Exclusive Hands-on Review: Online Power Supply Design Tools

*Evaluated by Design News

ONLINE POWER SUPPLY DESIGN

Fairchild Semiconductor FETBench WebSIM http://rbi.ims.ca/3853-557

FUNCTIONALITY

Analysis tool for dc-dc converters, rectified buck converter (including a version with a controller) and a boost converter. Also load switch and bidirectional load switch.

TYPE OF ANALYSIS

Device, application, and thermal analysis. Curve tracer analysis and dynamic characteristics for switching waveforms, including reverse recovery.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Novices through experienced designers for FETBench and PFC design toolkit.

KIT/PARTS

A kit or parts to make the design is not available.

POWER SUPPLY GURU MARTY BROWN'S QUICK EVALUATION (more comments at http://rbi.ims.ca/3853-556)

+ Best feature: One can place "dummy loads" onto the PCB to simulate the other major heat-producing components within the system (ICs and other "non-MOSFETs"), and simulate a more complete PCB Thermal system.

- When selecting "View Schematic" in the Applications area, you cannot print out the entire schematic. The window is in landscape mode, but the print button only produces portrait-style prints for the first page only.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Although they do not offer online analysis tools, some other manufacturers offer power supply and power management design support online. Texas Instrumants offers power management engineering design utilities and design-in calculators at http://rbi.ims.ca/3853-561. Analog Devices offers power management design tools, including evaluation boards at http://rbi.ims.ca/3853-562.