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silicon labs数字电源的专访
2008-04-21 11:12:47 作者： 来源：电子工程世界
关键字：数字电源 模拟电源
电子工程世界网：您对数字电源的理解是什么？
Silicon Labs： 数字电源被定义为使用现代数字处理科技来消除使用模拟供电的模拟分立元件。数字电源提供了一个更加智能的系统界面，来预期系统运行状态下的变化，并根据这些信息来优化系统的运转。智能电源供电控制器比模拟控制器要小巧，而且可以调整和优化系统参数来提高效率。数字电源可以降低成本，因为它的智能可以支持自检，从而可以降低检测成本，提高可靠性，减少故障，降低BOM。
电子工程世界网：相比模拟电源，数字电源独特的优势是什么？
Silicon Labs：数字电源的优势包括在系统可编程、更加先进的控制器运算法则、更好的效率优化、更高的运行精度和可靠性、更好的系统管理和系统连同功能。数字电源IC还可以提供更高的集成，从而缩小体积并减低成本。人们可以利用数字电源所带来的新的IP机会来重新设计电源。
对于高端的数字电源应用，它将没有略势，尽管与一些低端应用来比，成本会高一些，而且，这一点也将是暂时的，因为成本均势将很快会达到。不仅如此，数字电源为设计的创新带来更多机会，从而提升营业额。而且，成本将逐渐降低。数字电源在成本方面的突出表现将很快在市场上被认可，并在遥感勘测和故障检验与预防等应用上替代模拟控制器。
电子工程世界网：目前数字电源是否应用于很多领域，其中，哪些应用领域更加需要数字电源？为什么？
Silicon Labs：市场上对于能够提供更好的灵活性的控制解决方案的需求在不断增强。这需要更高的集成、更高的效率、更快的瞬时反映和更强的编程。数字电源控制器提供所有这些优点，同时降低对参数容差和温度的敏感度、缩短调试时间，具有更高的性价比。
如今，数字电源作为一个新的技术正在发展并应用于许多领域。在许多应用领域，使用基于模拟的控制器仍然很合适。但是，在不久的将来，数字控制器的价格将与许多模拟控制器的价格差不多。到那时，许多供应商将使用数字控制器，数字应用将会增加。
电子工程世界网：您是如何看待数字电源的发展趋势的？未来将会拓展到哪些应用领域？
Silicon Labs：市场上对于能够提供更好的灵活性的控制解决方案的需求在不断增强。这需要更高的集成、更高的效率、更快的瞬时反映和更强的编程。数字电源控制器提供所有这些优点，同时降低对参数容差和温度的敏感度、缩短调试时间，具有更高的性价比。
如今，数字电源作为一个新的技术正在发展并应用于许多领域。在许多应用领域，使用基于模拟的控制器仍然很合适。但是，在不久的将来，数字控制器的价格将与许多模拟控制器的价格差不多。到那时，许多供应商将使用数字控制器，数字应用将会增加。
电子工程世界网：数字电源在发展过程中遇到哪些挑战？
Silicon Labs：市场需求将是数字电源IC产品发展的首要动力。 现代电子系统的复杂性和高频率增强了对高性能电源系统的需求。这样，电源设计者必须设计出能够提供更快的瞬时反映、更高效率、更小体积和更强可靠性的系统。这些系统还必须有更高的性价比和更短的发展周期。数字电源可以满足这些要求。
电子工程世界网：如何才能突破数字电源发展的瓶颈？
电子工程世界网：贵公司的产品设计策略中是如何平衡数字与模拟的关系？
Silicon Labs：Silicon Labs的解决方案是业界唯一可将特定硬件控制器的高速运转与DSP的灵活性相结合的数字电源控制器，从而可以在性能和灵活性方面做到最好。这个控制器的架构在业界是非常独特的，并得到广泛认可。这个控制器集成了闪存，从而成为可编程固件，并可加速上市时间。这还能帮助设计师根据客户需求，更加容易、更快的定制后续的设计和产品。另外，Si825x 系列产品可以完成一系列内部控制工作，如风扇控制和检测、存储设备管理、温度检测、报警和通信。
What do you think of the meaning of Digital Power?
Digital power is defined as using modern digital processing technology to eliminate analog discrete components typical of an analog supply. Digital power offers a more intelligent system interface to anticipate changes in system operating conditions and use this information to proactively optimize operation. Intelligent power supply control will require a smaller footprint than an analog control and will be able to adjust and optimize system parameters to improve efficiency. Digital power should be lower cost because its intelligence can assist in self-test for lower test cost, improved reliability, fewer field returns and lower BOM.
Comparing with analogy power, what are the typical advantages of digital power?
The advantages of digital power include in-system programmability, more advanced control algorithms, better efficiency optimization, higher operating precision and reliability, system management and system connectivity functions. Digital power ICs also offer higher integration, enabling an overall smaller size and lower cost. There is a significant opportunity for the power supply community to re-invent itself with the new IP opportunities digital power brings.
For high-end digital power applications there are no disadvantages, though cost can be a factor for some lower-end applications. However, this is temporary as cost parity is being achieved very quickly. Plus, digital power brings more opportunities for design innovation, and therefore for increased revenue. In addition, costs will decrease over time. Digital supplies will soon become the cost leaders in the market and supplant analog controllers in applications such as telemetry monitoring and fault detection and prevention.
Is digital power common used nowadays? Which fields you think need to use digital power? Why?
The demand is increasing for control solutions that offer optimum flexibility. This requires higher integration, greater efficiency, faster transient response and enhanced programmability. Digital power control provides all of these benefits as well as reduced sensitivity to component tolerance and temperature, reduced development time and greater cost-efficiency.
Today, digital control is a new technology making its way into targeted applications. There are many other applications for which analog-based control is still appropriate. However, in the not-too-distant future, digital control will reach price parity with many analog controllers. More suppliers will jump into the digital fray and digital usage will increase as a result.
What are the development trends of digital power? Which application fields it will develop in the future?
See answer above.
What are the challenges for digital power development?
Market demand has been the primary impetus behind the development of digital power IC products. The complexity and increased frequency of modern electronic systems has driven demand for higher performance power supply systems. As a result, power supply designers must develop systems that provide faster transient response, increased efficiency, smaller size and greater reliability. They must also be more cost efficient and enable shorter development cycles. Digital power meets these demands.
How to conquer these challenges?
Silicon Labs conquers these challenges by offering a digital power controller solution that has a number of features that differentiate it from the competition.
When Silicon Labs design the products, how do you leverage the relation between digital and analogy?
Silicon Labs solution is the only digital power controller that combines the high-speed performance of a dedicated hardware controller with the flexibility of a DSP, resulting in the best of both worlds – performance and flexibility. The architecture of the controller is unique in the industry and gaining wide acceptance. It has flash memory integrated into the controller, thus making it firmware programmable and enabling a faster time-to-market. This also helps designers to more easily and quickly customize follow-on designs or custom supplies. In addition, the Si825x family can perform a series of housekeeping tasks, such as fan control and monitoring, enclosure management, temperature monitoring, alarms and communications.