This is the final part of a three-part series discussing measurement methods for high-frequency, common-mode (CM) current, voltage, and impedance using a flyback converter. Part I covered the basic principles of radiated EMI and the traditional method for measuring CM current in a flyback converter topology. Part II explored a ferrite bead solution for CM current measurement errors and how to obta...

This is the second part of a three-part series discussing measurement methods for high-frequency, common-mode (CM) current, voltage, and impedance using a flyback converter. Part I covered the basics of radiated EMI and the traditional method for measuring CM current in a flyback converter topology. Part II will propose a solution to common errors when measuring CM current, and then it will demons...

The low-carbon era is leading the development trend for smaller and highly efficient chips. First, switching power supplies replaced linear power supplies in the 1980s; now, the efficiency of power supplies has significantly improved while the overall solution size has been reduced. When considering consumer requirements for portability, switching power supplies continue to become more and more ad...

To meet the increasingly stringent requirements for environmentally friendly solutions, MPS’s AC/DC power supply products utilize advanced technologies to enhance performance and achieve energy conservation. This article is the second in a two-part series to discuss trend-setting AC/DC solutions. Part I served as an introduction for the carbon-free era and the problems that designers face with tr...

To obtain an accurate EMI analysis when modeling power electronics, it is crucial to measure the impedance on the noise source and propagation path. For radiated EMI, the corresponding frequency band is typically between 30MHz and 1GHz. Due to the high frequency, it can be difficult to measure parameters such as voltage, current, and impedance. This article is the first part of a three-part serie...

MPS is committed to providing users with a variety of simulation solutions, including SIMPLIS models, SPICE models, DC/DC converter design models, and Virtual Bench Pro. The easy-to-use Design Assistant is the most popular tool provided by MPS, and its demand continues to grow each year. Figure 1 shows the annual growth of how often our Design Assistant is requested and utilized. In partic...

The flyback power supply is one of the most commonly used topologies. Typically, the transformer’s leakage inductance causes primary-side ringing, which generates voltage spikes that damage the MOSFET. It is essential to design the transformer and MOSFET components to control ringing. MPS has introduced an RCD clamp circuit design strategy to reduce leakage inductance. This circuit is described in...

This article is the second part of a two-part series exploring how to design an active-clamp forward controller for PoE-bt applications. Part I covered PoE applications, as well as the basics for forward converter topologies and active clamps. Part II will review secondary-side synchronous rectification MOSFETs, secondary spike absorption circuits, and efficiency verification processes for PoE-bt ...

When compared to traditional AC power supply modes, power over Ethernet (PoE) power supplies can simultaneously supply power and transmit data through an existing Ethernet cable. By integrating the power supply and data cables, PoE applications are cost-effective and provide flexible installation. PoE solutions are rapidly growing in popularity across multiple industries as applications continue t...

Flyback power converters are currently some of the most common converter topologies around. This is due to the simplicity of their design and the competitive size/cost/efficiency ratio their can deliver, especially in the mid-level power range (2W to 100W). Like any converter topology, a flyback converter is composed of a power path and a control path. The power path is responsible for the conver...

Battery-powered applications have become commonplace over the last decade, and such devices require a certain level of protection to ensure safe usage. The battery management system (BMS) monitors the battery and possible fault conditions, preventing the battery from situations in which it can degrade, fade in capacity, or even potentially harm the user or surrounding environment. It is also the r...

When designing a battery management system (BMS), designers can face challenges when obtaining an accurate estimate of the battery’s state-of-charge (SoC), which is the level of a charge a battery has in relation to its capacity. This article is the second of a two-part series discussing SoC estimations. Part I explored the complex application of battery conditions in SoC estimation, as well one ...

With the dramatic improvement in battery performance, applications are increasingly utilizing battery packs to provide energy. In the battery management system (BMS), designers face the challenge of accurately estimating the battery’s state-of-charge (SoC), which is the level of charge a battery has in relation to its capacity. SoC is commonly represented as a percentage between 0% and 100%. A ba...

For the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, all Olympic venues used green electricity to promote the goal for carbon neutrality. Green electricity mainly comes from solar photovoltaic and wind power generation. Utilizing more renewable photovoltaic energy is an effective approach to reach the greenhouse gas pollution target by 2030. Photovoltaic cells have many subdivisions of applications, including...