2001, Fairchild Semiconductor
announced its EcoSPARK family of IGBTs for ignition coil drivers
with a 40% reduction in silicon chip area, which allowed packaging
in either the industry-standard DPAK or the
D2PAK. Previously, silicon ignition coil
drivers were only available in D2PAKs. The
new EcoSPARK technology enabled a die size that is small enough to
fit into a DPAK without giving up performance. The units had the
same level of self-clamped inductive switching (300 mJ) in the 60%
smaller DPAK package.
Today, some of the key leaders in Fairchild's power-focused
businesses include Robert J. Conrad, who is senior vice president
and general manager of Analog Products, and Izak Bencuya, who is
chief strategy officer, executive vice president and general
manager.
Recently, Fairchild introduced the industry's first power-factor
correction (PFC) Smart Power Module to implement the partial PFC
switching converter (PSC) circuit topology. Targeting 1-kW to 3-kW
air conditioners, the FSAB20PH60 combines optimized circuit
protection and a drive IC matched to IGBTs.
STMicroelectronicswww.st.com
STMicroelectronics is the world's leading supplier of analog
application-specific products, according to iSuppli's 2004
Annual Semiconductor Market Share report, published in May
2005.
Under the business leadership of STMicroelectronics' Honorary
Chairman Pasquale Pistorio, the SGS Group the only Italian
microelectronics company and the French semiconductor
champion, Thomson Semiconducteurs, were integrated in May 1987 into
SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics (renamed STMicroelectronics in 1998).
A familiar face and name in power electronics technology circles,
Bruno Murari is the director of STMicroelectronics' Castelletto
Research and Development laboratories at Cornaredo, near Milan,
Italy, and a major contributor to ST's power technology.
From a historical perspective, SGS introduced the industry's
first 11- and 15-pin power single in-line packages (SIP) in the
late 1970s. These units provided the pins and power capability for
many of the first power ICs (including so-called smart power
devices) and provided a benchmark for future package development
efforts.
Among STMicroelectronics' newest products are hybrid
emitter-switched bipolar transistors (ESBTs) such as the STC03DE170
and STC05DE150. These units were developed to meet high-voltage bus
requirements in three-phase line voltage switching in industrial
high-power applications. The STC03DE170 is a 3-A, 1700-V device and
the STC05DE150 is a 5-A, 1500-V device. Both products are housed in
a custom-designed four-lead TO-247 package.
Recently, STMicroelectronics introduced a power-supply IC
specifically designed to drive the high-current white LEDs used for
flash illumination in mobile phones, digital still cameras and
PDAs. The STCF02 is a high-efficiency (85% typical) buck-boost
converter that also incorporates protection circuitry, including
the ability to automatically sense and respond to excessive LED
temperature. The unit controls the current in the LEDs by
automatically changing the operating mode between buck (step down)
and boost (step up) to adjust the forward voltage of the white LED
based on the battery voltage level.
Texas Instrumentswww.ti.com
Texas Instruments (TI) has a unique combination of analog and
digital capability that targets system power and portable power
management as well as motor controls. Some important power
management milestones in TI's history include the 1999 acquisition
of Unitrode, which had previously acquired Benchmarq
Microelectronics in 1998, and the 2000 acquisition of
Burr-Brown.
Business leaders in power electronics include Rich Valley, vice
president of the system power management business, and Dave
Heacock, vice president of the portable power management business.
For his technology leadership, PET magazine recently
recognized Robert Mammano with our Lifetime Achievement Award for
his PWM controller IC design.
At one level of TI products and technology, the recently
introduced TPS62300 stepdown, 500-mA converter with integrated FETs
provides power-conversion efficiency and voltage-regulation
accuracy in a 2-mm 1-mm chip-scale package. The synchronous,
switch-mode device achieves up to 93% power-conversion efficiency
while operating at a fixed frequency of 3 MHz. The unit can deliver
dc voltage-regulation accuracy from -0.5% to 1.3% over the
industrial temperature range.
The combined capability of TI's analog and digital components in
digital power was demonstrated earlier this year with the
announcement of Fusion Digital Power, which includes the UCD9K,
UCD8K and UCD7K series of complementary devices. These units
support power supply systems from ac-line to point-of-load
applications, including telecommunications, uninterruptible power
supplies (UPS), computer server and data-centric power systems.
The UCD9K digital power controller integrates specialized power
peripherals and has the ability to close one or more feedback
loops, and provides communications and supervisory functions.
Analog circuitry in the UCD8K and UCD7K devices support the digital
control provided by the UCD9K. The UCD7K devices are MOSFET drivers
for the power stage that provide protection and bias supply
management. The UCD8K controllers integrate the UCD7K devices with
a digitally controlled analog PWM controller to close the feedback
loop.
Linear Technologywww.linear.com
Linear Technology's broad line of standard high-performance
integrated circuits includes amplifiers, battery management, data
converters, high frequency, interface, voltage regulators and
voltage references.
