Insight
Vicor Europe's Quarterly Newsletter
Issue 6 – Autumn 2006
Vicor expands European distribution network
Providing excellent technical, commercial and logistics support has been important to Vicor’s success in Europe. In order to further support our customers Vicor is delighted to announce that it is enlarging its European distribution network and has appointed a number of new distributors in key territories: Acal in France, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland; and Craftec in the UK. Both companies already represent Vicor in other territories and Vicor sees each appointment as an extension of the strong relationships that already exist.
For our customers, the enhanced local representation will increase design engineers’ ability to find suitable solutions for their power supply needs through a combination of Vicor’s products and its distributors’ support services.
A new feature for Insight, we introduce you to the major teams that go to make up our production facility in Andover, MA. Starting with the Vicor Quality Team
New mid-power 48 Vin Micro modules
Vicor has added six mid-power Micro DC-DC converters to the 48 Vdc input family: a 50 W model at 3.3 Vout and 75 W models at 12, 15, 24, 28, and 48 Vout. The modules – which incorporate Vicor’s patented low-noise zero-current and zero-voltage switching (ZCS/ZVS) – are appropriate for power system applications in distributed power, medical, ATE, communications, defence, and aerospace.
With these new models, the 48 Vin Micros family now comprises 16 models with output voltages from 2 to 48 Vdc and power levels from 50 to 150 W. The converters operate from 48 V nominal input, with an input range of 36 V to 75 V. Efficiencies range up to 89% for the higher output voltages. These models are available in five different environmental grades, with six different pin options and three baseplate options. They can be configured in any combination in Vicor’s Custom Module Design System at www.vicoreurope.com.
These mid-power products provide designers, who do not require the full-power capability of the Micro module, with a wider range of options that will make their designs more cost effective. In addition, the low noise ZCS/ZVS greatly reduces the design effort and filtering costs required for power converters to meet agency conducted emissions requirements.
Available as RoHS compliant models if required, the modules are a compact 57.9 x 36.8 x 12.7mm in size with a height above Top of pageboard of 10.9mm.
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Basic guidelines for EMI filtering
All switching power supplies generate signals that can potentially interfere with other electronic circuits as a result of the switching action. Vicor’s quasi-resonant, zero-current switching topology generates far less conducted and radiated noise than other topologies, both in magnitude and frequency spectrum. EMI filtering can reduce the noise by an additional 40-60 dB.The most effective means to reduce common mode noise current is to bypass both input leads as well as both output leads with “Y” capacitors, keeping the leads short to reduce parasitic inductance. Additionally, a common mode choke is usually required to meet common EMI standards.
Figure 1 – shows a typical filter circuitry for a Vicor converter with its corresponding noise spectra.
Figures 2a, 2b, 2c – Conducted input noise, with common-mode choke
Some basic guidelines to follow for successful EMI filtering are:
- Keep current loops small. The ability of a conductor to couple energy by induction and radiation is proportional to the loop area.
- For conductor pairs, use wide (low Z) copper traces aligned above and below each other.
- Locate filters close to the source of interference, i.e. the power converter.
- Filter component values should be chosen with consideration to the desired frequency range of attenuation. For example, capacitors are self-resonant at some frequencies, beyond which they look inductive. Keep bypass capacitor leads as short as possible.
- Bear in mind the proximity of noise sources to potentially susceptible circuits when locating components on the board.
Mobile radio (helicopter)
A professional mobile radio, used for civil and military communications, emergency services, aid, vigilance and control, is powered by Vicor. The modules provide mechanical and thermal ruggedness, correct temperature and humidity ranges, Radio Frequency Susceptibility (radiated and conducted) performances, high-efficiency, and shock and vibration resistance.
The European Organization for Civil Aviation Electronics (EUROCAE), who works jointly with RTCA in the development of standards, defines a series of minimum standard environmental test conditions and applicable test procedures for airborne equipment.
The purpose of these tests, which last 20 days, is to determine the performance characteristics of airborne equipment in environmental conditions representative of those which may be encountered in airborne operation of the equipment. Vicor has passed the DO160 test successfully!
Making HD Making HD electronic newsgathering (ENG) easierelectronic news gathering (ENG) easier
The Z-link system, shown below, consists of two main parts. The base unit uses two custom VI-26B (95 V output) modules configured to develop a ±95 Vdc isolated output. This allows up to 200 W of power to be transmitted over 10 km, via cable, to the Z-link interface unit, that is connected to the high definition camera.
The interface unit steps down the 189 V using VI '5' series modules to run audio and video equipment. Data is sent back through the Z-link to the base unit for live transmission or recording. Information about the health of the cable is also monitored so that the 189 V is disabled, via relays in the base unit, for safety.
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New search capability for Vicor website
To ensure that visitors can get the information they need quickly, the site search on the vicoreurope website has been updated with new software from Google. The site is now using a product called the Google Mini that utilises Google's powerful search algorithm. You can now refine your search by the following categories; part number, products, datasheets, mechanical drawings, tech library, application notes, application manuals, and web expresscode.
To try it, go to the search box at the top right hand corner of this or any Vicoreurope.com page.
top »This is an exciting new feature for Insight! We will introduce you to the major teams that go to make up our production facility in Andover, MA. So, over the next few issues you will learn more about Manufacturing & Manufacturing Systems, Materials, Technical Operations, and Quality.
Mike McNamara, who has been with Vicor since 1995, is Vice President of Quality. Mike heads up a highly experienced team of 30 quality experts. They are responsible for ensuring exacting standards at every step of the manufacturing process, all the way through from vendor quality to finished product and follow-on customer support and service.
Recently, Mike’s team has been responsible for the smooth introduction and full on time implementation of the European Union’s RoHS directive. The approach Vicor has taken has proven to be customer-friendly by offering both RoHS and non-RoHS products to our customers worldwide. To support this important transition, Vicor has created an information pack that provides customers with key details to facilitate their acquisition of new RoHS products.
To learn more about Vicor Quality Systems, you can go to the Quality
Centre on our website. Here you can create a custom quality report
or take a ‘virtual tour’ of Vicor's 21,400sq metre factory, showing the
key stages in the manufacture of our products. There is a library of documentation,
videos, and process charts, downloadable reports in PDF format, with hyperlinks
to other information that satisfy the individual's Quality needs. Alternatively,
you can request a CD of the factory tour by going to:
http://www.vicoreurope.com/technical_library/literature_request/.
Below are sections of five photographs of various electronic components. Match the photos (A-E) with the products (1-5).
Have fun!
This quiz is closed.
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