» Readers gave Valence
Technology's Lithium-ion power cell high marks in this category,
touting safety as one of its most appealing features. The number two
position weht to Excelsys' AC/DCs, which garnered enthusiastic comments
from readers due to its configurability.
(1) VALENCE TECHNOLOGY Lithium-ion cell claims best-in-class performance eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
"A new phosphate-based lithium-ion power cell from Valence Technology
touts superior cycling and rate capability to existing types, with the
company also promoting it as the only safe large-format lithium-ion
rechargeable. Using the company's Saphion technology, the IFR18650p, a
3.2-volt, 1100 mA-h source, thus is designed to offer even greater
benefits over nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel cadmium (NiCd)
power sources, particularly for consumer appliance applications.
" Readers say: » "The most appealing
feature of this cell is its safety. The energy density is only half
that of typical modern 18650 cells, but it's still better than Ni
cells."
» "Great innovation."
» "This is very important for laptops as safe charging is of critical
importance."
» "It might help us in one of our products we produce."
» "Many possible applications."
» "Looks like NiMH competitive."
USABILITY RANK: 1
(2) EXCELSYS TECHNOLOGIES AC/DCs stake claim as the first field-configurables eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
" Excelsys says its Xcite family of AC/DC "field-configurable" power
supplies is a first in the power supply industry. The 400-1200 watt
plug n' play family comprises four front-end chassis (powerPacs) and
seven output modules (powerMods), with each modular solution providing
a complement of DIP switches and a trim pot to allow users to quickly
configure output requirements.
" Readers say: » "Innovative!"
» "I'm surprised somebody didn't come out with these a while ago."
» "It is configuarble. I like it."
» "They are very reliable."
USABILITY RANK: 2
(3) MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES Boosted supercaps charge to a penny per farad eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
"With this latest announcement, Maxwell Technologies implies an
inflection point in the cost-volume curve that is the most central to
the successful development and production of the so-called
supercapacitor. "Cost is major in enabling a technology into the
mainstream," said Robert Tressler, senior vice president of sales,
pointing out that the companyıs PC2500, a 2,700 farad device introduced
in 2000, sold for $270 and had a production run of a few thousand. "We
sold to those with specialized needs, such as labs and companies of
that nature." And at 10 cents per farad the cost was relatively high.
"To those who ask if we can reduce cost, I say we must be at half a
cent per farad by 2010," he said. The companyıs new MC2600, at a cost of
1 cent per farad in high numbers (1 million units annual volume) and
with a production volume that is presently expected to approach
100,000, goes a long way towards meeting that goal. " Readers say: » "I would like to see
more products like this."
» "The high inrush current potential for this technology makes it ideal
for next generation embedded and handhelds -- seems like the adoption
is behind the technology."
» "Wide temperature range is critical to the success of these caps as
replacements for batteries."
» "Would also like higher voltages. Perhaps 50V, 100V, 600V."
» "News of this kind of development is EXACTLY why I read EE Times.
This is a world-changing development, both because of the price and the
capability."
» "Cool!"
» "I'd like to see these improvements made on a smaller scale for PWB
mount supercaps."
» "If EV's are ever going to come of age, they will need something
better than current battery technology. Maybe this product is a step
forward."
» "I can see many uses for the correct rating being meet for use in
automotive audio applications."
» "Interesting potential in alternative energy systems."
» "Not bad."
» "Very exciting! applications for solar panel backup vs. batteries?"
» "Perhaps the hybrid auto is closer than we think.." USABILITY RANK: 4
(4) STMICROELECTRONICS Second-generation MOSFETs make a better mesh eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
"STMicroelectronics says its second generation MDmesh high-voltage
power MOSFET devices cuts on-resistance (RDS) by up to 40 percent to
increase efficiency and system reliability while significantly reducing
costs. The devices are particularly suited to switchmode power supplies
(SMPS), power factor correction (PFC) modules and power adapters.
" Readers say: » "The price is kinda high, so I would only use them if I REALLY needed them."
» "These might be good for the plating industry power supplies."
» "We might use it in some our power supplies we make."
» "A step in the right direction!"
USABILITY RANK: 3
(5) POWERDSINE Power-over-Ethernet midspan first for VoIP eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
"PowerDsine says its 24-port 6024G is the industry's first
power-over-Ethernet (PoE) midspan device for serving 10/100 Mbps and
emerging gigabit (1000Mbps) network devices such as voice-over-Internet
protocol (VoIP) phones, WLAN access points and IP network video cameras
in enterprise installations. The 6024G Midspan, the first member of the
company's 6000G series of six-, 12- and 24-port devices to ship, offers
a simple, cost-effective upgrade to Gigabit PoE while protecting the
existing investment in recently purchased Gigabit Ethernet switches.
When connected to a central uninterruptible power supply (UPS), the
6000G models provide a cost-effective way to distribute power remotely
while ensuring uninterrupted operation of the network during electrical
power failure." Readers say: » "Too expensive. Are they Gold Plated?"
» "Cool."
» "Very good idea. Have already implimented a similiar unit here."
» "Not EVERYTHING is battery powered and self-contained."
» "Not bad."
