A pioneer in providing end-to-end product development and services — from design to deployment, Sparr Electronics has empowered industries worldwide with reliable, high-performance communication solutions. The company’s Interface Converters are engineered to simplify connectivity between devices operating on different standards, ensuring seamless, secure, and efficient data transfer across diverse applications.

Exclusive Product Range

• RS232 to RS485 / RS422 Converters – Enable long-distance, noise-immune serial communication
• USB to Serial Converters – Hassle-free connectivity between modern USB ports and legacy serial devices
• Ethernet Converters – Seamless integration with modern IP-based systems

Key Advantages:

• Rugged, industrial-grade design with opto-isolation for protection
• Wide temperature range for dependable field performance
• Compact, plug-and-play architecture for easy integration

Applications span industrial automation, power and energy systems, telecom networks, embedded system integration, and secure long-distance data communication.

Speaking on the company’s journey, Mr. Mohandas U, Managing Director, Sparr Electronics Ltd, said “At Sparr Electronics, we take immense pride in being a true Make in India company with a global outlook. For over three decades, we have been delivering complete product development and services — from design to deployment — ensuring our solutions meet the evolving needs of industries worldwide. Our Interface Converters are a testament to this commitment, built with reliability, innovation, and customer trust at their core.”

With ISO 9001:2015 certified processes, a strong in-house R&D and manufacturing setup, and satisfied customers of 4000+ across industries, Sparr Electronics continues to reinforce its position as a global partner of choice for embedded and industrial connectivity solutions.

·      Download data sheet, order samples and evaluation boards: https://bit.ly/MAX77540Product

Multi-cell battery applications require two stage power conversion and long battery life in the smallest package possible. Traditional methods, such as using a front-end converter to step down to 5V or below, and subsequently, stepping down further to system level voltages, are inefficient and therefore impact the battery life of the system. This approach requires an additional converter, which often requires an inductor, ultimately driving a larger solution footprint and higher cost.

With the MAX77540, the design engineer can easily create either dual 3A or a single 6A output(s). Default power on configuration only requires two external resistors, and an I2C interface allows further control for advanced power management techniques. External frequency tracking and spread spectrum modulation provide low electromagnetic interference (EMI) power conversions for data sensing and processing equipment.

MAX77540 Buck Converter Key Features:

·      Wide 4V to 16V input voltage range and two 3A switching phases provide single step conversions to core voltages from USB-C rails and 2S and 3S multi-cell batteries.

·      Wafer level package measures 61 percent (2.5x) smaller than traditional quad flat no-lead packaging to fit in the most space-constrained applications.

·      94 percent peak efficiency measured at 7.4V to 3.3V extends battery life.

Availability and Packaging 

Rated to deliver up to 1.5A, with 90% typical efficiency at full load, the L6981 converters are available in two variants optimized for light-load efficiency and noise performance.

The L6981C for low-current operation uses pulse skipping to maximize efficiency at light loads extending the runtime of battery-powered devices. The L6981N prioritizes low noise by operating permanently in PWM (pulse-width modulation) mode at constant switching frequency and minimizing voltage ripple at light loads.

Both variants can accept an input voltage from 3.5V to 38V, making them well suited to use in 24V industrial bus-powered applications, 12V and 24V battery-powered equipment, HVAC power supplies, decentralized intelligent nodes, smart sensors, and always-on applications. The output voltage can be adjusted from 0.85V up to the input-voltage value using external resistors.

Integrated features include high-side and low-side NMOS power transistors, feedback-loop compensation, over-voltage protection, and thermal protection. There is also soft-start circuitry that limits inrush current and ensures a constant output-voltage slope. An Enable pin is provided, which permits power-up/power-down sequencing and allows a synchronizing clock signal to be applied to the L6981N low-noise converters. The L6981 is included in ST’s 10-year longevity program that ensures long-term component supply.

The STEVAL-L6981CDR evaluation board for the low-current converter and STEVAL-L6981NDR for the low-noise version are available to help designers accelerate device selection in power-supply development.

The L6981 is in production now, in the proven, rugged SO8L package, from $1.00 for orders over 1000 pieces.

Please visit www.st.com/buckregulators for more information.

