Fairchild Semiconductor’s LED Lighting Demo at APEC 2012 Focuses on Low to High Power LED Lighting Applications

February 1, 2012

With the increasing popularity of LED lighting applications, designers face challenges ranging from design complexity and the need for high system efficiency to limited PCB space and the management of multiple vendors to meet all of their design requirements.

At APEC 2012, in booth #701, February 5-9, 2012, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Fairchild Semiconductor will showcase its broad portfolio of LED lighting solutions for low-, mid- and high-power lighting applications.

On display at the show is the FL7701 Smart Non-isolated Buck LED Driver with power factor correction (PFC). The device uses a digital technique that allows it to automatically detect the AC input voltage condition, allowing it to create a special internal reference signal that results in high power factor correction. The FL7701 will also work from a DC input voltage condition, automatically sensing AC versus DC input voltage conditions.

The FL7701 combines high functional density in a small form factor that provides designers up to 20 percent lower bill of material (BOM) costs and up to 60 percent board space savings. This combination creates a solution suitable for the space-constrained PCB sizes found in LED lighting applications and supports analog dimming.

Fairchild’s LED lighting solutions feature integrated components in a single IC, using highly efficient and effective technologies for power ranges that are 1W and above. Fairchild offers multiple topologies, which provide energy efficient solutions for low-, mid- and high-power lighting applications. These topologies provide high power factor and low total harmonic distortion, enabling extended system life and reduced lifetime cost while meeting global energy regulations.

Join us at APEC 2012 in booth #701 to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: Solutions for Your Success

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter (@ http://twitter.com/FairchildSemi) to catch the latest from the show floor.

Tags: analog dimming, APEC, APEC 2012, DC input voltage condition, Fairchild Semiconductor, FCS, FL7701, high power lighting applications, LED, LED Lighting, PCB space, Power Factor Correction

Fairchild Semiconductor’s Demos DC-DC Conversion Solutions at APEC 2012

January 31, 2012

At APEC 2012, in booth #701, February 5-9, 2012, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Fairchild Semiconductor will showcase high-performance point-of-load digital power solutions using an advanced configurable digital controller and DrMOS as well as Fairchild’s new power stage dual-asymmetric MOSFETs that address the power supply designers’ need for high power density and ease of design in notebook, point-of-load, server, gaming and telecommunication applications.

As requirements expand to provide more functionality in end systems, power engineers are being challenged with providing higher current output in less board area. The FDMS36xx family of power stage dual asymmetric MOSFETs provide higher current output and reduce your power supply area. These devices feature Integrated control (high side) and synchronous (low side) MOSFETs as well as a Schottky body diode in a single 5mmx6mm PQFN package. They reduce foot print area by 50% or more replacing two or three 5×6 components and provides the high power density for point of load and multi-phase synchronous buck DC-DC applications.

High efficiency, high current handling capability and small form factors are critical to power supply designers when selecting components for voltage regulator solutions. To meet this need, Fairchild Semiconductor developed its family of Generation II XS™ DrMOS [Integrated Driver + MOSFET] devices offering high efficiency and power density to enable designers to meet specific design needs for various applications. Generation II XS DrMOS devices, available in a small, 6mm x 6mm high performance clip PQFN package, feature higher system efficiency with over 91.5 percent heavy load efficiency at 12Vin, 1Vout, and 25A, and 94 percent peak efficiency. Generation II XS DrMOS can be operated at a 2MHz switching frequency and have up to 50A of current handling capability.

Join us at APEC 2012 in booth #701 to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: Solutions for Your Success^™


Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter (@ http://twitter.com/FairchildSemi) to catch the latest from the show floor.

Tags: APEC, APEC 2012, DC-DC applications, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FDMSxx family, high current handling ability, high efficiency, integrated driver, mobile, power, power and mobile semiconductor solutions, power stage dual-asymmetric MOSFETS, power supply designers, Schottky body diode, voltage regulator solutions

Fairchild Semiconductor Technology Experts Presenting at APEC 2012

January 30, 2012

At APEC 2012, in booth #701, February 5-9, 2012, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Fairchild Semiconductor, (NYSE: FCS) a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will address the real energy challenges designers face every day, and demonstrate power supply solutions featuring mWSaver^TM technology, including energy efficient controllers for flyback designs. Technology experts will also be presenting on various topics.

Fairchild’s chief technology officer and senior vice president, Dan Kinzer, will deliver the opening plenary session on Monday, February 6, at 1:30 p.m. His topic, “Maximizing Fossil Fuel Savings Through Power Electronics,” will discuss how power electronics technologies are fundamental to reducing energy consumption in many applications, as well as to the development of cost-effective energy alternatives to fossil fuels. The total fuel savings opportunities will be analyzed in applications like HVAC, industrial drives, lighting, automotive, appliances, power grid, energy storage, internet, communications, computing, and entertainment. New power electronic technologies will be compared for their impact. Examples will be drawn from wide band gap and silicon power device performance improvement, module and component level packaging, power distribution architecture, and advanced power control techniques.

Also during the show, Fairchild experts will present on various topics including:

“An interleaved single-stage flyback AC-DC converter with wide output power range for outdoor LED lighting systems,” Sangcheol Moon, Gwan-Bon Koo, Gun-woo Moon, Technical Session: AC-DC Converter II, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2 p.m. to 530 p.m., Fiesta 9-10.

“Design optimization of TRIAC-dimmable AC-DC converters in LED Lighting,” Hyunchul Eom, Chun Ching Lee, Ta Yung Yan, Seunguk Yang, Technical Session: AC-DC Converter II, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2 p.m. to 530 p.m., Fiesta 9-10.

“New Power MOSFET Technologies Optimized for Efficient and Reliable Telecommunication Power Systems,” Wonsuk Choi, Sungmo Young, Dongkook Son, Poster Session: Devices and Components, Thursday, Feb. 9, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Veracruz.

 
Fairchild provides leading-edge silicon and packaging technologies, manufacturing strength and system expertise for consumer, communications, industrial, portable, computing and automotive systems. An application-driven, solution-based semiconductor supplier, Fairchild provides online design tools and design centers worldwide as part of its comprehensive commitment to customer satisfaction.
Join us at APEC 2012 in booth #701 to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: Solutions for Your Success^TM

 
Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter (@ http://twitter.com/FairchildSemi) to catch the latest from the show floor

Tags: AC-DC converters, APEC, APEC 2012, design optimization of TRIAC-dimmable AC-DC converters in LED Lighting, energy efficient controllers for flyback designs, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, high performance power and mobile semiconductor products, interleaved single-stage flyback AC-DC converter, LED Lighting, maximizing fossil fuel savings through power electronics, mobile, mWSaver technology, new power MOSFET technologies, power, presentations at APEC, presentations at APEC 2012

Fairchild Semiconductor Demos at APEC 2012 Focus on Energy Saving Challenges Designers Face Every Day

January 26, 2012

At APEC 2012, in booth #701, February 5-9, 2012, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Fairchild Semiconductor, (NYSE: FCS) a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will address the real energy challenges designers face every day, and demonstrate power supply solutions featuring mWSaver^TM technology, including energy efficient controllers for flyback designs.

 
Demos in the booth will highlight Fairchild solutions for other power-related challenges faced by designers today, including:

 
LED Lighting - demos focusing on low to high power LED lighting applications, including the FL7730 dimmable single-stage PFC PSR off-line LED driver (TRIAC dimmable) for residential applications, as well as a complete driver solution for applications >150W.

 
Power Supplies - highlighting solutions that showcase Fairchild’s mWSaver technology, including the FAN6756, which provides designers <30mW low standby power; and a high-efficiency dual-switch Flyback solution that provides designers with a reduced bill of materials and an easy to design topology that meets 2013 ErP requirements.

 
Sustainable Energy - solutions including the FAN9611 interleaved dual BCM PFC controller for solar micro inverters, as well as the smart meter power solution using FSL137H power switch and Fairchild’s new ESBC^TM switch series which provides increased efficiency, flexibility and robustness.

Motion Control - demos focusing on Fairchild solutions including BLDC controllers, smart power modules (SPM®), high voltage MOSFETs and IGBTs that allow designers to improve the efficiency and reliability of the industrial controls and home appliance designs.

 
DC-DC Conversion - high-performance point-of-load digital power solutions using an advanced configurable digital controller and DrMOS as well as Fairchild’s new power stage dual-asymmetric MOSFETs that address the power supply designers’ need for high power density and ease of design in notebook, point-of-load, server, gaming and telecommunication applications.

 
Fairchild provides leading-edge silicon and packaging technologies, manufacturing strength and system expertise for consumer, communications, industrial, portable, computing and automotive systems. An application-driven, solution-based semiconductor supplier, Fairchild provides online design tools and design centers worldwide as part of its comprehensive commitment to customer satisfaction.

 
Join us at APEC 2012 in booth #701 to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

 
Fairchild Semiconductor: Solutions for Your Success^TM

 
Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter (@ http://twitter.com/FairchildSemi) to catch the latest from the show floor.

Tags: APEC, APEC 2012, APEC 2012 demos, APEC demos, BLDC controllers, DC-DC conversion, energy efficient controllers for flyback designs, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN6756, FAN9611, high efficiency dual switch flyback solution, high performance point of load digital power solutions, high performance power semiconductors, interleaved dual BCM PFC controller for solar micor inverters, LED Lighting solutions, low standby power, mobile semiconductor solutions, motion control, motor control, mWSaver technology, power semiconductor solutions, power supply semiconductor solutions, power switch, power switches, smart meter power solutions, Sustainable energey

Fairchild Semiconductor Highlights Power Supply Solutions and Design Tools at APEC 2012

January 24, 2012

At APEC 2012, in booth #701, February 5-9, 2012, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Fairchild Semiconductor, (NYSE: FCS) a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will address the real energy challenges designers face every day, and demonstrate power supply solutions featuring mWSaver^TM technology, including energy efficient controllers for flyback designs.

Fairchild will highlight its dual switch QR flyback topology and secondary synchronous rectification solution for power supply applications (75W~230W). The Dual Switch topology consists of the FAN6920MR integrated critical mode PFC and Quasi-resonant Current Mode PWM controller, the FAN7382 gate driver, in tandem with the FAN6204 secondary synchronous rectifier controller for flyback topology and forward freewheeling rectification- providing good overall efficiency, managing low power loss at light load, while providing ease of design.

 
Also on display is Fairchild’s Power Supply WebDesigner (PSW) - an easy to use, powerful online simulation tool that allows designers to throw the application note away and “Auto Design,” optimize or “Advance Design” like a power supply expert.

Fairchild provides leading-edge silicon and packaging technologies, manufacturing strength and system expertise for consumer, communications, industrial, portable, computing and automotive systems. An application-driven, solution-based semiconductor supplier, Fairchild provides online design tools and design centers worldwide as part of its comprehensive commitment to customer satisfaction.

 
Join us at APEC 2012 in booth #701 to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: Solutions for Your Success^TM

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter (@ http://twitter.com/FairchildSemi) to catch the latest from the show floor.

Tags: APEC, APEC 2012, energy efficient controllers for flyback designs, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, flyback designs, manage low power loss at light load, mWSaver technology, power supply applications, power supply design, power supply solutions, Power Supply WebDesigner, PWM controller

Are you ready for 2013?

December 6, 2011

We may be getting ready for New Year ’s Eve 2012, but power designers are already looking at 2013, since it will be a year of significant changes.

The EU eco-design directive ErP (Energy-related Products) requires the maximum power consumption of electronics devices in standby mode to be more stringent, decreasing from <1W in the year of 2010 to <0.5W in the year of 2013.

To achieve less than 0.5W standby power consumption remains a significant challenge for auxiliary power supply designs in applications such as PCs, game consoles and LED TVs.

If you are still looking for solutions to meet the challenge of 2013 ErP, here is one from Fairchild.

The FSB1×7H series, the next-generation green-mode Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM):

• Provides designers with No-Load Power Consumption < 50mW at 230VAC (EMI Filter Loss Included)
• Meets 2013 ErP Standby Power Regulation (< 0.5W at 0.25W Load) for Auxiliary ATX Power and LCD TV Power
• Eliminates X-Cap Discharge Resistor Loss with AX-CAP^TM Technology while still meeting IEC61010-1 safety requirement

Want to know more about the FSB1×7H? Need any design support?

Check out our website at: http://www.fairchildsemi.com/products/mwsaver/, and download the reference design and white paper.

Tags: 2013 ErP, EU eco-design directive, Fairchild, Fairchild Power Switch, Fairchild Semiconductor, FSB1x7H, low standby power, mWSaver technology

Voltage-mode CRM PFC for lighting offers higher efficiency, improves reliability

December 1, 2011

When it comes to lighting, efficiency and reliability are critical. Critical-conduction mode (CRM) power factor correction (PFC) controllers are available with two different control modes: current-mode and voltage-mode.

Though current mode controllers have been used for a while now, voltage mode controllers offer important advantages-particularly for applications-such as lighting, where high-efficiency low THD and high power factor are becoming more of a premium. The newest voltage-mode controllers designed for lighting applications are specifically designed to maintain good power factor, low THD at light loads, zero overshoot at turn on, and a PFC-ready pin for power sequencing of downstream converters. Also, the new voltage-mode devices are conveniently designed to have backwards compatibility with older current-mode designs. This allows some of the benefits of this voltage-mode controller to be implemented in older designs without layout changes.

The main difference between a voltage-mode and current-mode controller is how the controller decides when to turn off the power MOSFET. For the current-mode controller, the MOSFET is turned off when the inductor current sensed through the current-sense resistor meets the desired current reference. Another major difference between the current-mode and voltage-mode PFC controllers has to do with the placement of its compensation network.

The newest generation of voltage-mode PFC controllers, such as the FL7930C from Fairchild, has added a few important features, such as a soft-start feature with zero overshoot, internal THD optimizer, and a PFC-ready pin. The THD optimizer allows for improved total harmonic distortion, while reducing the number of external components required and frees up an external pin which is being used for the PFC ready function. The PFC-ready pin tells the downstream DC/DC converter that the output voltage is at 89% of the set-bus voltage, making power sequencing much easier.

However, there’s a lot more to it. Read the full article at EE Times Design to learn the differences between these two controllers, how voltage-mode improves reliability and efficiency, and more about the FL7930C.

This article, posted in Power Management DesignLine, was written by Alexander Craig, Principal Application Engineer, at Fairchild Semiconductor.

Tags: current mode controllers, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FL7930C, lighting efficiency and reliability, power MOSFETs, voltage mode controllers

Need to Design a Dimmable LED Lamp Small Enough to Fit Existing Sockets?

November 3, 2011

LED lighting continues to grow in popularity, with significant growth expected over the next several years, especially in residential lighting applications. One of the features commonly required in these applications is the ability to dim the lights.

Efficiently dimming LED lights in small spaces - small enough to fit existing sockets - is a challenge.

Fairchild’s latest LED lighting solution, the FL7701, provides designers:

• High functional density in a small form factor
• Up to 60 percent board space savings compared to other solutions
• Up to 20 percent lower bill of material costs compared to other solutions
• Digital power factor (PF) realization greater than 0.9
• Lower total harmonic distortion (THD)
• 90 percent electrical efficiency

All of this results in an LED dimming solution that is ideal for interior decorating/ornamental lights, LED light bulbs or down lights in PAR, Reflector, MR or classic styles E26/E27 or Bi-Pin base, as well as LED lamps for low power lighting fixtures.

Want to know more about Fairchild’s complete line of LED lighting solutions? Check out our website at:

http://www.fairchildsemi.com/applications/lighting/led/index.html

Let us know what you think of our offering, and if you have an LED lighting design problem!

Tags: dimming small LED lights, efficiently dimming LED lights, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FL7701, LED dimming solutions, residential LED lighting applications

Fairchild Semiconductor Launches Power Supply WebDesigner

November 2, 2011

Designers facing the challenge of creating a flyback circuit for their applications’ power supply now have a tool to help them complete their design faster, with no worries about bench prototypes or wondering if it will work.