Two of Linear's leading technologists include Robert Dobkin and
Jim Williams. Dobkin, vice president of engineering and CTO and
founder, was responsible for all new product development until
1999. Jim Williams, staff scientist, has authored more than 350
publications relating to analog circuit design.
Linear Technology introduced the LT1083/LT1084/LT1085/LT1086,
the industry's first low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator in 1986.
Other more recent products the company boasts include the LTC1148,
a high-efficiency synchronous stepdown switching regulator. The
company's first Burst Mode product, this regulator is capable of
over 95% efficiency and can maintain high efficiency over three
decades of output current. It also offers excellent line and load
transient response.
Another notable device was the LTC3440. Introduced in 2001, this
chip is described as the industry's first buck-boost dc-dc
converter. It uses two 0.25-? p-channel and two 0.20-?
n-channel switches in a constant frequency, synchronous switching
topology that obtain efficiencies as high as 96%.
More recently, Linear Technology introduced the LTC3780, a
high-efficiency, synchronous rectification, four-switch buck-boost
controller that achieves up to 98% efficiency. Just introduced is
the LTM4600, a uModule synchronous switch-mode dc-dc stepdown
regulator with built-in inductor, supporting power components and
compensation circuitry.
Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector: Freescale
Semiconductorwww.freescale.com
From a historical perspective, the first integrated motor
control IC with power MOSFET outputs was designed and manufactured
by Motorola, now Freescale Semiconductor, for the Canon Camera in
1987. Motorola SMARTMOS technology provided the Delco (now Delphi)
HSD-3 driver in General Motor's ABS-VI antilock braking system.
Two of the longtime SMARTMOS experts at Freescale include Randy
Gray, fellow of technical staff, and John Pigott, analog IC guru
and designer. Gray has circuit designs using Freescale's SMARTMOS
process from the earliest to the present design rules. Pigott is
responsible for IC design, IC definition, IC architecture and
technology definition.
Today, standard products such as Freescale's MC33982 SMARTMOS
power management chip provide low on-resistance, numerous features
and programmable capabilities for relay replacement. A custom
product, such as multiple buck and boost converter integrated with
several LDOs and the associated control, protection and supervisory
circuitry, can save considerable space in portable products,
including cameras, cell phones and PDAs.
Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector: ON Semiconductorwww.onsemi.com
Motorola's semiconductor operation grew from its status as a
division in 1975 to a group and finally a sector with groups that
focused on market segments and one, called the Semiconductor
Components Group (SCG), that provided analog and logic ICs as well
as discrete semiconductors including power products for all market
segments. In 1999, SCG was spun off and became ON Semiconductor. In
July 2004, the remaining semiconductor groups were spun off and
became Freescale Semiconductor. As part of Motorola, both
organizations provided key industry milestones.
Soon after being spun off from Motorola (in 2000), ON
Semiconductor acquired Cherry Semiconductor to add to its existing
analog IC capability. Motorola's pioneering effort in surface-mount
power packaging for the DPAK and D2PAK was
accomplished by what is now ON Semiconductor. Today, ON
Semiconductor's power management focus includes power conversion,
ac-dc and dc-dc converters, analog controllers, MOSFETS and
diodes.
Two leaders in ON Semiconductor in the power management area are
Bill Schromm, vice president of ON Semiconductor's High Performance
Analog Products Group, and Larry Sims, senior vice president and
general manager of ON Semiconductor's Analog Products Group.
ON Semiconductor recently announced the successful development
of working silicon for a new dual-edge PWM controller. The
dual-edge PWM technology is the first in the industry for providing
CPU power. The company is currently delivering engineering samples
to leading VR11 power supply licensees.
Microchip Technologywww.microchip.com
Microchip Technology is one of the industry's principle
providers of microcontroller and analog semiconductors. With a
focus on thermal and power management, Microchip's family of
products includes a complete line of linear and mixed-signal analog
and interface products providing cost-effective embedded control
solutions with high performance. The company provides embedded
control application solutions for telecommunication, office
automation, automotive, and consumer and industrial control
markets.
Providing business leadership today is Rich Simoncic, vice
president, Analog & Interface Products Division; Steve Drehobl,
vice president, Security, Microcontroller and Technology
Development Division; and on the technical side, Keith Curtis,
principal applications engineer, Security, Microcontroller and
Technology Development Division. Curtis' accomplishments include
integrating digital control into power supplies as well as helping
to define the industry-standard PMBus. In addition, he has
identified what are commonly known as the four levels of digital
control in power supplies.
In June 2001, Microchip introduced the PIC16C781 and PIC16C782,
the first family of mixed-signal microcontrollers with integrated
switch-mode power-supply peripherals. More recently, the PIC16F785
was also introduced. This unit combines analog building blocks
including operational amplifiers, two high-speed analog comparators
and a bandgap voltage reference with the microcontroller for
digital control and programmability in power-conversion
applications. On the analog side, the MCP1630 power supply PWM
controller provides the industry's fastest PWM with a current
sense-to-output delay of 12 ns.
