Osmium uses a patented method for converting AC to DC using a small storage capacitor for charging and discharging without the need for a PFC inductor. The result is a high power factor, consistently high efficiency and a compact system design, says the company. The technology can be used to improve overall system efficiency, optimise cost and contribute towards reducing global energy consumption, it adds.

The Pulsiv Osmium microcontroller family and supporting components can be combined with commodity flyback DC/DC converters in place of more expensive LLC solutions. The company has demonstrated a universal input, single switch 150W flyback power supply design that delivers 97.5% average (99.5% peak) front-end efficiency while maintaining 90% at just 2W.

The company has announced that a 240W interleaved flyback is currently being developed and reference designs with even higher power capability are planned. The PSV-AD-150 and PSV-AD-250 Osmium microcontrollers are sampling now. They do not directly determine output power and can be used as a platform for any application requiring 1W to 10kW, by adjusting only three system components and connecting a suitable DC/DC converter.

Critical components in the Osmium circuit operate at low temperatures to extend operating life, even under convection cooling. By regulating the flow of mains through a charging capacitor, the company has eliminated inrush current. Manufacturers of industrial power supplies and LED lighting products can therefore simplify designs and reduce the cost of system installation, claims the company.

The Osmium technology supports active bridge control, configurable hold-up, x-cap discharge, HVDC output selection, a power consumption indicator and grid failure detection. These optional features can be selected to meet the needs of different end applications.

The PSV-AD-250-DS development system can be used to evaluate the technology; connecting a suitable DC/DC converter will produce a complete power supply prototype. Full reference designs are available via the company’s website.

Darrel Kingham, Pulsiv’s CEO believes the technology can be part of a broader environmental drive.  “Tackling the global energy crisis and delivering ambitious sustainability targets will require the electronics industry to embrace technology innovation and challenge conventional thinking. Pulsiv Osmium offers a unique way to reduce the amount of energy consumed by AC/DC power supplies and battery chargers under all operating conditions. By delivering consistently high efficiency without compromising system cost, sustainable product design will become the default choice,” he says.

Engineering samples of the Pulsiv Osmium microcontrollers will be made available through Digi-Key and other distribution partners.

 

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