Emerson Network Power Previews Astec Digital Initiative To Assist Designers With Move To Digital Power And PMBus Communications
CARLSBAD, Calif. - October 3, 2005 - Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR), has announced the preview release of a breakthrough device from Astec Power (astecpower.com) as an aid in the creation of digital power designs. The first offering from Emerson's comprehensive Astec Digital Power Initiative, the new Astec DTX digital DC converter will enable designers to prepare and evaluate products for use with the new digital architecture and the new open-source PMBus communication protocol as well as the industry-standard I2C bus. The innovative control platform is designed to work in an integrated digital system environment and will ultimately include a spectrum of devices from front-ends to eighth bricks, bus converters and POL regulators.
"Because this technology enables designers to digitally control such parameters as output voltage and startup sequencing via a PC with an easy-to-use graphical user interface, they'll be able to make broad changes during prototyping without the need to physically change parts," explains Bharat Shah, Astec Power's vice president of sales and marketing for DC-DC business. "Products developed with this architecture will give designers significantly enhanced flexibility that will enable rapid development. In addition, the digital control allows for reduced parts count to increase reliability while minimizing space requirements. Unlike some early implementations of digital architecture that rely on proprietary communications, Astec's Digital Power Initiative adheres to the PMBus standards-based protocols that will assure extensive support for these products. As one of the founding members of the Power Management Bus (PMBus) Implementers Forum, we believe the industry-backed standard is
the best choice for designers seeking an efficient and compatible technology base for power management implementations."
"It's important to note," added Astec vice president of DC-DC advanced technology, Geof Potter, "our devices will be able to connect to virtually any I2C-based power control and monitoring systems, but the communication bus is not required for operation. These devices will operate in 'standalone' mode as well. Customers will be able to adapt these products to their individual needs on their own, using Astec's support tools or with the assistance of Astec's technical support department. Designers will even be able to choose from an array of pre-programmed modules that emulate existing industry-standard 'bricks' with or without a menu of additional features."
The Astec DTX DC Converter takes the form of a low-profile, open-frame package with surface-mount termination. It accepts DC input from 36V to 75V and offers output from 0.96V to 1.44VDC with output power up to 50W. It can tolerate wide temperature ranges from -40 C to +85 C and meets basic insulation requirements.
Featuring integrated digital control with bi-directional PMBus communication; the unit also includes self-diagnostics, efficiency optimization and output impedance control as well as dynamic feedback loop compensation and configuration. Designers can program limits and modes relating to undervoltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, and overtemperature. The unit includes more than 4KB of memory to record historical data including tracking and serial number information. Because the PMBus communication is an open-source protocol, designers will have access to a wide variety of software tools directly from Astec as well as other sources. The open-source flexibility will also enable designers to use these tools with other PMBus devices as they are released and easily customize them to meet specific needs. Astec currently offers users free executable file with graphical user interface that provides extensive management capabilities including custom controls to address Astec-specific parameters.
According to Potter, "Astec has begun demonstrating DTX converters and will supply a limited quantity of the devices to early adopters starting in November. Demand is already building for this innovative, leading-edge product, and Astec wants to ensure that its customers can be properly supported as they begin to explore the many advantages of digital control in their own applications." Pricing for prototype quantities will start at $55. For more information, please contact an Astec Power representative in your area. To locate a representative, go to the Astec Power Web site at astecpower.com and click on the SALES OFFICE button on the home page.
Pioneered by leading power supply and semiconductor companies, the PMBus Protocol Initiative (http://pmbus.info ) is a collaborative venture by industry leaders to establish the first truly open communications standard for the digital control of power systems. Implemented over the industry-standard SMBus serial interface, the PMBus protocol will facilitate the programming, control and real-time monitoring of compliant power conversion products.
About Astec Power
Astec Power (astecpower.com), an Emerson Network Power company headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., is a leading international supplier of power conversion solutions. Dedicated to advanced research and development, state of the art design, sophisticated automation and in-process testing, Astec Power produces standard, modified standard, and custom AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies, which range in size from one to 18,000 watts. In order to satisfy and continue to grow its international customer base, Astec Power has operations on three continents. Through this strategic allocation of its manufacturing resources, Astec Power delivers competitively priced quality products worldwide, in a timely and reliable manner.
About Emerson Network Power
Emerson Network Power is an Emerson business that provides a full spectrum of reliable power solutions, including inbound power, connectivity, power supplies, power systems and precision cooling, backed by the largest global services organization in the power industry. These Emerson companies serve the needs of telecommunications networks, data centers, health care and industrial facilities worldwide. For more information, visit www.emersonnetworkpower.com.
About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2004 were $15.6 billion. For more information, visit www.GoToEmerson.com.
# # #
Contact:
Bharat Shah, VP Sales & Marketing, DC-DC Business
760-930-4600
info@astec.com
astecpower.com
Agency Contact:
Susan Connell
760-431-7466
susan@jandacommunications.com
www.JandAcommunications.com