Philips Semiconductorswww.semiconductors.philips.com
Philips Semiconductors addresses power and power management
applications with IC and discrete products. Philips calls its
protected MOSFET technology Temperature Overload Protected MOSFETs,
or TOPFETs. The company's first temperature-protected Trench MOSFET
was released around 1999.
Steve Hodgskiss, technology manager of power management at
Philips Semiconductors, has been involved with power management and
the trench process from the start. He was instrumental in the
development and introduction of Philips power MOSFET fab and the
growth of TrenchMOS technologies in 1992. He also directed the
release of the first three generations of Philips Trench Power
MOSFETs in 1996, 1998 and 2001, and most recently has been involved
with the fourth-generation technology improvements.
Most recently, Philips introduced its PIP212-12M, a highly
integrated power solution delivering dc-dc converter performance.
The PIP212-12M is compatible with industry-standard single- and
multiphase PWM controllers, and is fully optimized for
high-frequency, high-current synchronous buck dc-dc conversion
applications solving several synchronous buck converter design
issues. The highly integrated unit reduces component count for a
simpler pc-board layout and higher power densities. The PIP212-12M
replaces the control MOSFET, synchronous rectifier MOSFET and
parallel Schottky diode, MOSFET driver and bootstrap diode.
Features of the PIP212-12M include overtemperature protection, a
synchronized 5-V source to power an external PWM controller, an
internal low voltage-drop bootstrap switch, 6.5-V sync FET gate
driver for optimal performance and power-sequencing functions.
Toshibawww.toshiba.com
Another industry power electronics leader today is Toshiba.
Toshiba's power semiconductors portfolio includes MOSFETs,
intelligent power devices (IPDs), voltage regulator ICs, discrete
insulated gated bipolar transistors (D-IGBTs) and system power
devices (SPDs). Other products include power transistors and
modules designed for applications that require a compact design and
power efficiency.
As a leader in packaging technology, Toshiba offers a MOSFET
series using an aluminum-strap bonding technology with an
ultrahigh-speed process that achieves greater power efficiency. The
SOP Advance is one of the company's most recent low-profile
packaging technologies. It allows an improvement in power
dissipation and an increase in current output compared to a
standard SOP-8 packaging when combined with ultrahigh-speed U-MOS
technology.
Today, Makoto Hideshima, technology executive, Discrete
Semiconductor Division Semiconductor Company Toshiba, directs the
company's future. Recent key products include Toshiba's power
MOSFET, the TK 15A60S. By using a superjunction structure, this
high-voltage DTMOS reduces power consumption by lowering the
RDS(ON) to approximately 40% of the
conventional MOSFET's typical value.
Another innovative device is the company's L-Flat diode series,
which was developed for circuit-protection applications. The
rectifier diode surface-mount package reduces the mounting area by
50% or more compared to currently available industry-standard
packaging by utilizing a lead-clamp structure. The series was
developed for circuit-protection application usage in secondary
rectification and absorption of freewheeling and surge currents in
motor drivers, switching-mode power supplies and ac-dc
converters.
Maxim Integrated Products, Dallas Semiconductorwww.maxim-ic.com
Connecting the digital world to reality, Maxim Integrated
Products designs, develops and manufactures linear and mixed-signal
ICs. In 2001, Maxim expanded its product base by purchasing Dallas
Semiconductor, where Gene L. Armstrong II is currently the managing
director of Battery and Thermal Product Dallas
Semiconductor. Dallas Semiconductor focuses on power electronics
circuits, making the addition a positive complement to Maxim's
product line.
Recently introduced products include the DS2760 high-precision
Li+ battery monitor. Designed for cost-sensitive battery-pack
applications, the IC is an information storage, data acquisition
and safety protection device that utilizes a one-wire interface to
allow the host system read-write access to instrumentation and
control registers, and general-purpose data storage. The device
supports process-monitoring applications by performing voltage,
temperature and current measurements.
Also newly added are the DS2711 and DS2712 for a standalone or
in-system charging of one or two AA or AAA NiMH cells. To provide
appropriate fast-charging control algorithms for NiMH batteries,
charge time, voltage and temperature are monitored.
National Semiconductorwww.national.com
National Semiconductor is the No. 1 supplier of power management
ICs with 14.1% market share, according to iSuppli's 2005 voltage
regulator/reference survey. National's power management products
include power monitoring, control and reference ICs; linear
regulators; and switching converters such as switched capacitor
converters, lighting management ICs, inductive switching converters
and high-voltage ICs for dc-dc conversion. National also offers
online tools that allow power designers to select the best power
management chips for their applications.