Whether you’re a rookie or seasoned veteran, Power Supply WebDesigner (PSW) - a powerful (no pun intended) new online design and simulation tool from Fairchild Semiconductor - allows you to throw away the application note and “Auto Complete” a design, or optimize a design like a power supply expert.

PSW is an easy-to-use, powerful online design tool that provides:

• A complete flyback design including selection of the optimum Fairchild controller with integrated MOSFET
• steady-state and transient waveforms, as well as the loop-gain plot showing stability margins
• A complete bill of materials (BOM) and distributor parts order
• Simulation functionality that helps designers fine tune their design without building a bench prototype

From user-specified design inputs, the Power Supply WebDesigner tool allows designers to choose all the components used in a design including MOSFET, diodes, transformer, snubber circuit, output filter(s), AC input circuit, resistors and capacitors, or have the tool automatically recommend the design values - providing Fairchild part numbers where applicable. PSW also can allow the user to evaluate their component choices.

We invite you to take a minute to explore the PSW tool. You can use the tool at Power Supply WebDesigner.

After you have taken it for a spin, let us know what you think and contact us:psw@fairchildsemi.com

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, flyback design tool, free flyback design online tool, online flyback design tool, Power Supply WebDesigner

Smaller, Louder Speakers Have Arrived!

October 12, 2011

Name that audio design challenge!

You’ve got it - Making Small Speakers Sound Louder and Better^TM, while minimizing impact on battery life is an important audio design challenge facing mobile engineers everywhere.

Fairchild has met this challenge with two product solutions: the FAB1200 stereo, a Class G ground-referenced headphone amplifier with integrated buck converter, and the FAB2200 audio subsystem with stereo Class-G headphone amplifier and 1.2W Class-D mono speaker amplifier.

Now that you’ve read about the mobile audio launch we can talk more about the products that make this launch important. By integrating leading circuit technologies into tiny, advanced packages, we provide mobile users significant advantages while reducing the size, cost and power of designs. Our mobile IP can be found in a majority of handsets around the world today.

The FAB1200 features a charge pump which generates a negative supply voltage that allows the headphone output to be ground-centered and capacitor-free, eliminating up to two external capacitors. The result of all these combined features is a reduced cost, extended battery runtime and excellent audio quality.

The mobile handset market never demands bigger devices and always demands longer battery life - the mobile audio launch from Fairchild delivers these needs. This device is ideal for excellent audio quality in mobile handsets, tablets, MP3s and other various portable media players.

The FAB2200 is an audio subsystem that combines a capacitor-free stereo Class-G headphone amplifier with a Class-D speaker amplifier. A proprietary integrated charge pump generates multiple supply rails for a ground-centered Class-G headphone output significantly reducing power dissipation when compared to Class-AB design implementations, while offering high power supply rejection ratio.

Another feature that the device has is Automatic Gain Control, which has the ability to limit maximum speaker output levels. That is a necessary item because it protects speakers without introducing distortion. The FAB2200 is ideal for mobile handsets, tablets and notebook computers.

Have we answered your mobile audio product questions? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Tags: audio, audio subsystem with stereo Class-G headphone amplifier and 1.2W Class-D mono speaker amplifier, Class G ground-referenced headphone amplifier with integrated buck converter, FAB1200, FAB2200, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, making small speakers sound louder and better, minimizing impact on battery life in mobile devices, mobile, mobile audio

Answering the Call for “Smarter” Smartphones

October 6, 2011

Today’s smartphones have integrated themselves into our personal daily lives as well as our business lives. Smartphone sales are rising with every passing year, and show no signs of slowing down.

In his byline ‘Answering the Call for “Smarter” Smartphones’ in Electronic Design, Fairchild Semiconductor’s Edwin Lee discusses the smartphone and its continued dominance in the marketplace.

The article focuses on the importance of determining customer desires for their smart phones, and also provides an overview of the Android platform and the reasons behind its impressive ascent in the mobile world. It also explains the challenges around hardware specifications that are emerging due to ever-present consumer demand around performance.

If you’re a smartphone user, the chances of purchasing a slower-speed OS or a device with fewer options than before are slim to none. This is why designers have begun to address other applications such as security and monitoring control, mobile payment, and electronic money using near-field communication technology. For example, with HSDPA/Wi-Fi and a high-performance computation processor, smartphone users can access in-house Web cameras as a remote security control or baby monitor. These types of uses for a smartphone are what make the device so ubiquitous and successful.

Defining customer needs in terms of price and specification/performance can be difficult to pinpoint. Forecasts show that the low-range smartphone will drop to $100 or lower this year, and the mid-range smartphone with a Cortex application processor will cost $120 to $150.

This article also explores various Fairchild chips that mobile designers may want to consider for their current and future mobile projects. As smartphones continue to improve from a functionality standpoint, the hardware specifications require more power to achieve the performance. Enlarging the battery is the easiest method to meet this requirement, but that will likely mean tradeoffs in increased volume, weight, and materials cost. 

For more technical information on how Fairchild is improving the mobile space, read the full article at: http://electronicdesign.com/article/communications/Answering-the-Call-for-Smarter-Smartphones.aspx..

This article, posted in Electronic Design, was written by Edwin Lee, strategic marketing manager at Fairchild Semiconductor.

For information and product specifications on Fairchild’s mobile and mobile audio capabilities, check out these links:

Mobile

Mobile Audio

Tags: Electronic Design, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, mobile, mobile audio

Analog Switches in the Audio Path

September 30, 2011

As more and more people listen to music using mobile phones, audio engineers are working hard to deliver high-end audio quality.

A typical mid-to-high-end mobile phone design has multiple sources of audio from the baseband, application processor or standalone audio codec. Depending on how the phone is designed, sound may be routed through either a DC biased signal, or an AC (negative) signal. Depending on which one it is determines the need for a standard or negative analog switch.

In order to create the components, the audio engineer measures the total harmonic distortion (THD). Engineers usually budget up to 1% distortion for the audio path through the headphones. The level of THD is related to the on-resistance of the analog switch. As on-resistance increases, the THD’s on-resistant flatness also increases.

Once the placement of the analog switch has been determined, the primary routing component to consider is a low R_ON switch. The reason is that for audio signals the resistance of the analog path will contribute to the power losses of the overall system. Most new headphones are set to the negative analog switch in order to eliminate the need for the DC switches, thus keeping labor and materials costs down. Fairchild is a leader in making these negative analog switches, with a portfolio of products that save product power and money.

For more information on how to improve audio quality, read the full article at: http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Analog_switches_in_the_audio_path-article-facn_fairchild_sep2011-html.aspx

This article, posted in Electronic Products, was written by Enrique Rodriguez, technical marketing engineer of Fairchild Semiconductor.

For information and product specifications on audio switches check out these links:

Mobile Audio

FSA2269

FSA2271T

Tags: audio, Electronic Products magazine, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, high end mobile phone design, high-end audio quality, mobile

The Joys of Superposition – Part One

September 29, 2011

Dear Dr. Engleberry, I have to analyze the control loop of a circuit that uses your voltage-mode FAN1577A switching regulator, but the complex equations are overwhelming. I like the part with its built-in FET drivers, but the equations? Not so much.

Anxious in Allentown

Dear Anxious. One thing to keep in mind is that the equations are a tool for describing circuit operation and often the circuit value you must derive can be generated with a much less complex formula scribbled on a napkin, pre-digested in a spreadsheet or from a computer model created by someone else. The fact is, there are many ways to understand circuit operation and, as long as the final design meets the requirements, it does not matter which path was taken.

If it is any consolation, some of the great pioneers of electronics felt inadequate when looking at the mathematical representations. Take Michael Faraday for example. He was much more comfortable measuring and documenting the results of his experiments. He was very uncomfortable with the folks who came later and described physics with formulas. After all what is a formula? It does not define nature. The formula is a mental tool which should help us understand the underlying linkages between cause and effect, but no formula is perfect and if it doesn’t shed light? Then throw it out!

One ray of hope I can offer is superposition. Superposition tells us that the behavior of a circuit can be described by analyzing all the individual signals in isolation, then summing the results all together. We don’t have to choke down the whole circuit all at once…we can chop it up into as many pieces as we like and ingest them one-by-one.

However, I don’t want to mislead you. The complexity can still be overwhelming. Let’s start Part 1 of our superposition exercise with the output capacitor you might find in a power supply output.

Courtesy of our friends at Nippon Chemi-Con, I grabbed an 820uF capacitor off my bench. The device says 820uF, so am I safe to use that value in my transfer function? I plugged one into my LCR meter and here’s what I see:

Frequency   Capacitance   ESR

100Khz         -428uF            6.95mOhm

10Khz            745uF            9.5mOhms

1Khz              774uF           12.9mOhm

100Hz           788uF            33mOhm

The datasheet says this is a 820uF, 7 mOhm capacitor with plus and minus 20% initial tolerance. -428uF? What does that mean? It means this component is not a capacitor at 100Khz-its an inductor–and the crossover point (self-resonant frequency where C=L) is somewhere between 10Khz and 100Khz.

So, what do I conclude from this? Via superposition, it’s okay to analyze the operation of this capacitor all on its own…then sum it into the larger circuit. But, if you want to accurately understand the bigger picture, you have to take into account the actual component properties with the signals and conditions it will actually see in your circuit.

We will continue this discussion in The Joys of Superposition, Part 2.

Can we have a brief moment of silence to honor Jim Williams and Bob Pease? The loss of these two giants of the analog design world is immense. We have no choice…though we can’t begin to fill their shoes…we must carry on.

RIP, Jim and Bob.

References:

FAN1577 A http://www.fairchildsemi.com/pf/FA/FAN1577A.html

The Electric Life of Michael Faraday, Alan Hirshfeld, Walker & Company, 2006

Tags: Dr. FAE, Fairchild Semiconductor, switching regulator

Eliminate Components and Save Costs for Welding Machine Applications

August 25, 2011

Posted for: Wanki Hong, Applications Engineer, Fairchild Semiconductor

Research is ongoing for a more efficient DC-ARC welding machine that combines low voltage with a large current. Various topologies are possible, but the Half Bridge is the most commonly used for a small capacity (under 230A) welding machine. When compared to a Full-Bridge topology with the same power rating, a Half Bridge design requires a greater amount of transformer wiring and a higher current capacity at the inverter. However, a Half-Bridge offers all the advantages of a simpler topology involving fewer components. In this case, data was acquired using an evaluation board with an output current of 140A and output voltage of 26V. The switching frequency was 20KHz.

When designing a welding machine, any temperature increase created by the duty cycle, for example at the transformer, should be within a set limit, if you want to avoid burning out the power supply. The duty cycle is expressed as a period of use at a rated output current during a period of 10 minutes. A 40% cycle, for example, would allow 4 minutes of use (at a rated output current of 140A), with 6 minutes for idling and cooling off.

An IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), a voltage-controlled power transistor, was selected because of its superior performance to that of other bipolar transistors. It is a more cost-effective solution in applications where high current is combined with a high switching speed, and where the design goal is to reduce total device cost while optimizing thermal performance.

When the welder is operating, loss can be either a loss in conduction or a loss in switching (power on/off). There is a trade-off between the Vce(sat) and switching loss. If Vce(sat) is high, switching loss is low and vice versa. We concluded that the FGH40N60SMD (Field Stop Gen2), from Fairchild, showed faster switching characteristics at a lower Vce(sat), plus lower turn-off loss than alternative solutions.

When selecting the second rectifier diode for a welding machine, a lower Vf, Irr, and Trr would be ideal, but because there is a trade-off between Vf and Trr, designers should consider Vf and the reverse recovery characteristics of the diode. Generally, the second rectifier diode of a welding machine has a bigger conduction loss than the reverse recovery loss; therefore, we can conclude that Vf value is more important. For this reason, ultrafast diode FFA60UP30DN (30A dual diode), from Fairchild, was selected for this evaluation board.

Device Selection Guide

IGBT

Diode

Application Block Diagram

Tags: DC-ARC welding machine, designing a welding machine, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, welding machine

Fairchild Beach 2 Beacon Team

August 8, 2011

It was another great year for the Fairchild Semiconductor Beach to Beacon team. Approximately 60 employees completed the race, and our ‘first timers’ turned in impressive results. One of our company goals is to instill healthy living practices within our work force and this 10k race is one of the key events employees participate in each year.

We are also proud to be the Green Corporate Sponsor for the event. The Beach to Beacon has the reputation as one of the most environmentally friendly road races, with ambitious goals to increase recycling, composting and reducing traffic to and from the event.

Energy efficiency and protecting the environment are key elements of our business and culture. We design and manufacture products to optimize system power, helping consumers reduce energy consumption and their global environmental footprint.

Congratulations to ALL the runners and volunteers that made this year’s event a success! We’re already planning for next year.

Tags: Energy Efficiency, Environmentally Friendly, Fairchild Semiconductor, Green Sponsor

Smart power modules becoming more efficient

August 4, 2011

Smart power switches help reduce losses up to 25% and allow the use of compact control solutions for BLDC motors.

Energy saving drives with brushless DC motors can be found everywhere, and the dust has settled somewhat, since the challenge consists of integrating a complex electronic control circuit into the motor, at realistic cost levels, to enable relevant advantages for the user. New power switch technologies can help, since they reduce losses and allow higher power density, enabling many savings.

We believe that further functionality will find its way into future smart power modules, and they will become even smarter. One possible approach is to integrate the control ICs, but additional protection functions or other power electronics components are possible. The key technology to enable these additions is a robust and flexible multichip packaging technology, as realized with Fairchild’s SPM® modules.

For more information about how smart power modules are becoming more efficient, visit http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Smart_power_modules_becoming_more_efficient-article-fapo_Fairchild_aug2011-html.aspx

This article, posted on Electronic Products magazine, was written by Alfred Hesener, senior director of applications and marketing. Share your thoughts about smart power modules, or tell us your prediction for the future!

Tags: brushless DC motors, Electronic Products magazine, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, smart power modules, SPM Modules

Louder and Better Audio for Mobile Phones

August 2, 2011

Research shows that over 90 percent of people who purchase a mobile phone are influenced by its sound quality. In the age of smart phones, people use the conference call speaker mode more than ever. On the go, it’s often used for music or movies. Users want the best sound possible, making the audio capabilities of the device very important.

Mobile handset OEMs need to offer a better audio experience by making small speakers sound louder and better without sacrificing battery run time or at a higher price.

A recent podcast by Fairchild offers solutions for louder and better audio in mobile phones. You’ll hear how Fairchild’s complete systems solutions, with the advantage of one-stop shopping, offers a seamless interface between ICs to optimize performance. Additionally, Fairchild’s leading-edge small packaging means a smaller footprint.

Check out the FAB1200 and the FAB2200 for specific product details! These products offer best-in-class SNR, speaker protection, high efficiency audio amplifiers which result in extended battery time, and Automatic Gain Control, which turns the speaker down as the battery’s run time depletes.

Listen to the podcast for more information about this launch! (http://www.fairchildsemi.com/podcast/podcasts/2011-07-25/Mobile_Audio_Podcast.mp3)

To learn more about the semiconductor technology that powers the products we use and makes them more energy efficient, visit Fairchild Semiconductor’s website at www.fairchildsemi.com.

Tags: audio in mobile phones, FAB1200, FAB2200, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, making small speakers sound louder and better, podcast

Good Weekend for the Tri for a Cure!

July 29, 2011

Good luck to all the participants in the Tri for a Cure this weekend. The race benefits the Maine Cancer Foundation and 100% of the funds raised remain in Maine. Here’s a link to the website if you want to support the race or for more information, http://mainetriforacure.org/Tri/Home

We have several employees participating in the race and we are proud to help sponsor the event.

Tags: Fairchild Semiconductor, philanthropy

Pro audio techniques applied in mobile devices to improve sound quality

July 28, 2011

The mobile industry continues to reign supreme but it does have its challenges, one of which is audio quality.

Surprisingly, the audio quality of mobile phones is something that has been largely overlooked by both the mobile industry itself and a majority of the electronics industry- until now.

To meet these challenges, Fairchild recently announced two new product solutions: the FAB1200 stereo, a Class G ground-referenced headphone amplifier with integrated buck converter, and the FAB2200 audio subsystem with stereo Class-G headphone amplifier and 1.2W Class-D mono speaker amplifier.

