The MinE-CAP™ integrated circuit for high power density, universal input AC-DC converters halves the size of high-voltage bulk electrolytic capacitors required in offline power supplies, enabling a reduction in adapter size of up to 40%. The device from Power Integrations also significantly reduces in-rush current by up to 95%, eliminating the need for negative temperature coefficient thermistors, increasing system efficiency and reducing heat dissipation.
Intended for smart mobile charger and adapter, appliances, power tools and other applications, the MinE-CAP leverages the small size and low drain-source on resistance gallium nitride transistors to actively and automatically connect and disconnect segments of the bulk capacitor network depending on AC line voltage conditions. Designers using MinE-CAP select the smallest high-line rated bulk capacitor required for high AC line voltages, and allocate most of the energy storage to lower voltage capacitors that are protected by the device until needed at low AC line. This approach dramatically shrinks the size of input bulk capacitors without compromising output ripple, operating efficiency or requiring redesign of the transformer.
Housed in the miniature MinSOP-16A package, the new devices work seamlessly with Power Integrations’ InnoSwitch™ family of power supply integrated circuits with minimal external components.