National pioneered its WEBENCH online tool in 1999. WEBENCH
power allows users to simulate a power supply circuit, probe points
on a schematic display to examine the simulation result waveforms
and simulate the thermal behavior of electronic pc-board components
with WebTHERM software. Products can be created and analyzed with
custom prototypes delivered within 24 hours.
In 1976, National introduced the first three-terminal linear
regulator. Among National's power management leaders today are
Dennis Monticelli, a National Fellow and CTO, and Paul Greenland,
marketing director of National Semiconductor's Power Management
Group.
More recent National products include the LM5032, LM5034 and
LP3954. National's LM5032 and LM5034 are the industry's first 100-V
dual, interleaved PWM controllers. The units can be configured to
control either two independent regulated outputs or a single
high-current output using two drive channels. The LM5034 includes
bipolar + CMOS gate drivers that provide 2.5-A peak sink current
and a startup regulator that operates over a wide input range up to
100 V. The two controller channels reduce the input ripple current
by operating 180 degrees out of phase.
Housed in a tiny micro SMD package, the LP3954 advanced lighting
management unit integrates two backlight drivers, a dual
red-green-blue (RGB) LED controller, a Flash LED driver and an
analog-to-digital converter (ADC) on a single chip. The integrated,
magnetic boost dc-dc converter efficiently drives high current
loads over a wide battery voltage range.
Power Integrationswww.powerint.com
Power Integrations is the leading supplier of high-voltage
analog ICs. Founded in 1988, Power Integrations produces ICs aimed
at wall outlets, computers, cell-phone chargers and any electronic
product that plugs into a wall outlet. The patented Power
Integrations silicon process integrates a high-frequency MOSFET (up
to 1200 V with multiple-megahertz capability) and standard 5-V CMOS
and bipolar control circuitry on a single, monolithic chip. Balu
Balakrishnan, president and CEO, is also the chief inventor of the
company's innovative TopSwitch and TinySwitch technologies and
holds more than 75 patents.
In 1998, Power Integrations introduced its patented EcoSmart
energy-efficiency technology that reduces no-load power consumption
to less than 100 mW. The TinySwitch pioneered the technology, but
since its 1998 introduction, all of Power Integrations' IC families
use the technology. The company estimates that EcoSmart has saved
an estimated $1.2 billion in electricity costs based on EcoSmart
chips built into electronic products.
In 2002, Power Integrations announced LinkSwitch, a primary-side
control switching power supply IC that replaces linear transformer
designs in adapters and battery chargers rated at 3 W and
below.
IXYSwww.ixys.com
Offering a broad range of power electronic semiconductors,
including MOSFETs, IGBTS, MOSFET/IGBT drivers, power management
ICs, rectifiers, thyristors, Schottky diodes and ac controller
modules, IXYS has been a technology pioneer and leader in providing
application-specific products for industrial, telecommunications,
computer and medical markets. Dr. Nathan Zommer, chairman of the
board and CEO, founded the company in 1983.
In 1989, IXYS acquired ABB's German semiconductor division,
expanding the company's high-power products. The 1998 acquisition
of Paradigm Technologies added static random access memory (SRAM)
and digital IC technology, which the company is using to develop
digital power management (DPM) ICs.
In 2004, IXYS introduced the DGSS 10-06CC, a 600-V, 10-A GaAs
ultrafast diode. The unit consists of two 300-V, GaAs Schottky
diodes connected in series in the IXYS-patented ISOPLUS220 package.
Comparison testing in a 200-W PFC circuit with standard FRED
diodes, silicon carbide (SiC) diodes and GaAs diodes used as the
boost diode showed that the GaAs diode outperformed the SiC part
for frequencies above 150 kHz.
Supertexwww.supertex.com
Started in 1976, Supertex has developed advanced technologies
utilizing complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS) and
double-diffused MOS (DMOS) processes and forged new ground merging
these technology processes onto one chip: Supertex's HVCMOS. In
1977, Supertex patented a silicon-gate high-power VMOS process and
was the first in the industry to introduce both n-channel and
p-channel silicon-gate VMOS power FETs. In 1980, Supertex was also
the first in the industry to introduce high-voltage DMOS lateral
arrays, and in 1985, the company introduced the industry's first
low-threshold n-channel power MOSFET family.
Today, Supertex focuses on DMOS, HVCMOS and BiCMOS providing ICs
and MOS field effect transistors (FETs) and arrays. Last year, the
company developed a single chip PD controller for interfacing power
sourcing, the HV110. Earlier this year, Supertex introduced the
MD1810 and the MD1811, two new high-speed quad MOSFET driver ICs
designed to drive n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs in applications
such as medical ultrasound imaging, nondestructive testing
equipment and CCD-based products such as high-resolution cameras
and scanners that require a high output current for a capacitive
load.
