Power Integrations Debuts LinkSwitch Converter IC
Power Integrations Inc. (San Jose, CA) unveiled its new LinkSwitch switching power supply IC, which is claimed to be the industry’s first highly integrated, high-voltage, power-conversion IC designed to displace low-power linear transformers by delivering switcher benefits at equal or lower system cost. Applications for the LinkSwitch include linear transformer replacement in adapters and battery chargers for a wide range of personal electronics (cell phones, cordless phones, PDAs, digital cameras and MP3 players); home appliances, including white goods; television standby; and other auxiliary power supplies.
The LinkSwitch family is based on the company’s TOPSwitch® technology, and combines a 700V power MOSFET; PWM controller; and high-voltage startup, current limit and thermal shutdown circuitry on a single CMOS chip. LinkSwitch features a revolutionary topology for low-power switching supplies that utilizes a primary-based CV/CC solution, which combines the primary clamp, feedback, IC supply and loop-compensation functions, eliminating up to 20 external components. LinkSwitch includes thermal and current-limit protection; auto-restart for short-circuit and open-loop fault protection; and the company’s EcoSmart® technology, which reduces the energy consumption of the power supply during standby and no-load conditions.
The LNK501 is available in both through-hole and surface-mount DIP packages. Pricing in 10,000-piece quantities for the LNK501P, a 3W part housed in a plastic DIP-8 package, is $0.50 each. The LNK501G, a 3W part housed in a surface-mountable SMD-8 package, is priced at $0.52 each. Small quantities of each type are available from factory stock, with production quantities available in four weeks ARO.
