Online tool helps spec AC/DC power modules

 

Vicor announced the introduction of its new Power System Designer online design tool, giving system designers unprecedented flexibility to architect and optimize end-to-end power systems leveraging Vicor’s power component design methodology and high-performance power components.

Grappling with Complicated Power Requirements

Complex and compact electronic products and systems have driven demand for ever smaller, more efficient and cost-effective power systems. In attempting to come up with the “best” power system solution, power designers have been forced to analyze bewildering topologies, architectures and products. Each alternative design approach requires performance calculations, data sheet searches, manual simulations, thermal projections, layout and packaging studies, bill-of-material (BOM) generation and cost analysis.

To address this challenge, a variety of power design tools have been developed. These tools, however, do not allow analysis of the complete power system. Rather, the “front-end,” which filters and conditions power received from an AC or a DC source, must be configured and analyzed separately from the plurality of downstream regulators that generate the voltages required by system loads. Also, these tools do not provide a complete modular solution: the generated power system solutions combine a limited number of modular power devices with several “discrete” circuit solutions, each requiring dozens of parts. Thus, power density is compromised and the designer is challenged with figuring out the right combination of front end and DC-DC power trains, and dealing with the complexities of discrete power circuit layout, thermal management, packaging and cost.

Simplifying the Complexity of Power Design

Vicor’s Power System Designer online design tool simplifies and accelerates the creation of compact, multi-output, modular power systems all the way from the input source—either AC or DC—to system loads. Engineers simply specify their AC or DC input source and operating range, and their required output voltages and respective power (or current), regulation and isolation specifications, and the tool automatically generates and identifies the best alternative solutions, each solution characterized by figures of merit including Highest Operating Efficiency, Lowest Component Count, Lowest Cost, Smallest Footprint and Recommended Best Fit.

Each solution can be viewed, analyzed and optimized using Vicor’s fully editable Whiteboard tool, enabling designers to meet the exacting performance requirements of their target application. For any selected design, the Power System Designer tool can display a visual representation of the mechanical layout of the system and generate a complete BOM along with ordering and pricing information. And, because Vicor’s comprehensive families of field-proven, high density modular power components address virtually any front end or power train requirement, each solution offers superior power density and fast time-to-market, while minimizing the design risks and performance and schedule uncertainties associated with “discrete” designs.

Vicor’s new Power System Designer online design tool facilitates power system design by enabling specification, analysis and configuration of complete, multi-output, power systems, with unprecedented performance, efficiency and density, in just a matter of minutes. To get started, visit the Power System Designer overview page.

Power component design methodology

Vicor’s power component design methodology enables power system designers to reap all of the benefits of modular power component design—predictable component and system functionality and reliability, fast design cycles, easy system configurability, re-configurability and scaling—while achieving system operating efficiency, power density and economy that rival the best alternative solutions. Using Vicor’s online tools, power system designers select from an extensive portfolio of proven Vicor power components to architect, optimize and simulate their complete power system, all the way from their input sources to their points of load. This innovative approach to power system design delivers fast time-to-market and state-of-the-art performance while minimizing the possibility of last minute surprises and delays that so often occur with conventional or custom design methodologies.

Vicor
www.vicorpower.com