This includes substantial orders from Diesel Locomotive Works worth 61 crores. With these order wins, the company has a strong all time high pending order book of Rs. 292.92 crore.

Commenting on the order, Mr. Suramya Nevatia, CEO, Hind Rectifiers Ltd. said, “The orders booked are for a new product which was launched last year. Through backward integration, the company is able to substantially reduce import cost for the product, thereby helping the product margin to be upwards of 10%.

The Company is highly focused on R&D and the future of Hirect is power packed with innovation and diversification.”

Hirect is gradually transforming from being just a cost effective manufacturing company to an indigenous technology company.

With India being at the crux of infrastructural and transportation growth, there are exponential possibilities, and Hirect will be capitalising on all the right ones.

In today’s world of constant connectivity, it is commonplace for many electronic systems to be always operational—regardless of their external environment or operating conditions. Said another way, any glitch in a system’s power supply, whether momentary, seconds, or even minutes, must be taken into account during its design process. The most common way of dealing with such circumstances is to use uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) to cover these brief downtimes, thus ensuring high reliability, continuous operation of the system. Similarly, many of today’s emergency and standby systems are used to provide backup power for building systems to provide assurance that safety systems and critical equipment can maintain their operation during a power outage—whatever the root cause.

Obvious examples can be readily found in the ubiquitous handheld electronic devices used in our everyday lives. Because dependability is paramount, handhelds are carefully engineered with lightweight power sources for reliable use under normal conditions. But no amount of careful engineering can prevent the mistreatment they will undergo at the hands of people. For example, what happens when a factory worker drops a handheld portable scanning device, causing its battery to detach? Such events are electronically unpredictable and important data stored in volatile memory would be lost without some form of safety net—namely some sort of short-term power holdup system that stores sufficient energy to supply standby power until the battery can be replaced or the data can be stored in permanent memory.

This example clearly demonstrates the need for an alternative form of power source to be available in electronic systems, just in case there is an interruption in their primary power source.

In automotive electronic systems there are many applications that require continuous power even when a car is parked (engine not running), such as remote keyless entry, security, and even personal infotainment systems.

These systems usually incorporate navigation, GPS location, and eCall functionality. It is easy to understand why these systems have to remain on even when the car is not moving, since the GPS aspect of these systems must be always-on for emergency and security purposes. This is a necessary requirement so that rudimentary control can be activated by an external operator when necessitated.

Consider an eCall system (take General Motor’s OnStar® system in the USA as a prime example), which is becoming more pervasive in newer automobiles across the globe, with many manufacturers having already rolled them out across their ranges. In fact, these systems became mandatory in Europe in all new cars and light trucks sold after March 31st, 2018. It’s a pretty simple bit of technology: in the event of a collision in which a car’s airbags are deployed, the eCall system automatically contacts emergency services. It uses GPS to relay the time, your location, what type of car you’re in, and what kind of fuel it uses to the authorities, while a microphone in the car allows you to speak directly to call handlers when the system is activated. These eCall system can share what direction you were travelling in when the incident occurred, allowing authorities to know which side of the freeway they need to head to in the event of a collision. All this allows ambulance, police, and fire crews to reach you as quickly as they can following an accident, armed with as much information as possible. An individual can also activate eCall by pressing a button, so if someone becomes ill (or has been injured in a collision in which the airbags haven’t deployed), help can still be easily summoned.

Storage Mediums

Having acknowledged the need for backup power in a wide array of systems, the question then arises: what are the options for storage mediums for this type of backup power? Traditionally, the choices have been capacitors and batteries.

It is fair to say that capacitor technology has played a major role in power transmission and delivery applications for multiple decades. For example, traditional thin film and oil-based capacitor designs performed a variety of functions, such as power factor correction and voltage balancing. However, in the past decade there was substantial research and development that has led to significant advances in capacitor design and capabilities. These advanced capacitors have been called supercapacitors (also known as ultracapacitors) and they are ideal for use in battery energy storage and backup power systems. Supercapacitors may be limited in terms of their total energy storage; nevertheless, they are energy dense. Furthermore, they possess the ability to discharge high levels of energy quickly and recharge rapidly.