In addition, Fairchild’s Earl Schreyer has just published an article on this topic in EE Times.

‘Pro audio techniques applied in mobile devices to improve sound quality’ discusses how these techniques can be applied and how they can aid in improving communication as well as entertainment in modern mobile devices.

The article focuses on Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) and limiting, which are traditional recording techniques used to raise the volume of subtle acoustic instruments (such as human voice), in order to bring out those subtleties, but at the same time automatically attenuate the dynamic peaks as not to overload the recording level. This technique is also used sometimes on certain instruments in live performance for the same reasons. If the lower level amplitudes can be raised while the higher level peaks are attenuated, the overall volume can be increased without distorting and over loading the speakers on the louder dynamics.

I recommend taking a moment to review Earl’s article. It’s already getting positive feedback from our colleagues in the electronics industry! And if you have any comments to share, please feel free to post them here.

Tags: audio quality in mobile phones, Dynamic Range Compression and limiting, EE Times, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, making small speakers sound louder and better, Mobile Solutions

Need to Make Small Speakers Sound Louder and Better? Now You Can!

July 20, 2011

What’s the #1 audio design challenge?

You’ve got it - making small speakers sound louder and better, while minimizing the impact on battery life. It’s a big challenge, one faced by mobile engineers everywhere.

Now, Fairchild can help designers meet this challenge with two product solutions: the FAB1200 stereo, a Class G ground-referenced headphone amplifier with integrated buck converter, and the FAB2200 audio subsystem with stereo Class-G headphone amplifier and 1.2W Class-D mono speaker amplifier.

You’ve read about our recent mobile audio launch we can talk more about the products that make this launch important. By integrating leading circuit technologies into tiny, advanced packages, we provide mobile users significant advantages while reducing the size, cost and power of designs. Our mobile IP can be found in a majority of handsets around the world today.

The FAB1200 features a charge pump which generates a negative supply voltage that allows the headphone output to be ground-centered and capacitor-free, eliminating up to two external capacitors. The result of all these combined features is a reduced cost, extended battery runtime and excellent audio quality.

The FAB2200 is an audio subsystem that combines a capacitor-free stereo Class-G headphone amplifier with a Class-D speaker amplifier. A proprietary integrated charge pump generates multiple supply rails for a ground-centered Class-G headphone output significantly reducing power dissipation when compared to Class-AB design implementations, while offering high power supply rejection ratio.

Another feature that the device has is Automatic Gain Control, which has the ability to limit maximum speaker output levels. That is a necessary item because it protects speakers without introducing distortion, and increases the average output level so the speaker sounds louder. The FAB2200 is ideal for mobile handsets and tablets.

Have we answered your mobile audio product questions? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Tags: Class D mono speaker amplifier, Class G headphone amplifier, FAB1200, FAB2200, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, making small speakers sound louder and better, minimize impact on battery life

How to Meet Three Key Requirements for Power Designers - Green Mode Fairchild Power Switch (FPS™) Provides the Technology and Process Advancements for Reliability

July 13, 2011

Can you name some of the things that power design engineers are always on the lookout for?

If you said simple designs, high reliability, and high performance, you’d be correct. To address these needs, the FSL1×6 series of green-mode Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) devices offer increased reliability while exceeding today’s energy saving regulations.

High Reliability:

Reliability is a key factor, and the FSL1×6 series has abundant protection features including OCP, OVP, OLP, AOCP, and TSD with rugged SenseFET. When compared to a discrete MOSFET and controller solution, the FSL1×6 series reduces total component count, overall design size and weight, while increasing efficiency, productivity and system reliability. Last but certainly not least, customers want high performance without sacrificing energy savings, so the series has low standby power and good EMI.

Simple Designs:

The FSL1×6 series reduces total component count, overall design size and weight, while increasing efficiency, productivity and system reliability when compared to a discrete MOSFET and controller solution,. These built-in protection features eliminate the need for external components, simplify designs and reduce bill of materials.

What about energy savings?

Certainly today’s market is very aware of power saving applications, and Fairchild’s FSL1×6 series is no different. The devices achieve standby power of <50mW@230ac beating the Energy Star’s requirement of <300mW. The average standby power for systems in this segment is around 150mW ~ 200mW and going lower.

This series of devices are ideal for consumer electronics such as VCRs/DVD players, set-top boxes, and home appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

They are part of a comprehensive portfolio of Green Mode Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) devices. This FSL1×6 series helps designers meet the engineering challenges they face by providing the technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration.

What are some of the power designs challenges you face?

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Power Switch, Fairchild Semiconductor, FSL1x6 series, high reliability and performance in power system designs, increase performance, low standby power, power design engineers

Portable Innovate 2011: Fairchild To Outline Optimal Smartphone Design

July 8, 2011

A highlight of Fairchild Semiconductor’s activities at Portable Innovate Exhibition - being held from July 14-15, 2011, at booth B21 in the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, China - will be participation in the Mobile Design and Key Components (CMKC2011) forum on July 15, when Fairchild Senior Marketing Manager Edwin Lee will speak on the topic, “Making smartphones and our lives SMART and simple.”

Lee’s presentation is scheduled for 11:10am on July 15, and the audience is expected to comprise some 400 R&D engineers and managers.

Lee will discuss the concept of the smartphone, the diverse range of functions and applications smartphones enable, and the leading software platforms and their status in the market. He will then move on to consider the various trade-offs that have to be made in the design of smartphones, and some of the key features consumers demand. His remarks will include a look at some of the more challenging functionalities, including support for HD video. He will also outline some of the key product offerings from Fairchild for the smartphone segment, particularly in the area of power management, while detailing ideas for optimal smartphone design.    

“Smartphones and tablet PCs are experiencing extremely high growth in the consumer market. Mobile data access, along with the small form factor of these devices, makes them convenient for work and play just about anywhere, noted Lee. “Most manufacturers are trying to launch these products within a short timeframe. This challenge is not unlike that of the Netbook-PC era. In addition to following the standard reference design, manufacturers have to consider other features and functionalities to differentiate their products from the competition.”

The Portable Innovate exhibition is China’s key event for portable technologies, including key components, peripheral components, software applications and industrial design for mobile phones, smartphones, tablet PC/MIDs, and netbooks and notebooks. Venued at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, the event is organized by Elexcon.

Can’t make it to the show?

Follow us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/FairchildSemi

View product and company videos, listen to podcasts and comment on our blog @ http://www.fairchildsemi.com/engineeringconnections

Visit us on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/FairchildSemiconductor

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, key smartphone features, making smartphones and our lives smart and simple, Mobile Design and Key Components, Portable Innovate, tradeoffs in smartphone design

Portable Innovate 2011: Fairchild Demos Highlight Solutions for Mobile Designs

July 7, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor, a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will show its numerous offerings at the Portable Innovate Exhibition, from July 14-15, 2011, at booth B21 in the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, China.

Demos at the show include the FAN5400, a battery charger device; new ASP products for signalling, sensing and timing; MIPI®, MHL^TM and MUS switches; and various parts for power, lighting and logic.

• FAN5400 - The FAN5400 family of battery charger ICs utilizes a highly integrated switch-mode charger to minimize single-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) charging time from a USB power source, and a boost regulator to power a USB peripheral from the battery.

• Audio Jack Detection Switches - FSA8008/8009/8029 These switches enable the detection of 3- or 4-pole accessories. In addition to detection, FSA8008 features an integrated MIC switch that allows the processor to configure the audio jack. The architecture is designed to allow common third-party headphones to be used for listening to music from mobile handsets, personal media players and portable peripheral devices.

• IntelliMAX^TM - FPF1207/1208 The IntelliMAX^TM switches are a family of advanced load management switches, reset timers, and multimedia switches for smart accessory connections.

The Portable Innovate exhibition is China’s key event for portable technologies, including key components, peripheral components, software applications and industrial design for mobile phones, smartphones, tablet PC/MIDs, and netbooks and notebooks. Venued at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, the event is organized by Elexcon.

Can’t make it to the show?

Follow us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/FairchildSemi

View product and company videos, listen to podcasts and comment on our blog @ http://www.fairchildsemi.com/engineeringconnections/

Visit us on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/FairchildSemiconductor

Tags: audio jack detection switches, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN5400, FSA8008, IntelliMAX switches, li-ion battery charger ICs, load switches, MIPI switches, Portable Innovate

Mobile Audio Capabilities Bring Speakers to a Louder, Better Level

July 6, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor recently launched a mobile audio campaign on June 6, which seeks to meet consumer demand for making small speakers sound louder and better. Moving into the mobile audio space is exciting for us, as we seek to address our customer’s challenges of providing louder audio and better audio quality while maintaining long battery runtimes.

Research has shown us that over 90 percent of people purchase a mobile phone based on its sound quality. In the age of the smartphone, people use the conference call speaker mode more than ever. On the go, it’s often used for music or movies, so with properly designed audio capabilities, end users want the best sounding handsets. 

Fairchild has a world-class supply chain resulting in a dependable high-volume supply of ICs to handset OEMs, and we’ve made the connections with leading mobile manufacturers to help them meet next-generation design challenges and maintain a competitive advantage. We are pleased to announce that Fairchild mobile audio ICs are in multiple Tier-1 handsets today and the design-ins are rapidly increasing.

Getting more technical now, our customers have a strict power budget to maintain. The higher your audio volume, the faster the battery drains, and that audio can consume over 10 percent of the phone’s power budget. Not surprisingly, our customers are pressuring their IC suppliers for lower power consumption to maintain longer battery life. Improving audio volume and quality while maintaining battery runtime requires either a battery capacity and size increase, or borrowing power from other functions. Fairchild’s mobile audio design team has proven that, through excellent design skills, we can maximize sound quality while minimizing the power impact, so the products you will see coming soon will not sacrifice sound quality or small battery size.

The tablet market, as we all know, is growing fast. Tablets take audio to a new level since they have more room for larger speakers, and a larger screen is associated with louder and better audio. As with handset OEMs, we are working with tablet manufactures to optimize their audio quality while maintaining battery life.

To learn more about the semiconductor technology that powers the products we use and makes them more energy efficient, visit Fairchild Semiconductor’s website at www.fairchildsemi.com.

How has Fairchild addressed your mobile challenges in the past? Share!

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, mobile, mobile audio, power

Portable Innovate 2011: Fairchild To Outline Optimal Smartphone Design

July 6, 2011

Portable devices, particularly smartphones, are enjoying a surge in consumer interest, and Fairchild Semiconductor, a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will show its numerous offerings at the Portable Innovate Exhibition, from July 14-15, 2011, at booth B21 in the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, China.

At the show, Fairchild will highlight products and solutions for mobile applications. These will include demos on battery charging solutions for single-cell or parallel-cell Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery through a USB port or AC/DC adaptor, audio jack detection switches that enable the detection of 3- or 4-pole accessories, and our IntelliMAX^TM advanced load management switches for smart accessory connections.

“Fairchild offers a leadership portfolio of feature-specific silicon solutions addressing audio, video, USB, ASSP/logic, RF power, core power, lighting and other requirements that define user satisfaction and market success in mobile,” said Frank Ma, director, Mobile Sales and Marketing, Asia Pacific at Fairchild. “We leverage our advanced process and package technologies, offering significant design advantages while reducing the size, cost and power of mobile devices. We are happy to join experts from within the industry at Portable Innovate and share our expertise and experiences.”

The Portable Innovate exhibition is China’s key event for portable technologies, including key components, peripheral components, software applications and industrial design for mobile phones, smartphones, tablet PC/MIDs, and netbooks and notebooks. Venued at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, the event is organized by Elexcon.

Can’t make it to the show?

Follow us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/FairchildSemi

View product and company videos, listen to podcasts and comment on our blog @ http://www.fairchildsemi.com/engineeringconnections

Visit us on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/FairchildSemiconductor

Tags: audio jack detection switches, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, high performance power and mobile, IntelliMax, Li-Ion battery charging, load management switches, mobile semiconductors, Portable Innovate, power, power semiconductors

Power Saving Features for BLDC Motor Controller

June 23, 2011

Saving energy while maintaining a small carbon footprint is of global concern today. Reducing environmental pollution to avoid climate change, optimizing energy efficiency, and conserving resources are just a few topics on the global agenda. If we all adopted the use of high efficiency motors and optimized controls, our dependency could be significantly lower.

According to research by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), motors account for 51% of the world’s total energy consumption, at an annual cost of 95 billion U.S. dollars. The energy consumed by other sectors is comparatively lower. Lighting, for example, accounts for 19%, cooling and heating 16%, and Information Technology 14%. Clearly, there is a market necessity for an efficient and robust brushless DC motor controller—-the wave of the future. Fairchild Semiconductor offers advanced calculation tools that optimize efficiency, simplify the design process, and shorten time-to-market.

In fact, motors consume the most energy, no matter what the scenario - household or commercial - in which they are being used. In 2007the total electric power consumption of Taiwan was 117.2 billion KWH. Of that, motors consumed 82 billion KWH, accounting for 70% of the total. More energy efficient motors offer a significant savings in energy consumption.

Household appliances account for much of the energy used in the world, especially in North America. Motors used in these household appliances are categorized by type: AC or DC. DC can be categorized further to be brushed or brushless (BLDC). Recent years have brought about breakthroughs in technology and the production of BLDC motors. These motors are powerful, compact, and maintenance-free.

In comparison to other types of motors, such as AC and brushed DC, BLDC motors offer a higher level of technology and hence deliver higher value. Given the twin pressures to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment, BLDC motors are inevitably becoming the favored solution.

BLDC motors can be driven using several control schemes. Fairchild’s FCM8201 and FCM8202 motor controllers support both the most common and most acoustically quiet 3-phase modulation schemes: Trapezoidal and Sinusoidal. The controllers can selectively or automatically switch between these two schemes as required to optimally drive the connected motor. The FCM8201 and FCM8202 also includes several protective features which simplify the design of robust control circuitry with no software development required.

The FCM8201 and FCM8202 are capable of stand-alone operation with minimal discrete components. The FCM8201 has an on-board SPI interface which can be easily connected to an attached microcontroller. Such configurations allow the engineer to focus software development time and resources on the key aspects of the product being designed by offloading the motor control tasks to the FCM8201.

Detailed datasheets, thorough application notes, and powerful evaluation boards are available to support engineers interested in the fastest time-to-market while supporting leading-edge green technology.

Resources:

http://www.fairchildsemi.com/an/AN/AN-8201.pdf

http://www.fairchildsemi.com/pf/FC/FCM8201.html

http://www.fairchildsemi.com/pf/FC/FCM8202.html

Tags: BLDC motor controller, BLDC motors, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FCM8201, FCM8202

Making Small Speakers Sound Louder and Better: RCR Wireless Reviews ‘the Audio Squeeze’

June 20, 2011

“We believe in turning the phone into a small boom box,” says Greg Davis, Senior Technical Marketing Manager for Audio Products and Signal Conditioning at Fairchild Semiconductor.

We had a discussion with Sylvie Barak of RCR Wireless last week that centered on our recent mobile audio launch. Sylvie was interested in hearing about past product lines and areas of focus, and she was interested to learn that Fairchild is in talks with tier one mobile handset manufacturers that will include our audio IC designs. These designs will be part of the next generation of great-sounding, smaller speakers.

Greg noted that with today’s drive for lower and lower powered devices, audio is certainly “getting the squeeze.” He’s absolutely right; audio consumes approximately 12% of today’s typical smartphone power budget and improving audio loudness and quality has tended to rely on increasing battery capacity and size or borrowing some power budget from other functions.

Luckily for handset manufacturers, and ultimately, the mobile audio consumer, Fairchild’s design team works relentlessly to achieve louder and better speakers, firstly through the use of a more efficient class-G, cap-free, ground-centered headphone amplifiers, and also through efficient class-D speaker amplifiers.

We’re looking forward to reviewing future mobile audio products, and maybe RCR Wireless will have more to say on that!

To read the full article at RCR Wireless, visit http://siliconvalley.rcrwireless.com/2011/06/15/fairchild-semiconductor-sounds-out-the-mobile-audio-space//.