Micrelwww.micrel.com
Micrel is an industry leader in analog ICs, power management and
a global manufacturer of IC solutions for Ethernet and
high-bandwidth markets. Founded in 1978, Micrel holds a collection
of wafer fabrication processes and uses singularly or in
combination CMOS, bipolar and DMOS technologies in its
high-performance analog power ICs.
Recently, Micrel announced a new dc-dc boost converter, the
MIC2296. The chip provides a 1.2-A boost regulator in a 2-mm
2-mm leadless MLF. Designed for portable consumer electronic
applications, the unit is ideal for TFT-LCD displays, OLEDs and LED
camera flashes. The high-power density boost regulator can step up
input voltages from 2.5 V to 10 V, to generate an output voltage up
to 34 V. Based on a proprietary internal compensation technique,
the output capacitor's size can be reduced by more than 50%. Other
features include 1-A shutdown current, less than 1% line and
load regulation, excellent transient response and output
overvoltage protection.
Microsemiwww.microsemi.com
Founded in 1960, Microsemi focuses on mixed-signal integrated
circuits, discrete semiconductors and chip-scale packaging. The
company specializes in high-reliability discrete devices that
protect against transient voltage spikes, manage and regulate
power, and transmit, receive and amplify electronic signals.
Microsemi leads the field in managing power that lights color
displays in notebook computers, computer monitors, automotive GPS
systems and LCD TVs. Its patented RangeMAX technology provides the
dimming ratio requirements of automobiles sold in the United States
and is the only approved solution for lighting cold cathode
fluorescent lamps in the automotive temperature range. RangeMAX
allows a dim feature operation regardless of the lamps'
characteristics and reduces power consumption by as much as
90%.
Earlier this year, Microsemi announced a Li-ion/Li-polymer
battery charger for portable applications requiring high power
demand for color displays such as those used in smart phones, PDA
phones, PDAs, MP3 jukeboxes and personal media centers. The LX2202
provides 3-A discharge current and up to 2-A charge current for
Li-ion batteries. It has a separate USB power interface that
restricts charging current to within the USB limitations.
Power Supplies: Call Them Power Management Systems
Once regarded as a very staid commodity, the power supply
business has turned into a dynamic application-driven industry, a
transition as significant as its newest technology: digital power.
It is a very dynamic technology, said Mohan Mankikar,
founder of Micro-Tech Consultants. Power management and
digital power are two key words for the future.
There certainly are many activities shaping the future of power
management that involve leading power supply manufacturers. On Dec.
8, 2004, the Digital Power Control User Interface defined in IEEE
1621 (http://eetd.lbl.gov/Controls/1621/1621.html)
received final approval as an IEEE standard. The standard targets
energy savings by increasing the use of power management in office
equipment and consumer electronics.
In addition to the Power Sources Manufacturing Organization
(PSMA; www.psma.com), which celebrated its
20th anniversary this year, several new
organizations have been created within the past few years to
support advanced power management technologies.
In June 2003, Artesyn, Astec and Texas Instruments formed the
Point-of-Load Alliance (POLA; www.polagroup.com). Among POLA's goals are
standardized interoperable technology and mechanical outline and
pinouts, as well as multiple source availability.
Established in February 2004 by Tyco Electronics and SynQor, the
goal of the Distributed-Power Open Standards Alliance (DOSA; www.dosapower.com) is to develop standards for
dc-dc converters to ensure compatibility and facilitate second
sourcing. Other members of DOSA include C&D, Delta, Lambda,
Ericsson and Artesyn. The alliance intends to cover a broad range
of board-mounted power modules, including isolated converters,
nonisolated (point-of-load) modules and intermediate bus
converters.
In March 2005, Artesyn Technologies announced the public release
of Revision 1.0 of the PMBus open-standard digital power management
protocol and the establishment of the System Management Interface
Forum (http://pmbus.info/) as a formal SIG. The PMBus
protocol initiative is an open communications standard for the
digital control of power systems.
In August 2005, semiconductor manufacturer Atmel joined power
supply vendors Power-One and C&D Technologies to create the
Z-One Digital Power Alliance, or Z-Alliance group (www.z-alliance.org). The alliance provides
second-source options to implement a distributed power architecture
using Power-One's digital POL converters and power managers.
If you go back five years ago, you never heard of a power
supply company doing an alliance with a power semiconductor
company, says Mankikar. So, this is like the power
supply joining hands with the high-tech companies. In
addition to Artesyn, Astec, Power-One and SynQor from these
alliances, other power supply manufacturers in PET's Top 30
Companies are Vicor and Delta.
Vicor Corp.www.vicorpower.com
Credited with several industry firsts and technology leadership
in power supplies, Dr. Patrizio Vinciarelli founded Vicor in 1981
after the first issues of Solid-State Power Conversion
magazine were already collectors' items. Vinciarelli developed
technology that allowed smaller and more efficient power converters
compared to conventional power converters identified as
zero-current switching and zero-voltage switching. Holding more
than 75 U.S. patents, he is known as a key contributor to the
power-component industry based on Vicor's families of high-density
bricks that can create power systems.