Supercapacitors are not only compact, but they are robust and reliable, and they can support the requirements of a backup system for short-term power-loss events such as the ones already outlined herein. Furthermore, they can easily be paralleled or stacked in series or even a combination of both to deliver the necessary voltage and current demand by the end application. Nevertheless, a supercapacitor is more than just a capacitor with a very high level of capacitance. Compared to standard ceramic, tantalum, or electrolytic capacitors, supercapacitors offer higher energy density and higher capacitance in a similar form factor and weight. And, although supercapacitors require some special care, they are augmenting or even replacing batteries in data storage applications requiring high current/short duration backup power.

Moreover, they are also finding use in a variety of high peak power and portable applications in need of high current bursts or momentary battery backup, such as UPS systems. Compared to batteries, supercapacitors provide higher peak power bursts in smaller form factors and feature a longer charge cycle life over a wider operating temperature range.

Supercapacitor lifetime can be maximized by reducing the capacitor’s top-off voltage and avoiding high temperatures (>50°C).

Batteries, on the other hand, can store a lot of energy, but are limited in terms of power density and delivery. Due to the chemical reactions that occur within a battery, they have limited life with regard to cycling. As a result, they are most effective when delivering modest amounts of power over a long period of time, since pulling many amps out of them very quickly severely limits their useful operating life. Table 1 shows a summary of the pros and cons among supercapacitors, capacitors, and batteries.

New Backup Manager Power Solutions

Now that we have established that either supercapacitors, batteries, and/or a combination of both are candidates for use as a backup power sources in almost any electronic system, what are some of the solutions available?

First of all, any IC solution would need to be a complete lithium ion battery backup power management system with the capability to keep 3.5 V to 5 V supply rails active during a main power failure event. Since batteries provide considerably more energy than supercapacitors, they are superior for applications that require backup for extended periods of time.

Accordingly, any IC solution would need to have an on-chip bidirectional synchronous converter to provide high efficiency charging of the backup battery, as well as be able to deliver high current backup power to the downstream load should an interruption on the main power rail occur.

Thus, when external power is available, the device would operate as a step-down battery charger for single-cell Li-ion or LiFePO4 batteries while giving preference to the system load. However, if the input supply was to suddenly drop below the adjustable power-fail input (PFI) threshold the IC would need to operate as a step-up regulator, capable of delivering multiple amps to the system output from the backup battery. Accordingly, if a power failure were to occur, then the IC would need power path control to provide reverse blocking and a seamless switchover between input power and the backup power source. Typical applications for such an IC would include fleet and asset tracking, automotive GPS data loggers, automotive telematics systems, toll collection systems, security systems, communications systems, industrial backup, and USB-powered devices. Figure 1 shows a typical application schematic for this purpose using Analog Devices’ Power by Linear LTC4040 lithium ion battery backup manager.

The LTC4040 also includes optional overvoltage protection (OVP) that protects the IC from input voltages greater than 60 V with an external FET. Its adjustable input current limit function enables operation from a current limited source while prioritizing system load current over battery charge current. An external disconnect switch isolates the primary input supply from the system during backup. The LTC4040’s 2.5 A battery charger provides eight selectable charge voltages optimized for Li-ion and LiFePO4 batteries. The device also includes input current monitoring, an input power loss indicator, and a system power loss indicator.

Analogous to batteries are supercapacitors. However, instead of supporting long time intervals of power loss, they are an excellent choice for systems that need high power, short duration backup power. Accordingly, any IC that supports this type of application would typically require the capability to support 2.9 V to 5.5 V supply rails during a main power interruption.

It is well known that supercapacitors have higher power density than batteries, making them an ideal choice for systems whose applications require high peak power backup for brief time intervals. By way of example, the LTC4041 from Analog Devices’ Power by Linear product line uses an on-chip bidirectional synchronous converter to provide high efficiency step-down supercapacitor charging, as well as high current, high efficiency boost backup power. When external power is available, the device operates as a step-down battery charger for one or two supercapacitor cells while giving preference to the system load. When the input supply drops below the adjustable PFI threshold, the LTC4041 switches to stepup mode operation and can deliver up to 2.5 A to the system load from the supercapacitor(s). During a power fail event, the device’s PowerPath control provides reverse blocking and a seamless switchover from input power to backup power. Typical applications for the LTC4041 include ridethrough “dying gasp” supplies, high current ride-through 3 V to 5 V UPSs, power meters, industrial alarms, servers, and solid-state drives. Figure 2 shows a typical LTC4041 application schematic.