Tags: audio, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, mobile, RCR Wireless

United Way Pantry Project

June 8, 2011

Thanks to the generosity of Fairchild Semiconductor Maine employees, we delivered 24 boxes of food to the Preble Street Resource Center last week.  That’s over 648 meals for deserving families right here in Greater Portland.

The staff at Preble Street extended their appreciation to all employees who contributed - they were very pleased to see us pull up with a full truckload of food!   They stated that the need is greater than ever.  They are seeing more families everyday take advantage of their services due to rising cost of gas and groceries.

Tags: Fairchild Semiconductor, philanthropy

South Portland Emergency Response Team (ERT) Takes First place in Maine’s 12th Annual Hazmat Team Challenge

May 26, 2011

Left to Right: Butch Guimond - Kevin Silva - Shawn McCurdy - Matt Myatt - Bill Godbout - Todd MacPhee

South Portland Emergency Response Team (ERT) Takes First place in Maine’s 12th Annual Hazmat Team Challenge

Fairchild Semiconductor’s South Portland Emergency Response Team (ERT) sent two teams to the 12th Maine Annual Hazmat Team Challenge this year.
The challenge is sponsored by the Maine Emergency Management and the State Emergency Response Commission and is designed to test the capabilities of local Hazmat response teams as well as encourage networking and provide some friendly competition. This was Fairchild’s 6th trip to the event. Among top performers in years past, having taken 2nd and or 3rd on more than one occasion, this year’s teams where looking to raise the bar on Fairchild’s record. Both Fairchild teams consisted of three members of the ERT staff that were competing against four other teams as well as one another.

The challenge is a half day event with several competitions ranging from proficiency and timed tasks such as patching pipes to simulate a hazardous material leak, to playing golf in full Hazmat response gear. The end of the day rounds off with a written examination testing team’s knowledge of correct Hazmat procedures. Each event is scored and the scores tallied at the end of the challenge to determine the overall winner.

Fairchild took first place overall. This year’s event was a particularly great success, demonstrating the quality of our Emergency Response Teams.  Congratulations to the South Portland ERT.

Tags: Add new tag, Community, ERT, Fairchild Semiconductor, FCS, HAZMAT Challenge

Fairchild To Discuss Automotive Power Train Solutions for Power Steering at PCIM Europe 2011

May 16, 2011

Designers need long-term reliability from their automotive power train and power steering solutions. At PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, Fairchild will highlight automotive power train solutions for power steering applications that provide the robust reliability required for these applications.

Fairchild experts will discuss automotive power module solutions that can lower field failure rates and address the thermal issues encountered in everyday use.

Fairchild solutions on display at the show include automotive power modules for power steering with the capability of 40V/160A using a six MOSFET module. In comparison, a D2PAK can only support 180A at 25°C. These modules also offer high power cycling capability due to special module package construction.

Fairchild provides standard and customized automotive power modules for voltage levels ranging between 12V and 1200V and current levels up to and beyond 160A. Fairchild’s modules are specifically designed, manufactured and tested to operate in harsh automotive environment and meet or exceed the industry toughest reliability and quality requirements. They perform reliably in all kinds of automotive environment including under-the-hood applications.

Fairchild Semiconductor power modules play significant role in optimizing the power management in the newest and future generations of vehicles, contributing to fuel saving and environmental pollution reduction.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor. And, register to receive our PowerParcel, containing the latest information on Fairchild’s solutions from PCIM Europe.

Tags: Automotive Power Modules, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, PCIM, PCIM Europe

Fairchild to Showcase LED Street Lighting Solution that Improves Time To Market at PCIM Europe 2011

May 13, 2011

At PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, Fairchild will highlight a complete solution for LED street lighting applications that can help designers shorten their time to market.

This ready-made circuit includes the:

• FSFR series of LLC controllers with integrated MOSFETs that combine the highest efficiency at the lowest EMI level by operating in ZVS mode over the entire power range
• FL6961 boundary conduction mode PFC circuit offering improved efficiency

Providing additional flexibility, the PFC block of this LED street lighting solution can be replaced at higher power levels by the FAN9612, which features an interleaved PFC circuit. The solution also offers six independent buck stages at the output.

The FSFR series includes devices like the FSFR2100. A highly integrated power switch designed for high-efficiency half-bridge resonant converters, the FSFR2100 combines power MOSFETs with fast-recovery type body diodes, a high-side gate-drive circuit, an accurate current controlled oscillator, frequency limit circuit, soft-start, and built-in protection functions.

Fairchild experts will also highlight how using the zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) technique dramatically reduces the switching losses and how efficiency is significantly improved. The ZVS also reduces the switching noise noticeably, which allows a small-sized Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) filter.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor. And, register to receive our PowerParcel, containing the latest information on Fairchild’s solutions from PCIM Europe.

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN9612, FL6961, FSFR series, FSFR2100, LED Lighting, LED street lighting, LLC controllers, PCIM, PCIM Europe, PFC

Fairchild To Highlight Solutions That Increase Drive Reliability and Efficiency In Limited PCB Space at PCIM Europe 2011

May 13, 2011

Energy efficiency continues to drive electrical standards and designs in inverter motor based applications. As a result, Fairchild has developed a complete family of SPM® modules that eliminate external components and increase system reliability. These modules integrate drive and protection components in a single package so you simplify and accelerate your designs as you optimize efficiency.

At PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, Fairchild will highlight the SPM5 series. These devices can provide higher efficiency as well as improved reliability to automotive and motor designs.

The SPM5 series feature built-in Bootstrap Diodes and Gate Drivers in a very small package (29mm x 12mm). These devices can operate up to 80W without a heatsink and up to 200W with a heatsink. Additionally, these devices offer less on-state and switching losses and increased short-circuit withstand time compared with IGBT-based solutions. The SPM5 series of devices is available in through-hole and “pick-and-place” SMD packages for greater design flexibility.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor. And, register to receive our PowerParcel, containing the latest information on Fairchild’s solutions from PCIM Europe.

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, inverter motor based applications, PCIM, PCIM Europe, smart power modules, SPM

Mid-Voltage Shielded Gate Technology MOSFET Solutions Offer Improved Robustness and Reliability Under Harsh Operating Conditions

May 12, 2011

For designers who need to improve system efficiency and minimize components in motor drive applications, robustness and reliability are important factors. At PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, Fairchild will highlight 40V - 150V, mid-voltage PowerTrench® MOSFET solutions that provide high robustness (UIS) and excellent body diode performance.

These devices are part of the mid-voltage power MOSFET portfolio and are optimized power switches that combine a small gate charge (Q_G), a small reverse recovery charge (Q_rr) and a soft reverse recovery body diode, which allows for fast switching for synchronous rectification in AC-DC power supplies.

These devices employ a shielded-gate structure that provides charge balance. By using this technology, the figure of merit (Q_G x R_DS(ON)) is 66 percent lower than previous solutions, providing designers a high efficiency solution for their applications.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor. And, register to receive our PowerParcel, containing the latest information on Fairchild’s solutions from PCIM Europe.

Tags: 40V-150V MOSFETs, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, mid-voltage MOSFETS, MOSFETs, PCIM, PCIM Europe, shielded-gate

Fairchild Semiconductor Experts to Discuss Isolated Communication and Control Solutions for Industrial Power Applications at PCIM Europe 2011

May 12, 2011

Design engineers working with industrial communication designs need to transmit high speed data over the communication fieldbus without the risk of damaging sensitive controllers, ADCs or sensors. At PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, experts from Fairchild Semiconductor will discuss how current solutions fall short of providing the desired level of reliable isolation and immunity to EMI.

Fairchild experts will discuss how the capabilities of the FOD8012 - an industry-first, full duplex, bi-directional, logic gate optocoupler with high noise immunity as well as proven, reliable optical isolation - are ideal for industrial fieldbus communications, programmable logic control, and servo control, as well as inverter, factory automation, process control and test and measurement applications.

The FOD8012 supports isolated communications of digital signals between systems without conducting ground loops or hazardous voltages. Unlike competitive devices which provide less than 0.1mm optical isolation gap, the FOD8012 features a 0.4mm (minimum) optical isolation gap for proven, reliable isolation. The device also uses proprietary Optoplanar® packaging technology and optimized IC design to achieve high common mode rejection (CMR) of 20kV/µs minimum, allowing the device to operate in noisy industrial environments.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor. And, register to receive our PowerParcel, containing the latest information on Fairchild’s solutions from PCIM Europe.

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FOD8012, industrial communicaiton designs, optocoupler, Optoplanar, PCIM, PCIM Europe

Robust Design and System Protection Solutions for Embedded DC-DC Power Supply Designs On Display at PCIM Europe 2011

May 10, 2011

Part of a continuing focus on solutions for embedded DC-DC power supply designs at PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, Fairchild Semiconductor will showcase technology that protects the system by limiting the current flowing through an output, preventing failure in short circuit conditions.

At the show, Fairchild experts will discuss the AccuPower^TM load switch series. This family of current limiting load switches provides full protection to systems and loads that may encounter large current conditions. The series contains a slew rate controlled N-Channel MOSFET which limits the amount of in-rush current. This protects from abnormalities on the main power supply rails.

Devices in the AccuPower series of load switches include the FPF2700, FPF2701 and FPF2702. Unlike current solutions that require discrete MOSFETs plus external protection circuitry, devices in the AccuPower series of load switches feature built-in protections to eliminate as many as four additional devices, which saves over 70 percent board space. The switches in this family also feature under-voltage lock-out (UVLO) protection and thermal shutdown protection. Switch control is completed by a logic input (ON) capable of interfacing directly with the low voltage control signal. When the switch current reaches the current limit, the device operates in a constant-current mode to prohibit excessive currents from causing damage.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor. And, register to receive our PowerParcel, containing the latest information on Fairchild’s solutions from PCIM Europe.

Tags: AccuPower, current limiting load switches, embedded DC-DC power supply designs, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, load switches, PCIM, PCIM Europe

Learn How Embedded DC-DC Power Supply Designs Can Benefit from Fairchild’s Mid-Voltage MOSFET, Dual Cool™ Packaging Solutions at PCIM Europe 2011

May 9, 2011

Focusing on solutions for embedded DC-DC power supply designs, Fairchild Semiconductor will showcase solutions that increase power density and solve thermal issues in DC-DC converters at PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May.

Among the solutions to be demonstrated at the show are MOSFETs using Fairchild’s Dual Cool^TM packaging technology, which features an exposed heat slug that delivers a significant reduction in thermal resistance from junction to top-of-case, resulting in more than 60 percent higher power dissipation capability than standard PQFN packaging when a heat sink is mounted. Additionally, MOSFETs in the Dual Cool package are designed with proprietary PowerTrench^® process technology that enables lower R_DS(ON) and higher load currents in smaller package sizes.

Knowing that designers of DC-DC power supplies, motor control, hot swap and load switch applications, as well as secondary synchronous rectification for servers, also need MOSFETs with lower conduction and switching losses in order to raise efficiency in their designs, Fairchild will discuss solutions from the mid-voltage MOSFET portfolio, including the FDMS86500L N-Channel, PowerTrench MOSFET. This device is designed specifically to minimize conduction loss, switch node ringing, and to improve the overall efficiency of DC-DC converters. Additionally, the FDMS86500L, using shielded-gate MOSFET technology, provides very low switching losses (Q_gd 14.6 nC Typ.). When combined with the device’s low conduction losses, this provides designers the improved power density they need.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor. And, register to receive our PowerParcel, containing the latest information on Fairchild’s solutions from PCIM Europe.

Tags: Dual Cool package, embedded DC-DC power supply designs, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FDMS86500L, MOSFETs, PCIM, PCIM Europe, PowerTrench, solve thermal issues

Scan QR Codes in Fairchild’s Booth: Get Valuable Information, Register to Win an iPAD®

May 9, 2011

QR codes, those 2D bar codes you see popping up on ads, posters and banners, are now your ticket to additional information in Fairchild’s booth at PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May. Plus, scanning a QR code in the Fairchild booth registers you to win an iPAD®.

QR codes can be downloaded on most smartphones for free. By using the app, and scanning the code, additional information can be accessed that expands on the content available at the show. This is part of an ongoing effort to provide design engineers with information in the format they desire.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor. And, register to receive our PowerParcel, containing the latest information on Fairchild’s solutions from PCIM Europe.

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, OR Code, PCIM, PCIM Europe

Fairchild Discusses Solutions for Embedded DC-DC Power Supply Designs at PCIM Europe 2011

May 6, 2011

At PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, experts from Fairchild Semiconductor will address the designers need for embedded DC-DC solutions that provide high efficiency at full and light load conditions while solving thermal issues, increasing power density and meeting space constraints in their power supply designs.

Fairchild Semiconductor’s DrMOS, the FDMF67xx Series, will be among the many solutions highlighted at the show. Offering a complete family of fully optimized, integrated FET plus Driver multi-chip power stage modules designed for multiple synchronous Buck converter applications, Fairchild’s portfolio is able to meet different customer and application needs.

In addition, newly released Generation II XS^TM DrMOS [Integrated Driver + MOSFET] devices offer high efficiency and power density to enable designers to meet specific design needs for various applications. Generation II XS DrMOS devices, available in a small, 6mm x 6mm high performance clip PQFN package, feature higher system efficiency with over 91.5 percent heavy load efficiency at 12Vin, 1Vout, and 25A, and 94 percent peak efficiency. Generation II XS DrMOS can be operated at a 2MHz switching frequency and have up to 50A of current handling capability.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor.

Tags: DrMOS, embedded DC-DC Power Supply, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FDMF67xx, Generation II XS DrMOS, PCIM, PCIM Europe, solving thermal issues

Fairchild Sessions at PCIM Europe 2011 Highlight Efficient Energy, Robust Reliability and Powerful Possibilities

May 5, 2011

At PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, experts from Fairchild Semiconductor, (NYSE: FCS), a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will discuss industry-leading technologies for power supplies and motion control applications at poster and dialog sessions held during the show.

Poster/Dialog Sessions from Fairchild experts at PCIM Europe include:

New Medium Voltage Power MOSFETs for Synchronous Rectification - Wonsuk Choi, Dongwook Kim and Sung-Mo Young will discuss how the latest shielded-gate technology can dramatically reduce both on-resistance and gate charge. (PP11, Tuesday, 17 May, 16:00-17:15)

New Generation of Smart Power Module for Home Appliances Motor Drive Applications - Taesung Kwon, Steve Han, Elvis Ma, and Sung-Il Yong will introduce new Motion-SPM^TM devices in µ-Mini-DIP packaging which are fully optimized intelligent integrated IGBT inverter modules for home appliance motor drive applications. (PP20, Tuesday, 17 May, 16:00-17:15)

A Power-on Reset Circuit for HVIC Targeting Resiliency Against High Voltage Peak Noise - Paul Jung-Ho Lee, Jong-Mu Lee and Won-Hi Oh will describe a power-on reset circuit that is seamlessly interwoven with an extant UVLO (Under Voltage Lock Out) circuit, thereby adding a minimal number of circuit elements. (PP37, Tuesday, 17 May, 16:00-17:15)

Effect of Inductive Parasitics on the Device Loss and System Efficiency in a DC-DC Synchronous Buck Converter for Computing Applications - Tirthajyoti Sarkar, Ritu Sodhi, Scott Perason and Steven Sapp, along with Aditya Upadhaya from the Indian Institute of Technology, IND, will discuss how the synchronous buck converter has evolved as the most widely used circuit topology for high-power-density, low-output voltage, high-current switching power conversion for computing applications. (PP107, Wednesday, 18 May, 16:00-17:15)

DC-DC Converter Evaluation with Automated Efficiency Plot Generation - Scott Pearson, Stan Benczkowski, Steven Sapp, Tirthajyoti Sarkar, and Ritu Sodhi will discuss how Spice circuit simulation is a valuable tool when evaluating power MOSFET performance in DC-DC converter applications. (PP109, Wednesday, 18 May, 16:00-17:15)

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter  to catch the latest from the show floor

Tags: Add new tag, DC-DC converter, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, home appliance motor drive applications, mobile, MOSFET, Motion-SPM, PCIM, PCIM Europe, power, power-on reset circuit, reduce gate charge, reduce on resistance, synchronous buck converter

Fairchild Demos at PCIM Europe 2011 Will Highlight Efficient Energy, Robust Reliability and Powerful Possibilities

May 4, 2011

At PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, Fairchild Semiconductor, (NYSE: FCS), a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will demonstrate industry-leading technologies for power supplies and motion control applications in Hall 12, booth 601, in Nuremberg, Germany.