Some key Vicor milestones include:
1981 Developed zero-current/zero-voltage switching, a
new high-frequency power-conversion topology, and the first
standard power component.
1984 Unveiled the first full-size brick at 100 W, 25
W/in3. This isolated dc-dc converter product
(the VI-100) not only pioneered the brick format, it applied
zero-current switching and active-clamp reset circuits to achieve
its high power density.
1988 Introduced the first half-brick at 50
W/in3.
1996 Debuted the first quarter-brick at 150 W, 91
W/in3.
In 2003, Vicor introduced its Factorized Power Architecture
(FPA), an innovative power distribution architecture, powered by
the company's VI Chips, which are modules in IC-style
packages. The vision for FPA, according to Vicor, is to meet power
system requirements from the wall plug to the microprocessor core
using the highly efficient, high density and very flexible VI
Chips. Among the products offered as VI Chips are power
factor modules (PFMs), pre-regulator modules (PRMs), voltage
tranformation modules (VTMs), and bus converter modules (BCMs).
Delta Electronicswww.delta.com
Delta Electronics' Delta Group lays claim to having the world's
No. 1 position in switching power supplies. The company has
provided power solutions and manufacturing leadership over the
entire 30-year history of PET magazine. Delta offers a wide range
of power management products, including adapters, inverters,
converters, electronic ballasts, uninterruptible power systems
(UPSs) and power plants. In dc-dc converters, Delta has utilized
leading-edge technology with innovative power methods for OEM
applications including IT networking, industrial automation and
telecommunications among others with products ranging from 5-W to
700-in. industry-standard sizes and footprints.
Delta's telecom power systems offer output capability up to
10,000 A and provide continuous power for both fixed line and
wireless telecommunications networks. Delta Energy Systems (DES)
delivers power-conversion modules, solar inverters and systems for
the telecom, IT, industrial, automotive and medical markets.
Recently, Delta introduced a 350-W half-brick converter, the
H24SN 28V, to the Delphi Series of board-mounted dc-dc power
converters family. The converter has a single 28-V output with a
24-V input and can deliver up to 350 W of output power in the
half-brick footprint and pinout. It also offers more board space
and provides exceptional thermal and electrical performance, thus
reducing cost and space restrictions for cost-sensitive
applications. With efficiencies at 90.5% or better for 350-W full
load, the H24SN converter operates over a wide input voltage range
of 18 V to 36 V.
Astecwww.astec.com
Astec Power, an Emerson Network Power Co., is one of the top
power supply companies today. As an international power-conversion
solutions supplier, Astec offers custom ac-dc and dc-dc power
supplies ranging from 1 W to 18,000 W, based on sophisticated
automation and in-process testing, as well as advanced research and
development. Recent product introductions include the first
industry-standard sixteenth-brick isolated converter and a new
generation of switching power supplies featuring sophisticated
digital management.
The 50-W ALX series isolated converters have a reduced length
while offering the same capabilities and maintaining the
quarter-brick and eighth-brick pin location assignments. Measuring
1.65 in. long 0.8 in. wide with a 0.33-in. profile, the
sixteenth-brick units are a third smaller than typical eighth-brick
converters. The surface-mount package delivers 15 A to 20 A of
output.
Astec's new-generation switching power supplies iMP Series is
the first digitally controlled ac-dc power supply with an onboard
microprocessor for programmability and smart communications. The
modular design features digital management capabilities with
digital control and offers hardware modules that will allow
designers to develop specific solutions with single, dual and
triple outputs and power ratings from 600 W to 1500 W. The units
have 50% higher power density than previous generation
products.
Power-Onewww.power-one.com
Power-One's power solutions for global telecom, networking and
technology markets are supported by three different product
categories. Offering multiple combinations of current and voltages,
Power-One's broad selection of ac-dc power supplies includes
flexible modular products and high-power-density fixed-platform
solutions. The company's dc-dc converters support any voltage, any
current and any architecture. Board-level products include
distributed power architecture (DPA) and intermediate bus
architecture (IBA). System-level solutions include CompactPCI, 3U
packages, cassette style and positive-switching regulators, and
chassis-mount isolated dc-dc power supplies. Offering a combination
of industry-leading power densities, scalability and
cost-effectiveness, the dc power systems include a wide range of
modular hot-swappable rectifiers, controllers, network accessories
and custom-designed distribution options.
In February 2004, Power-One announced its Z-One Digital IBA
architecture that integrated power-conversion, control and
communications. The digital power management architecture provides
reduced pc board space and cost savings, as well as a decrease in
components, number of pc board traces and power-system development
time. Parameters such as output voltages, sequencing and protection
limits are user programmable through a graphical user interface
(GUI) and stored in the unit's Digital Power Manager.