The LTC4041 includes an optional OVP function using an external FET that can protect the IC from input voltages greater than 60 V. An internal supercapacitor balancing circuit maintains equal voltages across each supercapacitor and limits the maximum voltage of each supercapacitor to a predetermined value. Its adjustable input current limit function enables operation from a current limited source while prioritizing system load current over battery charge current. An external disconnect switch isolates the primary input supply from the system during backup. The device also includes input current monitoring, an input power fail indicator, and a system power fail indicator.

Conclusion

Whenever a system must have constant availability, even if the primary power source should fail or is briefly interrupted, it is always a wise choice to have a backup power source available. Fortunately, there are many IC options for designers to consider for their specific needs, including the LTC4040/LTC4041 backup managers. These types of ICs allow an easy method to have backup power available if the main power is interrupted or lost, regardless of whether their storage medium is a supercapacitor, an electrolytic capacitor, or even a battery. The LTC4040 and/or LTC4041 have the functionality to provide an end system with backup power, whether it be a momentary burst or for extended periods of time. So, make sure that your system has the right backup when it is needed. Got it?

About the Authors

Tony Armstrong is the product marketing director for Analog Devices’ Power by Linear product group. He is responsible for all aspects of power conversion and management products, from their introduction through obsolescence. Prior to joining ADI, Tony held various positions in marketing, sales, and operations at Linear Technology (now part of ADI), Siliconix Inc., Semtech Corp., Fairchild Semiconductors, and Intel. He attained a B.S. (honors) in applied mathematics from the University of Manchester, England. He can be reached at anthony.armstrong@analog.com.

Steve Knoth is a senior product marketing engineer in Analog Devices’ Power by Linear Group. He is responsible for all power management integrated circuit (PMIC) products, low dropout regulators (LDOs), battery chargers, charge pumps, charge pump-based LED drivers, supercapacitor chargers, low voltage monolithic switching regulators, and ideal diode devices. Prior to joining Linear Technology (now ADI) in 2004, Steve held various marketing and product engineering positions since 1990 at Micro Power Systems, Analog Devices, and Micrel Semiconductor. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1988 and a master’s degree in physics in 1995, both from San Jose State University. Steve also received an M.B.A. in technology management from the University of Phoenix in 2000. In addition to enjoying time with his kids, Steve can be found tinkering with pinball/arcade games or muscle cars, and buying, selling, and collecting vintage toys and movie/sports/automotive memorabilia. He can be reached at steve.knoth@analog.com.

San Jose, CA—August 9, 2017— Developers of multi-cell, USB Type-C products that need higher current, dual input, and I²C support now have a flexible option with the MAX77756 24V, 500mA, low quiescent current (Iq) buck converter from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

USB Type-C products must generate an always-on 3.3V rail to detect USB insertions. Products utilizing the Power Delivery (PD) voltage range (5V to 20V) can generate an always-on (1.8V/3.3V/5.0V) digital supply rail for the port controller using the MAX77756 step-down converter. In addition, the MAX77756 has a 20μA quiescent current that extends battery life by reducing idle power consumption. To simplify the system design, the MAX77756 has a dual input ideal diode ORing circuit that allows the chip to power from the external USB source if the battery is empty.

Multi-cell battery-operated devices—such as ultrabooks, laptops, tablets, drones, and home automation appliances—can easily evolve to Type-C with PD using the flexible MAX77756 power supply. The MAX77756 has a unique combination of wide input voltage range, low quiescent current, higher current load, dual input, and I²C for flexibility and programmability. There is also a default power mode if customers do not want to use the I²C bus. The MAX77756 is a robust IC with short-circuit and thermal protection, 8ms internal soft-start to minimize inrush current, proven current-mode control architecture, and up to 26V input voltage standoff.