Focusing on embedded DC-DC, industrial power supply, motor and automotive solutions that deliver Efficient Energy, Robust Reliability and Powerful Possibilities, Fairchild demonstrations will include:

• DC-DC power solutions that showcase our AccuPower^TM load switch series, the industry’s first 2.8V to 36V integrated load switches, intended to address the designer’s mid-voltage needs, as well as mid-voltage MOSFETs designed specifically to minimize conduction loss, switch node ringing, and to improve the overall efficiency of DC-DC converters.
• LED Lighting solutions like the FAN6300A, a PWM controller which can be used for a 20W dimmable board. This product provides several features to enhance the performance of flyback converters.
• Industrial solutions including our FOD8012, a full duplex, bi-directional, high-speed logic gate optocoupler, which supports isolated communications allowing digital signals to communicate between systems without conducting ground loops or hazardous voltages.
• Motor solutions including Fairchild’s series 5 smart power modules (SPM®) with built-in bootstrap diodes and gate drivers in small packages (29mm x 12mm) for increased manufacturing flexibility. Also on display will be new 40V - 150V MOSFETs employing a shielded-gate structure that provides charge balance, offering high robustness (UIS) with excellent body diode performance and a lower Irrm and higher dv/dt rating.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor

Tags: AccuPower, DC-DC power solutions, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN6300A, FOD8012, industrial solutions, LED Lighting, Load switch, motor solutions, optocoupler, PCIM, PCIM Europe, PWM controller, shielded-gate, smart power modules, SPM

PCIM Europe 2011: Efficient Energy. Robust Reliability. Powerful Possibilities

May 3, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor, (NYSE: FCS), a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will demonstrate industry-leading technologies for power supplies and motion control applications at PCIM Europe 2011, 17-19 May, in Hall 12, booth 601, in Nuremberg, Germany.

At the show, Fairchild Semiconductor will focus on embedded DC-DC, industrial power supply, motor and automotive solutions that deliver Efficient Energy, Robust Reliability and Powerful Possibilities.

Embedded DC-DC solutions will address the designer’s need for high efficiency at full and light load conditions while solving thermal issues, increasing power density and meeting space constraints.

Industrial power supply solutions address the need to decrease time-to-market while differentiating designs. These solutions also focus on the design demands required to meet energy regulations for lower standby power consumption, while providing robust and reliable operations without downtime. Motor and automotive solutions highlight Fairchild’s ability to increase the reliability and efficiency of a motor drive in limited PCB space while reducing system failures when the DC drives are operated under extreme conditions.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

PCIM Europe, held in Nuremberg, 17-19 May, is Europe’s premiere venue for experts in power electronics and its applications in Intelligent Motion and Power Quality.

Join us at PCIM Europe, in Hall 12, booth 601, to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter  to catch the latest from the show floor.

Tags: embedded DC-DC solutions, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, industrial power supply solutions, mobile, motor and automotive solutions, PCIM, PCIM Europe, power

How do you stabilize an unruly boost converter?

March 25, 2011

Dear Fred. Can I call you Fred? I hope so. Can you help me? I am trying to stabilize a boost converter, but it reminds me of my three-year-old daughter. She won’t behave. Neither will my boost regulator. I know you like design details. My converter is running with a 100Khz clock. Vin is 12V and Vout is 60V. The output current rating is 100mA. I’m using a 10uH inductor.

PS: My daughter is named Fred too. I named her after you. I am your biggest fan.

Unruly in Redmond

Dear Unruly. I prefer to be addressed as Dr. Engleberry. I ask everyone, even my dear mother who turns 104 next month, to call me Dr. Engleberry. She stubbornly refuses, though I have reminded her 1753 times (yes, I keep track of this sort of thing). You can only imagine how aggravating that is. It steams my cappuccino.

With regard to your boost converter…these designs can be tricky, particularly when the inductor current is continuous and the duty cycle is greater than 50%. Let’s take a look and see where you are.

The clock period is 10µSec.  can be calculated with the following formula:

 Where:   

This gives:    

As I feared, we are running into a problem called the RHP Zero. RHP stands for Right-Half Plane. This sounds complex, but the idea is simple enough. The inductor is ‘charged’ for 8µSec and discharged for 2µSec. As long as the load is stable, everything runs fine, but let’s imagine a fast increase in load current is demanded. The only way to get more power out of the inductor is to put more into it. How do we put more in? With a longer on-period, of course. But, with a fixed-frequency converter, the larger on-period comes at the expense of the off period. With a shorter off-period, we get less output power.

That’s right. We want more output power, but until we establish a new operating point for the inductor, we get less output power. This problem is characteristic of the boost converter and with these operating conditions, there is nothing we can do. The real problem comes when we try to compensate this power supply. If we have too fast of a responses time, then the converter will try to compensate for the reduced output voltage and we’ll see horrible overshoot and undershoot and even worse, instability in the control loop. So, we must roll off the response loop at a much lower frequency than we’d like to see.

What can we do? Abandon the boost converter topology and use a flyback converter?

PS: This is an odd coincidence, but my mother’s name is Fred too.

=========================

You can read more about boost converters in these technical articles:

Building Variable Output Voltage Boost PFC Converters with the FAN9612 Interleaved BCM PFC Controller.

UniFET^TM - Optimized Switch for Discontinuous Current Mode Power Factor Correction.

Specific products related to this are:

FAN5333A   

FAN5340

FAN9612

Tags: boost converter, Dr. FAE, Fairchild Semiconductor, PFC Controller

Fairchild Demonstrates AC-DC Power Supply Solutions at electronica China

March 11, 2011

We’re thrilled to be attending this year’s electronica China, in the Shanghai New International Expo Center, between 15 – 17 March. At the show, we’ll be demonstrating a variety of AC-DC power supplies, like the FAN7382, in the Fairchild Semiconductor booth, 1310.

The FAN7382 is a monolithic half-bridge gate driver IC which can drive MOSFETs and IGBTs that operate up to +600V. Our high-voltage process and common-mode noise canceling technique provides stable operation of the high-side driver under high dv/dt noise circumstances.

At the show, we will demonstrate how an advanced level shift circuit allows high-side gate driver operation up to VS = -9.8 V (typ.) for VBS = 15V. The input logic level of the FAN7382 is compatible with standard TTL-series logic gates. UVLO circuits for both channels prevent malfunction when VCC and VBS are lower than the specified threshold voltage. Output drivers typically source/sink 350mA/650mA, respectively, which is suitable for fluorescent lamp ballasts, PDP scan drivers, motor controls, etc.

Fairchild is dedicated to providing diverse power products that are smaller than ever, and increasingly more energy efficient, in order to meet designer needs and ultimately, consumer demands. Fairchild has a vast array of products and families available including the Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) series, High Voltage Gate Driver IC products (HVIC), PWM Controllers such as the FSEZ1317 and PFC controllers such as the FAN7930, as well as broad MOSFET portfolio up to 600V and IGBTs. With these products and more, Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers.

We invite you to our booth, 1310, at electronica China to see AC-DC power supplies like the FAN7382 and much more! Is this a solution that would be helpful to your designs?

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

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Tags: AC-DC power supplies, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Power Switch, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN7382, FPS, FSEZ1317, high voltage gate driver IC, HVIC, IGBTs, MOSFETs, PWM controllers

Fairchild to Display Smaller, More Efficient AC-DC Power Supplies to be Displayed at electronica China

March 11, 2011

Come to electronica China to learn more about solutions for AC-DC Power Supplies at the Fairchild Semiconductor booth, number 1310.

Fairchild Semiconductor is dedicated to providing diverse power products that are smaller than ever, and increasingly more energy efficient, in order to meet designer needs and ultimately, consumer demands. Fairchild has a vast array of products and families available including the Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) series, High Voltage Gate Driver IC products (HVIC), PWM Controllers such as the FSEZ1317 and PFC controllers such as the FAN7930, as well as broad MOSFET portfolio up to 600V and a family of high performance IGBTs that offer superior conduction and switching performances with voltage ranges up to 1500VWith these products and more, Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers.

At Fairchild, we always appreciate an opportunity to demonstrate our solutions and show engineers the tangible ways we can help improve their designs. We invite you to visit our booth, 1310, at this year’s electronica China to learn more about our AC-DC power supplies and how they can contribute to your success. What types of products would you like to see?

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor.

Tags: AC-DC power supplies, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Power Switch, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN7930, FPS, FSEZ1317, high voltage gate driver IC, HVIC

Fairchild demonstrates mWSaver™ Technology at electronica China

March 10, 2011

Come to electronica China to learn more about mWSaver™ technology from Fairchild Semiconductor at booth 1310.

mWSaver technology from Fairchild offers the best-in-class power savings for power supplies, with the fewest possible components. mWSaver technology integrates five patented technologies: off time modulation, JFET HV start-up and circuit, feedback impedance switch, HV discharge, and PSR control to drop out voltage; as well as burst mode operation and low operation current techniques. It is only by the unique integration of these technologies, leveraged together, that the most stringent standby specifications can be met.

While the best power supplies are more than 90 percent efficient, some are only 20 to 40 percent efficient, wasting the majority of electricity that passes through them. Power supplies can account for nearly 10 percent of the total residential electricity used yearly. Regulations and technology help to reduce standby power, but the increase in the number of appliances and equipment that consumes power continues to grow, especially in developing countries.

Once again, we’d like to invite you to visit the Fairchild booth, 1310, at electronica China to learn more about our mWSaver technology. If there is a specific product you are interested in seeing at electronica China, be sure to let us know!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

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Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, mWSaver technology

Fairchild Showcasing Automotive Solutions at electronica China

March 10, 2011

Come to electronica China to learn more about Fairchild Semiconductor solutions for the automotive industry at booth 1310.

Fairchild provides standard and customized Automotive Power Modules for applications such as brushless DC motor control in Electrical Power Steering (EPS) and Electrohydraulic Power Steering (EHPS), Transmission Control, HVAC and DC-DC converters, and Solid State Switches for voltage levels between 12V and 600V and current levels up to and beyond 160A. Some features and benefits include low total module electrical resistance, optional built-in gate drivers, and optional integration of passive components.

We invite you to visit our booth, 1310, at electronica China to learn more about automotive solutions from Fairchild. If there is a specific product you are interested in seeing at electronica China, be sure to let us know!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

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Tags: Automotive Power Modules, brushless DC motor control, electrical power steering, electrohydraulic power steering, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, HVAC, solid state switches

Fairchild to Demo Accurate and Energy-Efficient LED Lighting Solutions at electronica China

March 9, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor is committed to energy savings and creating solutions that meet the most stringent regulations. Thus, Fairchild solutions for all lighting applications, including LED, have been developed to maximize performance while reducing board space, design complexity and system costs. In addition, our Global Power Resource^SM Center (GPRC), comprised of online tools, FAEs and regional centers staffed by power engineers, is the industry standard for customer design support.

For LED lighting applications, the Fairchild portfolio of PSR PWM controllers achieve the most accurate CC through built-in, proprietary TRUECURRENT™ technology and tight CV without secondary-side feedback circuitry. Constant Current (CC) allows the device to accommodate different numbers of LED units in a string, increasing design flexibility, stretching the lifetime of HB LEDs and reducing time to market.

The Fairchild PSR PWM controller portfolio, including the FSEZ1307, FSEZ1317 and FAN103, enhance the company’s extensive power offerings that enable efficient electronics, and maximize energy savings in power-sensitive applications such as power adapters, power supplies, lighting applications, computers, industrial controls and home appliances.

Booth 1310 at electronica China will be presenting live demos of a wide array of Fairchild products!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor.

Tags: electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN103, FSEZ1307, FSEZ1317, Global Power Resource Center, GPRC, LED Lighting, TRUECURRENT

Integrated Motor Drive Supplies from Fairchild to be Displayed in Booth 1310 at electronica China

March 9, 2011

Come to electronica China to learn more about Motor Drive solutions from Fairchild Semiconductor at booth 2J19 and see demos on DC-Motor with SPM® modules SPM45H series and BLDC with SPM modules.

One area Fairchild will be highlighting is its Smart Power Module (SPM®) and Motion-SPM™ technology. Among these is the SPM45H, a 600V/5A~20A / Full Protection device in smaller package than previous offerings. It has a broad range of power components and supports for motor control design in consumer and industrial applications including Fairchild motion-control smart power module devices and IGBTs.

Newly developed by Fairchild, SPM modules are an advanced motion-control smart power module designed to provide very compact and high performance for BLDC motor drives mainly targeting low ~ middle power inverter-driven application like air conditioner and washing machine. The new µMini DIP SPM® package can achieve 40% reduction in size and improved reliability as compared with existing Mini DIP SPM package. This is achieved by applying new three-in-one HVIC, new IGBT of advanced silicon technology, and improved ceramics substrate base transfer mold package. And it combines optimized circuit protection and drive matched to low-loss IGBTs with the integrated under voltage, short-circuit protection, and temperature monitoring. Each phase current of inverter can be monitored separately due to the divided negative dc terminals for support Vector control. The SPM45H series will fully support for your application with high reliability & performance.

In addition to SPM technology, the company will also discuss products such as its three-phase sinusoidal brushless DC (BLDC) motor controllers like the FCM8201 and FCM8202. Using the Hall sensor signals, the control system on these products is able to execute the PWM commutation by switching the three-phase inverter. There are two PWM modes for selection: Sine-Wave Mode and the Square-Wave Mode. Square-Wave Mode includes PWM-PWM and PWM-ON approaches to improve the efficiency of the motor drive. Protection functions including over-voltage, over-current, over-temperature, and short circuit prevent the control circuits and the motor from being damaged, particularly under stressed applications and demanding environments. Both the FCM8201 and the FCM8202 can be operated stand-alone or worked with microcontrollers for advanced BLDC motor control.

Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers. We invite you to visit our booth, 1310, at this year’s electronica China to learn more about our Motor products and how they can contribute to your success. If there is a specific product you are interested in seeing at electronica China be sure to let us know!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

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Tags: BLDC, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, Motion-SPM, Smart Power Module, SPM

Fairchild Focuses on Power Solutions at electronica China

March 9, 2011

Engineers interested in power solutions can drop by the Fairchild booth (1310) at electronica China where we’ll be showcasing the FAN7930, and other solutions supporting 200W LLC power supplies. The FAN7930 is an active PFC controller for boost PFC applications that operate in critical conduction mode.

This device is ideal for LCD and PDP TV applications, as well as for applications using less than 200W where PFC is mandated, including Class C lighting equipment greater than 25W, and Class D PC, TV and monitors greater than 75W.

Fairchild is dedicated to providing diverse power products that are smaller than ever, and increasingly more energy efficient, in order to meet designer needs and ultimately, consumer demands. Fairchild has a vast array of products and families available including the Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) series, High Voltage Gate Driver IC products (HVIC), and DC-DC conversion solutions such as Dual Cool™ packaged MOSFETs, PowerTrench^® MOSFETs, and TinyBuck™ regulators. With these products and more, Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers.

To learn more about products like these and other Fairchild solutions, come to, Booth 1310 at electronica China!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: Dual Cool, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Power Switch, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN7930, high voltage gate driver IC, HVIC, MOSFETs, PFC Controller, PowerTrench, TinyBuck

Come to electronica China to see what the FAN6204 from Fairchild Can Offer You

March 8, 2011

This year at electronica China, Fairchild will be demonstrating a variety of AC-DC power supplies, such as the FAN6204 in the Fairchild Semiconductor booth, 1310.

The FAN6204 is a secondary-side synchronous rectification (SR) controller to drive SR MOSFET for improving efficiency. The IC is suitable for flyback converters and forward free-wheeling rectification.