USABILITY RANK: 6
(6) LINEAR TECHNOLOGY Glitch-free buck-boost outperforms SEPICs eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
"It's not the LTC3780's single-inductor architecture per se,
significant as it is, that makes this (nonisolated) device special to
me. True, a buck-boost positive-input, positive-output regulator would
usually need a double winding somewhere (the traditional buck-boost
<i>inverter</i> works fine with just one). The
single-inductor issue aside, the major breakthrough is the overall end
result, with Linear Technology touting this device as the only
<i>true</i> buck-boost controller IC today. That is, it's
one that generates a glitch-free output as it switches seamlessly from
the buck to boost mode and vice versa. The quality of the output
waveform isn't affected by input transients or step changes in load.
The chip also maintains extremely high system efficiency over a wide
input-voltage range. " Readers say: » "The LTC3780 has amazing
efficiency over a wide voltage range. With Li-ion batteries' wide
operating voltage range often going above and below the required output
voltage, a buck-boost supply is often needed. But as is noted by Vince,
SEPIC designs just don't offer the kind of efficiency that the LTC3780
does. I'm designing it into LED lighting and portable power solutions
that run from Li-ion smart batteries, solar, and automotive supplies."
» "Too Pricey for me."
» "Might use it."
» "Sounds good!"
» "Good performance, dlitch free operation is very important feauture."
» "I could use a simpler buck-boost current regulator for battery
powered devices. Anybody on that?"
» "I deal a lot with power circuits, specifically switcher topology. So
very Interesting new part."
» "Unless I can purchase at your China prices, my proprietary supplies
cannot be made in the USA."
USABILITY RANK: 5
(7) SILICON LABORATORIES Digital supply controller breaks away eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
"Touted as the first fully digital switchmode power controller to
deliver both flexibility and performance, the highly-integrated Si8250
digital power supply controller from Silicon Laboratories (Austin,
Texas) partitions the chip architecture into a control section and a
system management section, each with its own dedicated, programmable
processor. Indeed, the chip, which targets the market space now
occupied by the more complex analog PWM controllers (versus traditional
analog PWMs, single-chip switching regulators and discrete designs), is
billed as a no-compromise solution for digital power that secures the
benefits of both the hardware-controller and DSP-based designs that
have thus far evolved.
" Readers say: » "Very cool."
» "GREAT PRODUCT!"
» "Just what I been waiting for."
» "Not much more."
» "Cool."
USABILITY RANK: 7
(8) TDK INNOVETA Quarter-bricks proclaim new high-current benchmarks eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
"TDK Innoveta's latest additions to its quarter-brick iQP (Powereta)
series of DC/DC quarter-brick converters proclaim new family benchmarks
for the highest usable current in tough environments. As for raw output
current, the iQP's new 1.2-volt model can deliver up to 100 amps.
The iQP48100A012V (100 amps, 1.2 volts), iQP48090A015V (90 amps at 1.5
volts), and iQP48085A018V (85 amps, 1.8 volts), which work from a 36-75
volt input, combine an open-frame insulated metal substrate (IMS) based
design with "The Double P" power pin connection for high thermal
performance. The iQP's 85-amp, 1.8-volt model, for instance, can
deliver 60 amps at +65°C and 65 amps at +55°C for 200 lfm
cooling, qualifying that quarter-brick as the one with the
lowest-voltage, highest usable power in the industry, according to the
company. " Readers say: » "I might use this for a
project we are doing."
» "Too expensive!"
» "We still need lower voltage, higher efficiency for future computer
designs. DC-DC convertors are our biggest packaging problem, so the iQP
efforts are a welcome step in the right direction."
» "The brick market is more of a commodity these days."
» "Impressive numbers!"
USABILITY RANK: 8
(9) SUMMIT MICROELECTRONICS 4-channel sequencer at no loss for performance eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
"
Summit Microelectronics says its SMT4504 power supply tracking and
sequencing controller is the industry's first four-channel "lossless"
type, suited to applications such that provide complete managment of a
quad supply while incorporating a level of programmability and
integration not seen previously. As the first claimed lossless tracker,
it eliminates the need for external series MOSFETs by interfacing
directly to a converter's TRIM input pin. Thus in addition to reducing
board space, component count, and power dissipation, the chip secures
improved load regulation for critical applications such as where core
voltages are low. " Readers say: » "I like the idea that I
can use this chip as the manufacturing data PROM. I wish they had
supplied Linux-compatible config software. We are trying to get away
from running Windows in the lab."
» "Cool."
» "We do not generally use this kind of chip."
USABILITY RANK: 9
(10) MGE UPS SYSTEMS Power backup for VoIP spans Ethernet-with-UPS solution eeProductCenter's Vincent Biancomano says:
" Stressing that UPS backup will ultimately become mandatory for
voice-over-IP (VoIP) applications, MGE touts its system as the first
comprehensive solution for the secured PoE infrastructureıproviding PoE
midspan, UPS, and supervisory functions for Enterprise IT networks,
which include VoIP. Anticipating similar integrations by its UPS
competitors in the near future, MGE has designed its system to address
reliability and plug-and-play issues with minimal fanfare while calling
attention to the "true cost" issue as it applies to securing affordable
system availability. " Readers say: » "Too Pricey for market to grow."
» "I would definately be interested in this product."
» "Legacy is target market."
» "Really like the format of manufacturere vs Vincent."
USABILITY RANK: 10