Key Advantages

• Low quiescent current: 1.5μA Buck and 20μA MUX for always-on operation
• High efficiency: Up to 92% with integrated power MUX
• Small solution size: 2.33mm x 1.42mm 15-bump WLP; no external Schottky array needed
• Wide input voltage: Operates on full VBUS range (5V-20V) and VBATT (2S, 3S, 4S Li+)
  

  Commentary

  • “The MAX77756 saves board space and reduces series voltage drop by integrating FETs, eliminating the need to use external Schottky diodes,” said Jia Hu, Executive Business Manager, Mobile Power, Maxim Integrated. “The MAX77756 also helps engineers minimize power consumption and extend battery life for the end application by offering highest efficiency and lowest Iq compared to other products.”

  Availability and Pricing

  • MAX77756 is available from stock and priced at $0.65 (10,000-up, FOB USA)
  • MAX77756EVKIT# is available from stock and priced at $70
  •    Start designing with MAX77756 now using the EE-Sim® Tool Suite, http://bit.ly/EE-Sim

  All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

India, May 14, 2014: Analog Devices, Inc. , the world’s data converter market share leader*, announced  the immediate availability of the dual-channel, 1.25-V,14-bit, 1-GSPS AD9680 A/D converter featuring the best noise and dynamic range performance in its class enabling the trend for direct RF sampling in communications, instrumentation and military/aerospace applications. Its noise density of -154 dBFs/Hz is the lowest in the industry. The breakthrough performance, bandwidth and integrated functionality of ADI’s wideband RF data acquisition technology allows for better signal extraction in congested RF environments over a wider bandwidth than ever before. The AD9680 is interoperable with FPGAs from majormanufacturers and supported with known good configurations. The AD9680 combined with the recently announced 12-bit, 2-GSPS AD9625 A/D converter, demonstrate ADI’s innovation in providing leading edge offerings driving the trend toward direct RF sampling.

• Order samples, evaluation boards or download data sheets: http://www.analog.com/AD9680
• Buy and evaluate today: Digi-Key Corp. and Mouser Electronics stock inventory of evaluation boards.
• Learn more about FPGA reference designs with Altera and Xilinx: http://wiki.analog.com/resources/fpga
• Get questions answered by ADI engineers on EngineerZone, ADI’s online technical support community: http://ez.analog.com/community/data_converters/high-speed_adcs\

The AD9680 A/D converter allows more degrees of freedom for system designers trading off signal bandwidth, noise and linearity because it can digitize a DC to 2-GHz input signal with an accompanying dynamic range performance that was previously unavailable on the open market. Implementing a direct RF sampling architecture eliminates analog down-conversion stages and their associated noise and cost, and allows more front-end configuration and tuning to be accomplished entirely in the digital domain. With the AD9680 designers can increase signal sensitivity and bandwidth data rate, while enabling the use of an advanced reconfigurable data acquisition or radio platform. The A/D converter is available with an evaluation board design environment and reference designs for rapid system prototyping and board-level design and layout.

About the AD9680 GSPS A/D Converter: Highest Dynamic Range/Best Noise Performance

The AD9680 was designed for sampling wide bandwidth analog signals up to 2 GHz and features the industry’s best dynamic range and noise performance over its rated bandwidth range. When converting a 1-GHz input, the converter achieves spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) performance of 80-dBc and 61.5-dBFS signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while consuming 1.65 W of total power per channel. Integrated functionality includes digital signal processing blocks and a configurable JESD204B interface, allowing designers to create advanced reconfigurable radio platforms that meet bandwidth and cost requirements across multiple systems. Higher speed grades are scheduled.

AD9680 Key Features

• Wide full power bandwidth supports RF sampling of signals to 2 GHz
• Buffered inputs with programmable input termination eases filter design and implementation
• Four integrated wide-band decimation filter and numerically controlled oscillators (NCO) blocks support multi-band, multi-standard receivers
• Reference design platform simplifies prototyping
  

Evaluation Board Environment to Speed Prototyping and Design

Each GSPS A/D converter is supported by an evaluation board with an FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC) connector, software, tools, SPI controller and reference designs. ADI’s VisualAnalog software package combines a powerful set of simulation and data analysis tools with a user-friendly graphical interface allowing designers to customize their input signal and data analysis. The high-speed A/D converter SPI controller tool allows users to control advanced features with SPI capability. An industry first data capture board supporting JESD204B lane rates at 12.5 Gbps is also available.