The FAN6204 can be applied in continuous or discontinuous conduction mode (CCM and DCM) and quasi-resonant (QR) flyback converters based on the proprietary innovative linear-predict timing-control technique. The benefits of this technique include a simple control method without current-sense circuitry to accomplish noise immunity.

With PWM frequency tracking and secondary-side winding voltage detection, the FAN6204 can operate in both fixed- and variable-frequency systems. Additionally, when in Green Mode, the SR controller stops all SR switching operation to reduce the operating current. Power consumption is maintained at minimum level in light-load condition.

Fairchild is dedicated to providing diverse power products that are smaller than ever, and increasingly more energy efficient, in order to meet designer needs and ultimately, consumer demands. Fairchild has a vast array of products and families available including the Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) series, High Voltage Gate Driver IC products (HVIC), PWM Controllers such as the FSEZ1317 and PFC controllers such as the FAN7930, as well as broad MOSFET portfolio up to 600V and IGBTs. With these products and more, Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers.

We invite you to our booth, 1310, at electronica China to see AC-DC power supplies like the FAN6204 and much more! Is this solution something you’d be interested in for your designs?

Fairchild Semiconductor, the Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

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Tags: electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Power Switch, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN6204, FAN7930, FPS, FSEZ1317, high voltage gate driver IC, HVIC, PWM controllers

See the Latest in Battery Charging Solutions from Fairchild at electronica China

March 8, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor is a leader in mobile technology, offering a wide portfolio of analog and power IP that can be customized to support handset manufacturers’ specific requirements. By focusing on specific analog and power functions that define user satisfaction and market success, such as audio, video, USB, ASSP/logic, RF power, core power and lighting, Fairchild is able to provide solutions that improve functionality while conserving space and power.

On display at the show is the Fairchild FAN5400, a USB-Compliant Single Cell Li-Ion Switching Charger with USB-OTG Boost Regulator. The FAN5400 family is ideal for single-cell or parallel-cell Li-Ion battery charging in devices such as cell phones, smartphones, tablets, wireless broadband hotspots, digital cameras and portable media/game players. As charge currents and battery sizes continue to increase, charging through the USB port or 5V AC/DC adaptor with a linear charger becomes increasingly inefficient.

Visit booth 1310 to see demos of this and other mobile solutions Fairchild designers and engineers offer!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

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Tags: ASSP/logic, audio, core power, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN5400, lighting, mobile, RF power, USB, video

Fairchild to demonstrate LLC resonant converter for power supplies at electronica China 2011

March 8, 2011

If you’re going to electronica China 2011 and are interested in LLC resonant converters for power supplies, you should swing by the Fairchild booth – 1310 - where we’ll be displaying products such as the FSFR2100.

The FSFR2100 is a highly integrated power switch designed for high-efficiency LLC half-bridge resonant converters. Offering everything necessary to build a reliable and robust resonant converter, the FSFR2100 simplifies designs and improves productivity, while improving performance.

The FSFR2100 combines power MOSFETs with fast-recovery type body diodes, a high-side gate-drive circuit, a frequency limit circuit, soft-start, and built-in protection functions. The high-side gate-drive circuit has a common-mode noise cancellation capability, which guarantees stable operation with excellent noise immunity.

The fast-recovery body diode of the MOSFETs improves reliability against abnormal operation conditions, while minimizing the effect of the reverse recovery. Using the zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) technique dramatically reduces the switching losses and efficiency is significantly improved. The ZVS also reduces the switching noise noticeably, which allows a small-sized Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) filter.

To see the FSFR2100, visit the Fairchild booth – Booth 1310!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FSFR2100, LLC resonant converters, power supplies

Learn How to Simplify Smartphone Designs with Audio Jack Detection and Configuration Switch at electronica China 2011

March 7, 2011

How do you keep up with changing technology?

More and more people are using their smartphones for multimedia purposes – whether it’s watching videos on YouTube® or listening to their favorite songs, which in turn, mean users are plugging headphones into their smartphone for listening. This has taken off and grown exponentially as an “all-in-one” entertainment device.

3.5mm audio jacks are the primary way for users to connect headphones into their smartphones – these jacks are also used to connect headphones with speakers in them, so consumers can talk “hands-free.”

The FSA8008 is an audio jack detector and configuration switch for 3 or 4 pole accessories. A switch within the FSA8008 eliminates pop and click as well as leakage current – for an enhanced consumer experience and additional battery power savings. This chip also eliminates the need for software to solve the send/end button problem – with this chip, if the button sticks there’s no issue and will always register a microphone, if a microphone is present.

The FSA8008 provides ease of design for engineers as well as cost and space savings, and of course it means a satisfied customer.

If you’d like to see this product demoed at electronica China 2011, stop by booth 1310!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: audio jack detector, configuration switch, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FSA8008, mobile, Mobile Solutions

Fairchild Semiconductor to Display Industrial Products in Booth 1310 at electronica China 2011

March 7, 2011

Come to electronica China 2011, in the Shanghai New International Expo Center, between 15 – 17 March to learn more about Power Solutions from Fairchild Semiconductor at booth 1310.

Among the many areas that Fairchild will be highlighting at electronica China are Fairchild High Voltage Gate Driver ICs, which provide improved noise immunity and performance.

Power engineers designing motor and industrial applications such as motor drive inverters, distributed power supplies and telecom system power supplies, need a high voltage gate driver solution that provides improved noise immunity and increased performance, while being pin-compatible to solutions currently available.

Fairchild Semiconductor meets these needs by offering designers new choices in high voltage gate drive ICs, including the FAN7392, a 2-input, 2-output / high and low side gate driver with shutdown function, the FAN7393, a 1-input, 2-output / half bridge with shutdown and controllable dead time, the FAN73932, a 1-input, 2-output / half bridge with shutdown and fixed dead time control and the FAN73933, a 2-input, 2-output / half bridge with controllable dead time.

These devices provide improved noise immunity over competitive solutions, and are part of the FAN739x series which features an innovative common-mode dv/dt noise canceling circuit that enables stable operation of the high voltage gate driver under high dv/dt noise circumstances. The devices also feature an advanced level shift circuit that offers high-side gate driver operation with negative VS swings of up to -9.8V (at VBS = 15V), where Vs is the high voltage floating supply return and VBS is the high side floating supply voltage.

Fairchild is a leading source of analog and power IC innovation, providing a complete solution of high voltage gate drivers that combine IP building blocks with systems-level expertise to optimize energy efficient designs and deliver best-in-class.

Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers. We invite you to visit our booth, 1310, at this year’s electronica China to learn more about the company’s Industrial products. If there is a specific product you are interested in seeing at electronica China be sure to contact us prior to the show.

Fairchild Semiconductor, the Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN7392, FAN7393, FAN73932, FAN73933, gate driver ICs, high voltage gate driver ICs

electronica China: Fairchild Showcases Mobile Solutions

March 7, 2011

Come to electronica China 2011, in the Shanghai New International Expo Center, between 15 – 17 March to learn more about Fairchild’s Mobile Solutions at booth 1310.

Fairchild Semiconductor is a leader in mobile technology, offering a wide portfolio of analog and power IP that can be customized to support handset manufacturers’ specific requirements. By focusing on specific analog and power functions that define user satisfaction and market success, such as audio, video, USB, ASSP/logic, RF power, core power and lighting, Fairchild is able to provide solutions that improve functionality while conserving space and power.

Fairchild always appreciates an opportunity to demonstrate our solutions and show engineers the many ways we can help improve designs. We invite you to visit our booth, 1310, at this year’s electronica China to learn more about our mobile solutions and how they can contribute to your success.

Fairchild Semiconductor, the Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: ASSP/logic, audio, core power, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, lighting, mobile, RF power, USB, video

Fairchild Launches the FAN302HL – A Highly Integrated PSR/SSR Mixed PWM Controller at APEC 2011

March 7, 2011

When you consider that cell phone chargers typically sit plugged in and unused most of the time, yet still drawing power from the grid, the problem facing design engineers is clear – how can standby power be reduced in these devices, thereby saving energy and meeting government regulations?

Visit the Fairchild booth, #209, at APEC 2011, to view a solution that meets this challenge by providing ultra-low standby power under 10mW for Charger applications.

The FAN302HL, a highly integrated PWM controller, includes several features that enhance the performance of general flyback converters. The constant-current control, proprietary topology enables simplified circuit designs without secondary feedback circuitry for battery-charger applications. A proprietary Burst-Mode function with low operation current minimizes standby power consumption.

The FAN302HL controller also provides several protections. Cycle-by-cycle current limiting ensures the fixed peak current limit level, even if a short circuit occurs. The gate output is clamped at 15V to protect the power MOS from high gate-source voltage conditions. If either V_S OVP or internal OTP is triggered, the circuit enters Latch Mode until AC power is removed. Using the FAN302HL, a charger can be implemented with few external components and minimized cost, compared to a conventional design or a linear transformer.

Come to APEC 2011, booth 209, to learn more about the company’s innovative mWSaver™ technology offering best-in-class power savings for power supplies, with the fewest possible components.

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: APEC, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN302HL, mWSaver, PWM controller

Fairchild Semiconductor to Focus on Power Technology Solutions at electronica China 2011

March 4, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor, a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will exhibit more than 20 innovative solutions for energy-efficient electronics applications at booth #1310 at the electronica China 2011 show, in the Shanghai New International Expo Center, between 15 – 17 March.

Power Technology featured demonstrations include:

·             High efficiency BLDC controller and smart power module (SPM®) products for air conditioner fan reference designs using the FCM8201 and FNA41560 SPM devices.

·             Three-phase BLDC controller solutions for high-speed pedestal fans using the FCM8201 and the FAN7382. The Advanced Motion Controller (AMC), in a single chip, contains everything for BLDC control and addresses Truly Sinusoidal Current Control for acoustic noise reduction.

·             The new bi-directional, logic gate driver optocoupler solution for industrial applications using the FOD8012. Optoplanar® technology and optimized IC design enables high integration of two bi-directional channels in a miniature SO8 package with 0.4mm (minimum) optical isolation gap for proven, reliable isolation. Delivering best-in-class 20kV/µs minimum common mode transient immunity enables these devices to operate in noisy industrial environments. This solution provides 2x the performance over competitive solutions.

·             FAN302HL power supply/adapter solution will outline how mWSaver™ technology offers best-in-class standby power savings (<10mW) for portable device chargers.

Other demonstrations include:

·             200W LED Street Lamp, a complete solution developed by Fairchild China Global Power Resource^SM Center (GPRC) targeting all electrical blocks required for LED street lighting: PFC, AC/DC, string and individual, and meets current LED regulations.

·             Backlight (BLU) solution for LED TVs, a live demo showcasing Fairchild Semiconductor’s complete LED TV solution, using the family of Fairchild Power Switch (FPS™) devices, including the FSFR1700 and FSL106MR as well as high voltage MOSFETS that include UniFET™ II MOSFET technology.

·             Dual Cool™ packaging technology and PowerTrench® MOSFET solutions through advanced MOSFET technology. Dual Cool packaging technology delivers the industry’s highest power dissipation in DC-DC applications with 60 percent greater power dissipation over standard PQFN packaged MOSFETS.

·             Fairchild Power Switch (FPS™) devices, one of 14 power supply demos ranging from <5W adapters up to 200W solutions for computing and consumer applications.

·             AccuPower™ load switches provide a single-chip solution for higher input voltage design requirements, saving over 70 percent board space and reducing part count while providing advanced protection features.

Fairchild Semiconductor solves difficult power management and signal path problems for leading-edge, top tier customers around the world. The company’s commitment to energy savings and meeting the most stringent regulations has lead to the development of innovative power and mobile solutions that maximize performance while reducing board space, design complexity and system costs.

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

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Tags: AccuPower, BLDC solutions, Dual Cool, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Power Switch, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN302HL, FAN7382, FCM8201, FNA41560, FOD8012, FPS, FSFR1700, FSL106MR, Global Power Resource Center, mWSaver technology, optocoupler, SPM, UniFET

Fairchild Displays Integrated Motor Drive Supplies in Booth 209 at APEC 2011

March 4, 2011

Come to booth 209 at APEC 2011 to learn more about Motor Drive solutions from Fairchild Semiconductor, where you can see demos on DC-Motor with SPM® modules and BLDC with SPM modules.

Appliance motors account for a significant portion of all electric energy consumption in a typical household. As a result, the industry is addressing this concern with new, energy efficient products. Semiconductor manufacturers are aiding in this transition with innovations in motor drives.

As they become more popular, inverter based systems are expected to be compact, have built-in control and a lower overall cost. Inverter drive modules meet those needs and are a conventional alternative to discrete-based inverters. Fairchild is addressing this need and has developed innovative motor solutions that ensure high efficiency, reliability, smaller packaging and greater design flexibility for energy-restricted applications. Fairchild has the motor drive solutions you need to significantly improve the performance/cost ratio of variable speed designs. The company has a broad range of power components and support for motor control design in consumer and industrial applications, including motion-control Motion-SPM™ smart power module devices and IGBTs.

At APEC 2011, Fairchild will be featuring two BLDC demos that will highlight our ability to easily create custom, integrated motor drive designs using our BLDC-tailored solutions, including products such as the FAN7382 and the FCM82xx. Fairchild will also highlight our SPM line-up, including the SPM45H which is suitable for consumer appliance & industrial market with high reliability and performance. 

Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers. Come visit our booth, #209, at this year’s APEC to learn more about our Motor solutions and how they can contribute to your success. If there is a specific product you are interested in seeing at APEC 2011 be sure to let us know!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: APEC, BLDC, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN7382, FCM82xx, SPM Modules

Fairchild Semiconductor to Focus on Power Technology Solutions at electronica China 2011

March 3, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor, a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will exhibit more than 20 innovative solutions for energy-efficient electronics applications at booth #1310 at the electronica China 2011 show, in the Shanghai New International Expo Center, between 15 – 17 March.

The Fairchild Semiconductor team of experts will be on hand conducting both static and active demonstrations surrounding application areas such as: LED lighting, automotive, power supplies and motion control.

In addition, Robin Zhang, chief technical marketing manager, Technical Application and Support Centre at Fairchild Semiconductor will present, ‘Fairchild mWSaver™ Technology Offers Best-in-Class Power Savings for Power Supplies,’ to the International Power Electronics Innovation Forum that will be running alongside the show.

At the International LED Technology Innovation Forum, Albert Chen, senior technical marketing engineer, will present, ‘LED Lighting Solutions,’ to discuss the latest developments surrounding the lighting market scene as it continues to experience a shift from incandescent lighting, which operates at only ten percent efficiency, to other forms of lighting, which offer ever-increasing gains in efficiency.

High-performance semiconductors from Fairchild Semiconductor help design engineers develop energy-efficient electronic applications.

Fairchild Semiconductor solves difficult power management and signal path problems for leading-edge, top tier customers around the world. The company’s commitment to energy savings and meeting the most stringent regulations has lead to the development of innovative power and mobile solutions that maximize performance while reducing board space, design complexity and system costs.

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

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Tags: automotove, electronica China, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, LED Lighting, mobile, motion control, power, power supplies

Fairchild Demos Industry-First 2.8V to 36V Integrated Load Switches Provide Robust Protection and Simplify Power Management Design at APEC 2011

March 3, 2011

In booth 209 at APEC 2011, Fairchild will discuss its AccuPower™ Load Switch Family. These switches are ideal for industrial, computing and portable designs. Participants can drop by Booth 2J19 and view this and the many other products that Fairchild will be exhibiting this year.

The AccuPower series is a family of current limiting load switches that provide full protection to systems and loads that may encounter large current conditions. The series contains a slew rate controlled N-Channel MOSFET which limits the amount of in-rush current. This protects from abnormalities on the main power supply rails.

Devices in the AccuPower series of load switches include the FPF2700, FPF2701 and FPF2702. Unlike current solutions in use today that require discrete MOSFETs plus external protection circuitry, devices in the AccuPower series of load switches feature built-in protections to eliminate as many as four additional devices, which saves over 70 percent board space. The switches in this family also feature under-voltage lock-out (UVLO) protection and thermal shutdown protection. Switch control is completed by a logic input (ON) capable of interfacing directly with the low voltage control signal. When the switch current reaches the current limit, the device operates in a constant-current mode to prohibit excessive currents from causing damage.

