Project Analog - February 2009 - (Page 5)

Selecting the Right dc/dc Converter for Portable Applications By Kevin Tretter Product Marketing Manager Analog & Interface Products Division Microchip Technology Inc. kevin.tretter@microchip.com Contents Viewpoint Selecting the Right dc/dc Converter Selecting the Right Battery System Understanding the Buck Switchmode Power Converter Analog news T he emergence of portable electronics has forced system designers to focus more and more on the design of power-management circuitry. Today’s designer must find ways to extend battery life while still maintaining performance. On top of this, many portable applications are becoming even more compact, forcing the circuit designs to fit into smaller and smaller form factors. The design of the powermanagement circuitry in such systems is critical, and an understanding of the various dc/dc converter architectures is needed to optimize the overall performance of the design. As the name implies, a dc/dc converter converts a direct current at one voltage potential to a direct current at a different voltage potential. This is a critical function in battery-powered applications where the voltage across the battery or batteries can change as the cell is depleted. For example, a single AA alkaline battery will produce a nominal voltage of 1.5 V when fully charged. As the battery cell becomes depleted, this voltage can drop to as low as 0.9V. A dc/dc converter may be required to boost this battery voltage 5 · PRojeCt ANAlog · VolUme 3 / NUmBeR 1 Microchip analog page Sample center microchipDIRECT Reference designs/ app notes Technical training http://www.microchip.com http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=79&redirects=analog http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=79&redirects=analog http://sample.microchip.com/Default.aspx?testCookies=true http://www.microchipdirect.com/catalogselection.aspx?returnURL=default.aspx http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1469&filter1=function&redirects=appnotes http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1469&filter1=function&redirects=appnotes http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1423 Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Project Analog - February 2009Project Analog - February 2009ContentsViewpointAbout Project Analog SponsorSelecting the Right dc/dc Converter for Portable ApplicationsSelecting the Right Battery System for Portable ApplicationsUnderstanding the Buck Switchmode Power ConverterComparing A/D Power Management TechniquesThermal Management of dc/dc Power ModulesAnalog NewsContact MicrochipLinkedInTreelinkMicrochip Advanced Parts Selector (MAPS)Project Analog - February 2009Project Analog - February 2009 - Project Analog - February 2009 (Page Cover1)Project Analog - February 2009 - Contents (Page 2)Project Analog - February 2009 - Viewpoint (Page 3)Project Analog - February 2009 - About Project Analog Sponsor (Page 4)Project Analog - February 2009 - Selecting the Right dc/dc Converter for Portable Applications (Page 5)Project Analog - February 2009 - Selecting the Right dc/dc Converter for Portable Applications (Page 6)Project Analog - February 2009 - Selecting the Right dc/dc Converter for Portable Applications (Page 7)Project Analog - February 2009 - Selecting the Right dc/dc Converter for Portable Applications (Page 8)Project Analog - February 2009 - Selecting the Right Battery System for Portable Applications (Page 9)Project Analog - February 2009 - Selecting the Right Battery System for Portable Applications (Page 10)Project Analog - February 2009 - Selecting the Right Battery System for Portable Applications (Page 11)Project Analog - February 2009 - Understanding the Buck Switchmode Power Converter (Page 12)Project Analog - February 2009 - Understanding the Buck Switchmode Power Converter (Page 13)Project Analog - February 2009 - Comparing A/D Power Management Techniques (Page 14)Project Analog - February 2009 - Comparing A/D Power Management Techniques (Page 15)Project Analog - February 2009 - Comparing A/D Power Management Techniques (Page 16)Project Analog - February 2009 - Comparing A/D Power Management Techniques (Page 17)Project Analog - February 2009 - Thermal Management of dc/dc Power Modules (Page 18)Project Analog - February 2009 - Thermal Management of dc/dc Power Modules (Page 19)Project Analog - February 2009 - Thermal Management of dc/dc Power Modules (Page 20)Project Analog - February 2009 - Analog News (Page 21)Project Analog - February 2009 - Contact Microchip (Page 22)Project Analog - February 2009 - LinkedIn (Page 23)Project Analog - February 2009 - Treelink (Page 24)Project Analog - February 2009 - Microchip Advanced Parts Selector (MAPS) (Page 25)Project Analog - February 2009 - Microchip Advanced Parts Selector (MAPS) (Page Cover4)http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hearst/projectanalog_200902http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hearst/projectanalog_200810http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hearst/projectanalog_200808http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hearst/projectanalog_200804http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hearst/projectanalog_200803http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hearst/projectanalog_200802http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hearst/projectanalog_200801http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hearst/projectanalog_200712http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hearst/projectanalog_200711http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com

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