New power conversion platform for solar, energy storage and electric vehicles

Analog Devices has unveiled its fully-integrated power conversion platform for next-generation solar power, energy storage and electric vehicle infrastructure applications. The platform, which includes processing, gate driving, and sensing components, was designed to enable new faster-switching architectures and accommodate increasing safety regulations. By integrating ADI’s established iCoupler digital isolation technology with the new, breakthrough mixed-signal processor design (ADSP-CM41x), the platform simplifies system design for power inverter manufacturers while also improving system safety and reliability, and helping drive down the cost of renewable energy. Power systems must be carefully designed to protect the end user from electric shock and the system from physical destruction by isolating current measurement from the power-handling circuitry and transient signals. Traditionally this protection has come at a price as the use of multiple redundant isolated components drives up both cost and system complexity. Analog Devices recently announced the ADSP-CM41x processor series, which features a revolutionary new design that integrates dual-core safety redundancy into a single chip. The ADSP-CM41x is an integral part of the power conversion platform, and is now the first and only processor of its kind to be awarded a Certificate of Safety Attestation, VDE-AR-N4105, from TUV-SUD. This provides designers with added confidence in their own certification process and a pathway to faster, more cost-efficient system development. Also included in the platform are the AD740x sigma-delta-based A/D converter, which replaces larger, more expensive sensor modules to reduce system cost and improve isolated current measurement, and the ADuM413x series of isolated gate drivers, featuring iCoupler digital isolation technology. To assist developers in evaluating and designing with the platform, Analog Devices also announced the release of a new evaluation kit, the ADZS-CM419F-EZLITE.