GaN technology increases output power of high-efficiency display PSUs

Power Integrations announced its InnoSwitch3-MX isolated switcher IC family has been extended with the addition of three new PowiGaN devices. As part of a chipset with the company’s InnoMux controller IC, the new switcher ICs now supports display and appliance power supply applications with a constant output power of up to 75W with no heatsink.

The InnoMux chipset uses a unique single-stage power architecture that reduces losses in display applications by 50% when compared to conventional designs, improving overall efficiency to 91% in constant-voltage and constant-current LED backlight driver designs. Furthermore, by removing the requirement for post-regulation (ie buck and boost) stages, TV and monitor designers can halve component count, enhancing reliability and decreasing manufacturing cost. With a high breakdown voltage of 750V, the device parts are also remarkably robust, and highly-immune to the line surges and swells often seen in regions with unstable mains voltages.

The ICs connect the primary switch, the primary-side controller, a secondary-side synchronous rectification controller, and the company’s FluxLink high-speed communications link. The device receives control instructions from its chipset partner InnoMux IC, which independently measures the load demands of each output and directs the switcher IC to give the right amount of power to each output, sustaining accurate regulation of current or voltage.

Comments Power Integrations’ product marketing manager, Edward Ong: “By using our PowiGaN technology, we are able to address higher-output applications in TVs, monitors and appliances that employ LED displays. The chipset increases efficiency beyond the requirements of all mandatory regulations and improves manufacturers’ scores in EU efficiency labelling programs.”