To learn more about the AccuPower™ Load Switch Family and other Fairchild technology, stop by our booth, #209 at APEC 2011!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: AccuPower, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FPF2700, FPF2701, FPF2702, load switches

Check out Dual Cool™ packaging technology from Fairchild at APEC 2011!

March 3, 2011

Next week at APEC 2011, we’ll be discussing some of our breakthrough technology. Those curious about our DC-DC Converter solutions are invited to see our new Low Voltage MOSFETs and learn more about our Dual Cool™ packaging technology.  

Our Dual Cool package features an exposed heat slug that delivers a significant reduction in thermal resistance from junction to top of case, resulting in more than 60 percent higher power dissipation capability than standard PQFN packaging when a heat sink is mounted. Additionally, MOSFETs in the Dual Cool package are designed with the proprietary Fairchild Semiconductor PowerTrench^® process technology that enables lower R_DS(ON) and higher load currents in smaller package sizes.

Fairchild is dedicated to providing diverse power products that are smaller than ever, and increasingly more energy efficient, in order to meet designer needs and ultimately, consumer demands. Fairchild has a vast array of products and families available including the Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) series, High Voltage Gate Driver IC products (HVIC), and DC-DC conversion solutions such as Dual Cool MOSFETs, PowerTrench^® MOSFETs, and TinyBuck™ regulators. With these products and more, Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers.

To learn more about Dual Cool packaging technology and other power supply technology, come to booth 209 at APEC 2011!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: APEC, Dual Cool, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, MOSFET, packaging

Fairchild to Showcase SPM® Integrated Motor Drive Solutions at APEC 2011

March 2, 2011

Planning to go to APEC 2011? Interested in motor drive solutions? Then the Fairchild booth (209) is a “must visit” to see our motion control solutions. You’ll be able to see a variety of our smart power modules (SPM®) that provide efficient motor control for energy-restricted white goods.

Fairchild has the motor drive solutions you need to significantly improve the performance/cost ratio of variable speed designs. They have a broad range of power components and support for motor control design in consumer and industrial applications including Fairchild Motion-SPM™ smart power modules and IGBTs.

Energy efficiency continues to drive electrical standards and designs in inverter motor based applications. As a result, Fairchild has developed a complete family of SPM modules that eliminate external components and increase system reliability. These modules integrate drive and protection components in a single package so you simplify and accelerate your designs as you optimize efficiency.

To learn more our solutions for motion control, come to Booth 209 at APEC 2011!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: APEC, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, IGBTs, motor control design, smart power modules, SPM

Fairchild Discusses the FAN6755 Highly-Integrated Green-Mode PWM Controller at APEC 2011

March 1, 2011

At APEC 2011, booth 209, Fairchild will demo the highly-integrated green-mode PWM controller, the FAN6755. Fairchild’s PWM controllers have several features that enhance the performance of flyback converters. For example, to minimize standby power consumption, a proprietary adaptive green-mode function reduces switching frequency at light-load condition. The minimum PWM frequency is set above 23kHz in order to avoid acoustic noise problems. This green-mode function enables the power supply to meet international power conservation requirements, such as Energy Star^®.

The power loss caused by bleeding resistors is also eliminated due to the internal high-voltage startup circuitry. The FAN6755 uses the BiCMOS process, which allows an operating current of only 2mA resulting in less power consumption. The standby power consumption can be under 100mW for most of LCD monitor power supply designs.

Fairchild’s FAN6755 also integrates a frequency-hopping function that reduces EMI emission of a power supply with minimum line filters. Its built-in synchronized slope compensation achieves a stable peak-current-mode control and improves noise immunity. The proprietary, external line compensation ensures constant output power limit over a wide AC input voltage range from 90V_AC to 264V_AC.

There are also many protection functions that the FAN6755 provides. The internal feedback open-loop protection circuit protects the power supply from open feedback loop condition or output short condition. It also has line under-voltage protection (brownout protection) and over-voltage protection using an input voltage sensing pin (V_IN).

Visit our booth at booth, #209, at APEC 2011 to learn more about our innovative PWM controller technologies.

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

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Tags: APEC, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN6755, PWM controllers

Fairchild to Demonstrate TinyBuck™ Regulators at APEC 2011, Booth 209

February 28, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor is dedicated to providing diverse power products that are smaller than ever, and increasingly more energy efficient, in order to meet designer needs and ultimately, consumer demands. At this year’s APEC 2011, we’ll be discussing the family of TinyBuck™ synchronous Buck regulators. This product family enables power designers to achieve higher output current and high efficiency using less PCB space.

The TinyBuck family of 3A, 6A and 8A fully-integrated, synchronous Buck converters improves efficiency over a wide input voltage range in a variety of applications including servers, telecommunications, computing and medical.

As an example, the FAN21SV06 integrates a controller with optimized interconnects, synchronous MOSFETs and a bootstrap diode into one ultra-compact, 5mm x 6mm, MLP package and accepts input voltages from 6.5V to 24V. This configuration offers over 40% space savings compared to a discrete implementation and like other members of the TinyBuck family, the FAN21SV06 provides up to 95% efficiency compared to alternative solutions. With this new device, designers can fulfill high-current requirements in a small area with minimal external components to save cost. The cost of input capacitors is also reduced due to an externally synchronizable clock with master/slave provisions. 

The TinyBuck device also features a range of protection features including soft-start, Under- Voltage Lockout (UVLO), thermal shutdown, as well as over-voltage and over-current protection to guard against damage during fault conditions. A pre- bias startup takes place during soft-start conditions to regulate discharging of the output capacitor and protect the system ICs from damage. A TinyBuck reference design, the RD278, is also available to help designers develop highly efficient DC/DC conversion applications and bring those applications to market faster

We invite you to our booth, 209, at APEC 2011 to see power supplies like the FAN21xx and much more! Is this a solution that would be helpful to your designs?

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: APEC, buck converters, buck regulators, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN21SV06, synchronous buck regulators, TinyBuck

More from Day 2 at IIC China: Visitors Learn How the FSL1×6 Series Can Aid Their Designs

February 25, 2011

Today at IIC China, a variety of AC-DC power supplies, such as the FSL1×6 product series, were displayed in the Fairchild booth 2J19. These 650V power switches significantly improve standby power as well as light load efficiency due to no-load power consumption of less than 50mW. The adjustable peak current limit provides engineers with unparalleled ease of design coupled with an internal avalanche rugged 650V SenseFET for high robustness.

One product discussed was the FSL106MR integrated Pulse Width Modulator (PWM) and SenseFET - specifically designed for high-performance offline Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) with minimal external components. The FSL106MR includes integrated high-voltage power switching regulators that combine the previously mentioned avalanche-rugged SenseFET with a current-mode PWM control block.

The integrated PWM controller features include: Under-Voltage Lockout (UVLO) protection, Leading-Edge Blanking (LEB), a frequency generator for EMI attenuation, an optimized gate turn-on/turn-off driver, Thermal Shutdown (TSD) protection, and temperature-compensated precision current sources for loop compensation and fault protection circuitry. This device provides a basic platform that is well suited for the design of cost-effective flyback converters.

Fairchild is dedicated to providing diverse power products that are smaller than ever, and increasingly more energy efficient, in order to meet designer needs and ultimately, consumer demands. Fairchild has a vast array of products and families available including the Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) series, High Voltage Gate Driver IC products (HVIC), PWM Controllers such as the FSEZ1317 and PFC controllers such as the FAN7930, as well as broad MOSFET portfolio up to 600V and IGBTs. With these products and more, Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers.

Please join us on the last day of the show in booth 2J19, at IIC China to see AC-DC power supplies like the FSL1×6 series and much more!

Fairchild Semiconductor, the Right Technology for Your Success^TM.

Tags: AC-DC power supplies, Fairchild, Fairchild Power Switch, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN7930, FSEZ1317, FSL106MR, IIC, SenseFET

Day 2, IIC China: FAN6755 among AC-DC Power Supplies Demonstrated at Show

February 25, 2011

Today at IIC China in Shenzhen, we demonstrated a variety of AC-DC power supplies, such as the FAN6755.

The FAN6755 is a highly integrated PWM controller that provides several features to enhance the performance of flyback converters.

At the show, we demonstrated how this product works – showing engineers how the adaptive green-mode function reduces switching frequency at light-load condition. Engineers also learned how this product helps to avoid acoustic noise by setting minimum PWM frequency above 23kHz. This green-mode function enables the power supply to meet international power conservation requirements, such as Energy Star. With the internal high-voltage startup circuitry, the power loss caused by bleeding resistors is also eliminated. To further reduce power consumption, the FAN6755 uses the BiCMOS process, which allows an operating current of only 2mA. The standby power consumption can be under 100mW for most of LCD monitor power supply designs.

The FAN6755 integrates a frequency-hopping function that reduces EMI emission of a power supply with minimum line filters. Its built-in synchronized slope compensation achieves a stable peak-current-mode control and improves noise immunity. The proprietary, external line compensation ensures constant output power limit over a wide AC input voltage range from 90V_AC to 264V_AC.

Fairchild is dedicated to providing diverse power products that are smaller than ever, and increasingly more energy efficient, in order to meet designer needs and ultimately, consumer demands. Fairchild has a vast array of products and families available including the Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) series, High Voltage Gate Driver IC products (HVIC), PWM Controllers such as the FSEZ1317 and PFC controllers such as the FAN7930, as well as broad MOSFET portfolio up to 600V and IGBTs. With these products and more, Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers.

We invite you to our booth, 2J19, at IIC China on Saturday to see AC-DC power supplies like the FAN6755 and much more!

Fairchild Semiconductor, the Right Technology for Your Success™

Tags: AC-DC power supplies, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN6755, FAN7930, FSEZ1307, IIC China

Fairchild Semiconductor Demonstrations at APEC 2011

February 25, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor, a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will demonstrate industry-leading technologies for power supplies and motion control applications at the 2011 Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exhibition (APEC), March 6-10, at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, booth # 209.

Demonstrations at the show include:

·         Solutions for AC-DC power such as the highly integrated FAN6920MR which combines Power Factor Correction (PFC) controller and quasi-resonant PWM controller.

·         DC-DC power solutions such as our Dual Cool™ packaging technology, which delivers the industry’s highest power dissipation in DC-DC applications with 60 percent greater power dissipation over standard PQFN packaged MOSFETs.

·         Lighting solutions like the FAN6300A, a PWM controller which can be used for a 20W dimmable board. This product provides several features to enhance the performance of flyback converters.

·         High voltage offline solutions for smart metering.

·         Motor solutions such as the FCM8201, a three-phase sinusoidal brushless DC (BLDC) motor controller.

·         Industrial solutions including our FOD8012, a full duplex, bi-directional, high-speed logic gate Optocoupler, which supports isolated communications allowing digital signals to communicate between systems without conducting ground loops or hazardous voltages.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

Join us at APEC 2011 in booth #209 to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: APEC, Dual Cool, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN6300A, FAN692MR, FCM8201, FOD8012, mobile, power

Adventures in Optocoupling

February 24, 2011

Dear Dr. FAE. You’re always going on and on (and on) about how smart you are…perhaps you’d like a challenge where I give you the answer-and you have to figure out the question. Here’s the answer: a 1150 ohm resistor. You don’t feel so smart now, do you, Dr. Smartypants?

• - Throwing Down in Tampa

Through the application of only a small portion of my intellect, I can tell your question relates to selecting the right pull-up resistor to use for a cost-effective, low-performance optocoupler circuit…to be specific, the half-pitch, mini-flat packaged HMHA281 device. This is a simple circuit, but there are still a few things to consider when designing a reliable and robust detection circuit.

First of all, we need to select a current-limiting resistor for the emitter circuit. With a 12Vin, a forward voltage drop of 1.3V across the LED and a reasonable current of 8mA, let’s figure out what value of resistor should be used…

The closest standard value is 1.33K, so we’ll use that.

We’re using a standard CMOS logic gate (with hysteresis) as a detector on the secondary side. The question is, with the optocoupler turned on, what voltage do we need to provide to make sure the gate input detects a logic zero? So, we look at the NC7SZ14 datasheet. In order to be recognized as a logic zero over a wide operating temperature range, the input voltage must be less than 1.30V.

How do we guarantee a voltage no greater than 1.30V when the detector transistor is on? We’re running this device in a switch mode, so we need to know the minimum Current Transfer Ratio (CTR) with a saturated detector transistor. This is not something that can be read directly off the datasheet but we can derive it from the V_CE(SAT) transfer characteristic in the HMHA281 datasheet. With an I_F of 8mA, we get an I_C of 2.4mA; that gives us a CTR of 2.4/8 or 30%. This is a typical minimum at room temperature, so we need to derate it for temperature. By studying Figure 4 of the HMHA281 datasheet, we see that we need about an 80% derating at 55°C, so that gives us a minimum CTR of about 24%.

Being clever and highly experienced, we know that a gently-treated optocoupler’s CTR will degrade by about 1% per year. If we expect this design to work for ten years, then we should derate the CTR an additional 10%…to 21.6%.

By gently-treated, we mean the optocoupler is not exposed to high ambient temperatures, large emitter/detector currents or extreme thermal cycling. With more aggressive environments and usage, we can expect degradation closer to 2% per year.

With 8mA emitted, then the minimum current in the output phototransistor is:

So, what pull-up resistor value do we need to make sure the voltage at the inverter input is less than 1.30V when 1.73mA flows through it?

We’ll choose 1150 ohms as the closest standard value. Pardon me while I do a little victory waltz. 1150 ohms. Boom, I have dispensed with your challenge.

I don’t anticipate any problems, but we should make sure the ‘off’ current will be detected as a logic ‘one’. According to Figure 8 of the HMHA281 datasheet, we can expect 10uA of dark current at 55°C. This will drop 11.6mV across the pull-up resistor. The resulting voltage at the gate input is much more than 2.2V required to assure a logic ‘one’ is detected. So, all is well.

This was a lot of work to create a low-speed logic interface. If you want us to the hard work, you can use a device with the logic detection built in, like the FODM8061.

There - that is the question to your answer - and yes I do feel smart!

 Let me throw a challenge back at you, TDiT…and to my readers around the world. Here’s the answer: Valvular Conduit. What is the question?

The first right answer in the comment section below will win a trendy and fashionable prize package, including my attractive and collectable signed photograph and a 2N7002 transistor.

 Sincerely, Dr. FAE aka “Smartypants”

Tags: Dr. FAE, Fairchild Semiconductor, FODM8061, HMHA281, NC7SZ14

More from IIC China: Industrial Products Displayed in Booth 2J19

February 24, 2011

Discussion at IIC China in Shenzhen today included information on Fairchild Industrial solutions.

In booth 2J19, Fairchild discussed a number of MOSFET and IGBT products that demonstrate the company’s leadership in the High Voltage Switching discrete component marketplace. Among the solutions to be we’ll be talking about at the show will include:

The 500V N-Channel MOSFET, FRFET^® MOSFET, and Ultra FRFET™ MOSFETs. These N-Channel enhancement mode power field effect transistors are produced using the company’s proprietary, planar stripe DMOS technology. This advanced technology has been especially tailored to minimize on-state resistance, provide superior switching performance, and withstand high energy pulse in the avalanche and commutation mode. These devices are well suited for high efficient switched mode power supplies and active power factor correction. 

The industry-leading SupreMOS^® MOSFETs. The next generation of high voltage super-junction MOSFETs, SupreMOS MOSFETs employ a deep trench filling process that differentiates it from preceding multi-epi based technologies. By utilizing this advanced technology and precise process control, SupreMOS devices provide world-class Rsp, superior switching performance and ruggedness. This SupreMOS MOSFET fits the industry’s AC-DC SMPS requirements for PFC, server/telecom power, FPD TV power, ATX power, and industrial power applications. 

The FGA20S120M, part of a group of 1200V Shorted-Anode Trench IGBTs. Using advanced Field Stop Trench and shorted-anode technology, these products designed for induction of heating microwave ovens offer superior conduction and switching performances, and easy parallel operation with exceptional avalanche capability.

Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers. We invite you to visit our booth, 2J19, during the remainder of IIC China in Shenzhen to learn more about the company’s Industrial products and how they can contribute to your success.

Fairchild Semiconductor, the Right Technology for Your Success™.

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FGA20S120M, FRFET Ultra FRFET, IIC, MOSFET, SupreMOS

Today at IIC China: Integrated Motor Drive Supplies Displayed in Booth 2J19

February 24, 2011

Today at IIC China in Shenzhen, visitors to the Fairchild booth learned more about Fairchild Motor Drive solutions, including demos on DC-Motor with SPM and BLDC with SPM.

Fairchild has a broad range of power components and support for motor control design in consumer and industrial applications including Fairchild Motion-SPM™ smart power modules and IGBTs.

One of the products Fairchild highlighted today at IIC was the FAN7382, a monolithic half-bridge gate driver IC. The device can drive MOSFETs and IGBTs that operate up to +600V. Fairchild high-voltage process and common-mode noise canceling technique provides stable operation of the high-side driver under high dv/dt noise circumstances. The FAN7382 is an advanced level shift circuit that allows for high-side gate driver operation up to VS = -9.8 V (typ.) for VBS = 15V. The input logic level is compatible with standard TTL-series logic gates. UVLO circuits for both channels prevent malfunction when VCC and VBS are lower than the specified threshold voltage. Output drivers typically source/sink 350mA/650mA, respectively, which is suitable for fluorescent lamp ballasts, PDP scan drivers, motor controls, etc.

Fairchild also talked about products such as the FCM8201/FCM8202. The FCM8201 and FCM8202 are three-phase sinusoidal brushless DC (BLDC) motor controllers. They come with Fairchild advanced Hall sensor design. Using the Hall sensor signals, the control system on these products are able to execute the PWM commutation by switching the three-phase inverter. There are two PWM modes for selection: Sine-Wave Mode and the Square-Wave Mode. Square-Wave Mode includes PWM-PWM and PWM-ON approaches to improve the efficiency of the motor drive. Protection functions including over-voltage, over-current, over temperature, and short circuit prevent the control circuits and the motor from being damaged, particularly under stressed applications and demanding environments. Both the FCM8201 and the FCM8202 can be operated stand-alone or worked with microcontrollers for advanced BLDC motor control.

Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers. We invite you to visit our booth, 2J19, at this year’s IIC China in Shenzhen to learn more about our Motor products and how they can contribute to your success.

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN7382, FCM8201, FCM8202, gate driver IC, IGBT, IIC, MOSFET, motor controllers

Fairchild Semiconductor Sessions at APEC 2011

February 24, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor, a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will demonstrate industry-leading technologies for power supplies and motion control applications at the 2011 Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exhibition (APEC), March 6-10, at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, booth # 209.  

Presentations from Fairchild experts at the conference will include the following:

SungMo Young, Staff Applications Engineer at Fairchild, will present during the Technical Session: Modeling & Control of EMI and PFC, ‘Switching Loss Elimination of High Voltage Power MOSFETS in Power Factor Correction Pre-Regulator,’ on Wednesday, March 9 from 8:30-10:10 AM in room 203B. In this session, Young will discuss switching loss of high voltage power MOSFETs in hard switching applications such as boost Power Factor Correction pre-regulator. He proposes a new simple analytical switching loss model based on electrical parameters which would allow easy comparison of switching performance between devices from different technologies.

Fairchild is committed to helping designers meet the engineering challenges through technology and process advancements that result in increased performance and functional integration as well as design support resources that minimize components while reducing engineering time.

Join us at APEC 2011 in booth #209 to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: APEC, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, mobile, power

Fairchild Semiconductor to Display Innovative Technologies for Power Supply and Motion Control Designs at APEC 2011

February 22, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor, a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, will demonstrate industry-leading technologies for power supplies and motion control applications at the 2011 Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exhibition (APEC), March 6-10, at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, booth # 209.

Fairchild will discuss its mWSaver™ technology, which offers best-in-class power savings for power supplies, with the fewest possible components at APEC 2011. Devices in this series integrate five patented technologies: off-time modulation, JFET HV start-up and circuit, feedback impedance switch, HV discharge, and PSR control to drop out voltage; as well as burst mode operation and low operation current techniques. It is only by integrating these unique technologies, leveraged together, that the most stringent standby specifications can be met.

A focus for the show is the FAN302HL, a highly integrated PWM controller featuring mWSaver technology. The FAN302HL provides several features to enhance the performance of general flyback converters, including constant-current control and a proprietary topology that enables simplified circuit designs without secondary feedback circuitry, especially important in battery charger applications. Using the FAN302HL, a charger can be implemented with few external components at a minimized cost, compared to a conventional design or a linear transformer.

By developing solutions like mWSaver technology and the FAN302HL, Fairchild enables engineers to drive innovation in their designs for maximum performance, simplified design and reduced bill of materials costs.

Join us at APEC 2011 in booth #209 to see our extensive portfolio of power solutions!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: APEC, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN302HL, mWSaver

IIC China Update: FAN708x – Showcasing Fairchild Technology Advancements In High Voltage Gate Drivers

February 22, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor is continuing to advance its high voltage gate driver technology with the FAN708x series of HVICs, which will be showcased at IIC China. The FAN708x is a half-bridge gate drive IC with reset input and adjustable dead time control. It is designed for high voltage and high speed driving of MOSFET or IGBT, which operates up to 600V. The FAN708x allows engineers to develop more accurate and precise fuel injection control systems under all operating conditions.

Fairchild’s high-voltage process and common- mode noise cancellation technique provide stable operation in the high side driver under high-dV/dt noise circumstances. An advanced level-shift circuit allows high-side gate driver operation up to VS=-5V (typical) at VBS=15V. Logic input is compatible with standard CMOS outputs. The UVLO circuits for both channels prevent from malfunction when VCC and VBS are lower than the specified threshold voltage. Combined pin function for dead time adjustment and reset shutdown make this IC packaged with space saving SOIC-8 Package. Minimum source and sink current capability of output driver is 250mA and 500mA respectively, which is suitable for junction box application and half and full bridge application in the motor drive system

We invite you to visit our booth, 2J19, at IIC China in Shenzhen to learn more about the FAN708x and our other automotive solutions.

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™

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Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN708x, HVICs, IIC, IIC China

At IIC China: FAN6920MR - Fairchild Controllers Provide Cost-Effective Design and Reduces External Components

February 22, 2011

What do All-In-One (AIO) PC power, Slim Pack PC adapters, LCD TVs and LED lighting designs have in common?

They all require a dual switch flyback topology that provides higher efficiency and increased energy savings required by government regulations – something that LLC or single flyback solutions cannot provide.

One product design engineers can use is the FAN6920MR, which is an integrated critical mode PFC and quasi-resonant current mode PWM controller. It meets regulatory requirements by providing >90 percent efficiency and <300mW at no load for increased power savings.

By combining Power Factor Correction (PFC) controller and quasi-resonant PWM controller, the FAN6920MR provides a cost-effective design and reduces external components.

For PFC, the FAN6920MR uses a controlled on-time technique to provide a regulated DC output voltage and to perform natural power-factor correction. Reduced input current distortion at zero-crossing duration to improve THD performance is the result of the FAN6920MR’s innovative THD optimizer.

For PWM control, the FAN6920MR provides several functions such as valley detection, green-mode operation, and high / low line over-power compensation to enhance the power system performance. Protection functions include secondary-side open-loop and over-current with auto-recovery protection; external auto-recovery triggering; adjustable over-temperature protection by RT pin; and external NTC resistor, internal over-temperature shutdown, VDD pin OVP, and DET pin over-voltage for output OVP, and brown-in / out for AC input voltage UVP.

Come to IIC China in Shenzhen, February 24-26, to learn more about Fairchild’s innovative controller technologies; Booth 2J19.

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN6920MR, IIC, IIC China, PFC Controller

At IIC China: Showcasing Mobile Solutions From Fairchild

February 22, 2011

Come to IIC China in Shenzhen, February 24-26, and learn more about Fairchild’s Mobile Solutions at booth 2J19.

Fairchild Semiconductor is a leader in mobile technology, offering a wide portfolio of analog and power IP that can be customized to support handset manufacturers’ specific requirements. By focusing on specific analog and power functions that define user satisfaction and market success, such as audio, video, USB, ASSP/logic, RF power, core power and lighting, Fairchild is able to provide solutions that improve functionality while conserving space and power.

Fairchild always appreciates an opportunity to demonstrate our solutions and show engineers the many ways we can help improve designs. We invite you to visit our booth, 2J19, at this year’s IIC China in Shenzhen to learn more about our mobile solutions and how they can contribute to your success.

Fairchild Semiconductor, the Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, IIC, IIC China, mobile

More from the Riot Crew and Their Minibot

February 21, 2011

This US First game this year is fairly simple compared to other years. The main objective this year is to hang inner-tubes on a series of pegs. There are two things that set this year’s game apart from 2007, where we had the same objective. First, the pegs we’re hanging the tubes from aren’t moving, which makes things a lot easier to design for, and second, the tubes are shaped like the pieces from the FIRST logo: (a circle, square and triangle).

 The tubes are to be hung on one of 18 pegs, which are set up in two 3×3 sections along a wall on either end of the field. The bottom row is worth one point per tube, the second row is worth two points per tube, and the top row is three points per tube. If the tubes are hung up in the order of the FIRST logo, then it doubles the score of that row.

The make-or-break twist in this year’s game is called the minibot. The minibot must be built from the kit(s) of another FIRST program, called FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge), and can’t be any bigger than 12×12x12 in. It also can’t have any stored energy, or be propelled in way by the main robot.  During the last 10 seconds of the game, the minibot may be deployed up one of the four 10 ft. poles on the field. The first robot to set off the limit switch at the top of their respective pole gets 30 points, the second gets 20 points, the third gets 15 points, and the last gets 10 points. After analyzing the game, we have decided that having a minibot is crucial to being a top 10 robot.

The Riot Crew meets every night at Memorial Middle School in South Portland at 5 PM during the week, and all day Saturday. We would like to invite anyone to come on over to see what we are building and to get the FIRST fever. If you can’t join us at our shop please join us and help cheer on the Riot Crew in Manchester, New Hampshire on March 4^th and 5^th for the Granite State Regional Competition where the Riot Crew will be representing South Portland High School and Fairchild for our 16^th season.

We’ll be back to let you know how we did.

 Patrick Perkins (Senior SPHS)

The Riot Crew

www.riotcrew.org

Tags: Fairchild Semiconductor, Maine, Riot Crew, Robotics

Fairchild Global Power ResourceSM Center Delivers a Total Solution for Energy-Efficient LED Street Lighting

February 20, 2011

Fairchild Semiconductor’s China-based Global Power Resource^SM Center (GPRC) has developed a complete LED street lighting solution that provides high efficiency and outstanding thermal performance, as well as high reliability to increase the lifetime of street lamps.

This solution validates the strong energy-efficiency reputation Fairchild has by reducing power consumption in order to meet and exceed the increasing demand for greener electronics. This demand has been driven by consumers as well as governments and regulatory standards worldwide – including China’s central and provincial authorities and ENERGY STAR’s Solid-State Lighting (SSL) guidelines. 

The new solution features advanced critical conduction mode (CrCM) PFC, high-efficiency DC-DC and constant current control. This total solution includes two sub-solutions, either parallel or serial, within the same PCB layout delivering up to 91.26 percent and 92.6 percent efficiency respectively from AC input to the LED side, under 220V input voltage.

It significantly lowers component count by more than 20 for the parallel layout and 86 for the serial layout compared to conventional solutions. Fewer components, robust protection functionality and high LED fault tolerance capability make the solution very reliable. Fairchild GPRC engineers deployed a range of parts from the company’s portfolio to develop this total solution such as the FAN7930, an active power factor correction (PFC) controller designed for boost PFC applications operating in CrCM; the highly integrated Fairchild Power Switch (FPS™), the FSFR2100 offers everything necessary to build a reliable and robust resonant half-bridge converter.

In addition, Fairchild LED lighting solutions are available for applications with output power requirements ranging from <7W up to >100W.

Be sure to stop by booth 2J19 at IIC China to learn more about Fairchild complete LED street lighting solutions.

Can’t make it to the show? Follow us on Twitter to catch the latest from the show floor. 

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology For Your Success™.

Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FAN7930, FSFR2100, GPRC, IIC, IIC China

IIC China Update: Simplify Smartphone Designs with Audio Jack Detection and Configuration Switch

February 20, 2011

How do you keep up with changing technology?

More and more people are using their smartphones for multimedia purposes – whether it’s watching videos on YouTube® or listening to their favorite songs, which in turn, mean users are plugging headphones into their smartphone for listening. This has taken off and grown exponentially as an “all-in-one” entertainment device. 

3.5mm audio jacks are the primary way for users to connect headphones into their smartphones – these jacks are also used to connect headphones with speakers in them, so consumers can talk “hands-free.”

The FSA8008 is an audio jack detector and configuration switch for 3 or 4 pole accessories. A switch within the FSA8008 eliminates pop and click as well as leakage current – for an enhanced consumer experience and additional battery power savings. This chip also eliminates the need for software to solve the send/end button problem – with this chip, if the button sticks there’s no issue and will always register a microphone, if a microphone is present.

The FSA8008 provides ease of design for engineers as well as cost and space savings, and of course it means a satisfied customer.

If you’d like to see this product demoed at IIC China, stop by booth 2J19!

Fairchild, The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: audio jack, configuration, detector, Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FSA8008, IIC China

Fairchild Focuses on Low Power at IIC China 2011

February 18, 2011

At IIC China 2011, Fairchild will demonstrate its Low Power Solutions at booth 2J19.

One area we’ll be highlighting is the FSEZ1317. When using this solution, a low-cost, smaller, and lighter charger results, as compared to a conventional SSR (secondary side regulated) design or a linear transformer. To minimize standby power consumption, the proprietary green mode provides off-time modulation to decrease PWM frequency under light-load conditions.

Key features available include 30mW standby power, HV start up and an integrated power MOSFET for ease of design, primary side regulation without secondary side feedback and a universal AC input range. Unlike competitive solutions, PSR PWM controllers from Fairchild achieve constant voltage (CV) (±5%), constant current (CC) (±7%), 30mW standby power and ENERGY STAR Level V efficiency, all with a competitive bill of materials (BOM) cost and component count.

Fairchild is dedicated to providing diverse power products that are smaller than ever, and increasingly more energy efficient, in order to meet designer needs and ultimately, consumer demands. Fairchild has a vast array of products and families available including the Fairchild Power Switch (FPS^TM) series, High Voltage Gate Driver IC products (HVIC), and DC-DC conversion solutions such as Dual Cool™ packaged MOSFETs, PowerTrench^® MOSFETs, and TinyBuck™ regulators. With these products and more, Fairchild is committed to making technology that fits the needs of engineers.

To learn more about products like these, come to booth 2J19 at IIC China in Shenzhen!

Fairchild Semiconductor: The Right Technology for Your Success™.

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Tags: Fairchild, Fairchild Semiconductor, FSEZ1317, IIC, IIC China, Low Power, MOSFET

IIC China 2011: Mobile battery charger solutions on display

February 17, 2011

For those interested in battery chargers, The FAN5400, which is a single-cell Li-Ion battery switching charger, will be displayed at the Fairchild booth – 2J19 – at IIC China. The FAN5400 is USB-compliant and also shortens charge time and reduces heat.

The FAN5400 family – available in a 1.96 x 1.87mm, 20-bump, 0.4mm pitch WL-CSP package – is the smallest switching charger on market that also provides this functionality. The device combines a highly-integrated switch-mode charger to minimize Li-Ion charging time from a USB power source, and a boost regulator to power a USB peripheral from the battery.

The FAN5400 family is ideal for single-cell Li-Ion battery charging in devices such as cell phones, Smartphones, tablets, wireless broadband hotspots, digital cameras, portable media players, and any application that uses a 5V “wall wart” or USB connector power supply.

The company’s USB expertise allows designers to innovate and differentiate their mobile offerings. By working with customers, as well as by identifying developing trends