Artesynwww.artesyn.com
Artesyn Technologies designs and manufactures advanced
power-conversion equipment and board-level computing solutions for
data-communication systems and telecommunication infrastructure
applications. The company focuses on four core market sectors,
including server and storage, wireless infrastructure, networking
and telecommunications.
The Power Group provides board-mounted dc-dc converters, ac-dc
power supplies and power delivery systems for industry-leading OEMs
in the communications industry. The group's expertise in the design
and manufacturing of high-efficiency, high-power density isolated
dc-dc converters and nonisolated POL converters has made it a
leader in power-conversion products for systems employing
distributed power architectures (DPA).
Recently, Artesyn Technologies announced a digital POL
converter. A nonisolated POL converter, the DPL20C is part of the
PMBus-compliant dc-dc converter family and is under beta testing.
Sanctioned by both major power supply alliances, POLA and DOSA, the
PMBus protocol has been adopted by several semiconductor and supply
companies that are working on promoting the specification.
Artesyn's DPL20C is a 20-A output converter with several digital
configurations available through the PMBus interface. The converter
provides the power for the pre-programmed settings and stores the
data in nonvolatile memory. This eliminates the need for external
power controllers in network application and computing
applications.
SynQorwww.synqor.com
SynQor supplies power-conversion solutions to the
communications, computing and industrial markets using both
standard and custom solutions for distributed power architectures.
SynQor's modular dc-dc converters provide the conversion and
conditioning of dc power in telecom/datacom, electronic data
processing (EDP) and in the industrial, instrumentation, medical
and military markets.
Founded in October 1997 by MIT professor Dr. Martin F. Schlecht,
the company uses synchronous rectification to provide innovative
and highly efficient dc-dc power converters. SynQor introduced its
first open-frame, high-efficiency power converters in 1999.
SynQor's recently introduced 53-V, 7.6-A output half-brick dc-dc
converter targets Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) and Voice-over-Internet
protocol (VoIP) applications. The PQ5553HEA08 (open-frame version)
and PQ5553HEB08 (base-plated version) converters use synchronous
rectification and SynQor's patented topology to achieve high
efficiencies and low-power dissipation. With an input voltage range
of 38 V to 55 V, the open-frame device can supply up to 265 W at
95% efficiency. The base-plated option allows the addition of a
heatsink to increase the available power to the full 360-W
rating.
Motion Control: Intelligent Motion
The pursuit of digital motion control was already well underway
in the mid-1970s. Industry technology pioneers Benjamin C. Kuo and
Jacob Tal published Incremental Motion Control Volume 1 in
1978. In 1982, Texas Instrument's introduction of the first
programmable general-purpose digital signal processor (DSP) started
a digital confrontation with microcontrollers that continues to
this day. With all the development that occurred in that time
frame, identifying specific motion control companies for the Top 30
was not an easy task.
Dan Jones, president of Incremotion Associates attributes
ElectroCraft, now a part of Rockwell Automation, as one of the
leading technology companies in the early days of motion control.
New technology comes from young companies starting from risk
takers not the big guys, says Jones. Young companies
develop the technology and it gets to a certain critical mass, the
old companies recognize it and then they buy them.
The name of the game in motion is consolidation, according to
Jones. He noted that within the last six years, Danaher Motion
bought 40-plus companies. Parker Hannifin also has been on an
acquisition spree. However, the motion control companies in
PET's Top 30 are Rockwell Automation and Bosch Rexroth for
early technology accomplishments of their acquired companies and
for being a driving force for motion control for the past 30
years.
Rockwell Automation (ElectroCraft and Allen-Bradley)www.ab.com
Formed in 1960, ElectroCraft soon launched the Motomatic servo
system, which quickly became successful because of the systems
approach used by the manufacturer of both motors and amplifiers for
industrial applications. Other key milestones include:
1970s ElectroCraft published the handbook DC Motors,
Speed Controls, Servo Systems, which garnered respect for the
company as the principal authority on motion control.
1980 Robbins & Myers purchased ElectroCraft and the
two businesses combined resources.
1991 Reliance Electric purchased the Robbins & Myers
Motor Group.
1994 Rockwell International purchased Reliance Electric
and its subsidiary companies.
2000 Rockwell Automation combined the resources of
Allen-Bradley and ElectroCraft. Another entity, ElectroCraft
Engineered Solutions, is a separate Rockwell Automation business
providing engineered solutions.
Bosch Rexrothwww.boschrexroth.com
Indramat pioneered the first practical industrial brushless ac
servo drives in the 1980s. Today, Indramat is part of Bosch
Rexroth. Some key milestones of Bosch Rexroth's timeline
include:
1975 Bosch establishes the Industrial Equipment Business
Unit, predecessor of Automation Technology.
1976 Rexroth becomes a 100% subsidiary of Mannesmann
AG.
