Welcome to the April Analog Dialogue
Advancing technology comes with lowering the core voltages of digital computing devices like FPGAs, processors, DSPs, and ASICs to address the power consumption and thermal challenges that affect its performance. This article, “Maximizing Power Supply Output Performance with a High Accuracy Window Monitor,” discusses how using a high accuracy window voltage supervisor maximizes power supply output. By improving the window of usable power supply for core voltages of devices, it ensures operation within the valid operating power supply range.
Active voltage positioning (AVP), or active droop technology, regulates the power supply output at higher voltage at light load and lower voltage at heavy load. Our next article, “An Accurate Active Voltage Positioning Control Reduces up to 50% Output Capacitance for μModule® Regulators,” introduces an accurate series AVP implementation method applied on a μModule regulator. This method achieves a fast load transient response, minimal board space, and an all ceramic capacitor solution.
The article “Considerations for Using Gallium Nitride Technology in Switch-Mode Power Supplies” is this month’s next feature. It discusses GaN technology in detail and explains how such wideband gap switches can be used in switch-mode power supplies. It introduces circuit examples and discusses the advantages of using dedicated GaN drivers and controllers. LTspice® is shown as a tool to understand the usage of GaN switches in power supplies. Finally, an outlook is given to the future of GaN technology.
This month’s RAQ, “Replacing PhotoMOS® Switches in Automatic Test Equipment Applications,” introduces the replacement of PhotoMOS switches with CMOS switches in automated test equipment (ATE) houses. The growing demand for high performance memory, particularly high bandwidth memory (HBM), in artificial intelligence (AI) applications is driving more complex chip designs. ATE houses, which are critical in verifying these components, are now facing increased pressure to keep pace with this demand.
Dive into the world of the Colpitts oscillator with our latest StudentZone article, “ADALM2000 Activity: The Colpitts Oscillator.” In this laboratory, we examine the Colpitts configuration, which uses a taped capacitor divider to provide the feedback path.
And as we have for over 58 years, we invite you to be part of the dialogue in Analog Dialogue. You can get in touch through our blog, Facebook page, or email. Let us know how we’re doing and what you’d like to see from us in the coming months.