1983 Indramat installs the first major U.S. automotive
application in the Ford Livonia transmission plant.
1991 The first U.S. SERCOS open drive system is
installed at a GM engineering plant.
1992 AB Mecman is purchased by Mannesmann and becomes
part of Rexroth's Pneumatics division.
1996 Bosch founds the Automation Technology Business
Unit by integrating Industrial Equipment and
Hydraulics/Pneumatics.
1998 Bosch Automation Products becomes part of Bosch
Automation Technology, along with Bosch Fluid Power and Bosch
Industrial Controls.
2001 Bosch Automation Technology and Rexroth join forces
to form the Bosch Rexroth Corp.
Completing the Power Electronics System
Even the most sophisticated semiconductor or power IC is just
silicon encased in plastic without additional components to
complete the power electronics system. While an entire issue could
be devoted to innovative companies that have made their mark and
continue to influence power electronics, four companies have been
singled out for our Top 30 companies.
The Bergquist Companywww.bergquistcompany.com
As the creator of Sil-Pad, Carl Bergquist has been responsible
for pioneering elastomeric thermal interface materials standards.
Bergquist developed the Sil-Pad thermal interface material to
replace mica and grease used for isolating and thermal interfacing
power transistors. Today, The Bergquist Company concentrates on
thermal management and switch and touch-screen technologies.
Well-known products include Gap Pad noninsulating and electrically
insulated gap fillers, Bond-Ply thermally conductive adhesive
tapes, Thermal Clad insulated metal substrates and Sil-Pad
thermally conductive interface materials.
Bergquist developed Thermal Clad insulated metal substrate for
higher watt-density surface-mount applications with reduced power
semiconductor die sizes where heat may be a concern. Thermal Clad
substrates minimize thermal impedance and are more effective and
efficient in conducting heat when compared to standard pc
boards.
The Sil-Pad 1500ST (Soft Tack) is Bergquist's latest addition to
thermal management. The fiberglass-reinforced, silicone-based
thermal interface material was designed for high-volume
auto-dispensing/autoplacement applications. The Sil-Pad 1500ST
offers an inherent tack on both sides of the material and has a
thermal impedance of 0.23C-in2/W at 50
psi.
Bergquist's Gap Pad offers a family of thermal interface
material with higher thermal performance, greater conformability
and easier application. It provides a thermal interface between
electronic devices and heatsinks with rough surface textures, air
gaps and uneven surface topography.
The Bond-Ply family consists of electrically isolating and
thermally conductive materials. The material is available in a
laminating or pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) arrangement to
decouple bonded materials with mismatched thermal coefficients of
expansion. It also provides a replacement to screw or clip mounting
and heat-cure adhesives.
Coilcraftwww.coilcraft.com
Coilcraft is worldwide leader in chip inductors, power
magnetics, EMI filters, wideband transformers, power inductor, chip
coils, RF chokes and power chokes. While the company offers many
standard off-the-shelf products, most products are custom designed
to meet customers' specific requirements.
Coilcraft recently introduced flyback transformers for Power
over Ethernet (PoE) for Powered Devices (PD) in IEEE 802.3af
compliant applications. Available in 3-W, 7-W and 13-W output
versions, the units have a bias winding output of 12 V, 20 mA and
are rated for 36-V to 72-V input, 250-kHz switching frequency, and
1500-Vrms winding to winding isolation.
Pulsewww.pulseeng.com
Pulse, a Technitrol Co., is one of the largest magnetic
component manufacturers in the world. The company offers a variety
of passive magnetics-based components and electronic components,
including filters, chokes, inductors, transformers and component
modules.
Pulse recently released the SLIC PL8200 and PL8300 series of
self-leaded package transformers and inductors with ruggedized
construction for military/aerospace power applications. Bonding the
structural header to the cores and lead wires increased the
mechanical durability. Units are available with current ratings up
to 38 Adc in an inductance range of 1.1 H to 18.1 H.
The footprint is 31.0 mm 25.4 mm maximum with a maximum
height of 12.7 mm.
AVXwww.avx.com
AVX, a group company of Kyocera, is the world's leading
manufacturer of tantalum capacitors, a technology that has been
critical to switch-mode power supplies as well as automotive air
bag and antilock brake systems.
Recently, AVX Corp.'s niobium oxide capacitor, OxiCap, was voted
component of the year at the Elektra 05 European Industry awards.
The device was awarded the honor for meeting the customer's need,
demonstrating an innovative design, time to market and meeting an
overall commercial success criteria. Designed to deliver low ESR,
high capacitance, high-ripple current capacitor performance, the
niobium oxide multi-anode (NOM) capacitor uses advanced technology
to provide a safe (nonburning) high-resistance failure mode.
Targeting power supply decoupling and high-speed data processing
applications where very high capacitance and ultralow ESR are
required, these capacitors provide ESR values down to 30
m?.
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