Applications emerge to boost embedded power

From $9.4 billion in 2004, embedded power supply market is projected to increase by an average of 5.9 percent p.a. for the next five years. (All figures from Darnell Group.) The external power market is five times larger than embedded power market in unit terms; however, as the former operates in low wattages with correspondingly lower prices, the revenue of embedded is higher. Power Supplement Articles Scalable power systems meet the needs of configurable blade servers by Steve Mappus, Texas Instruments PFC/PWM combo IC enables best power and board space efficiency in LCD TVs by Reno Rossetti and Jung Won Kim, Fairchild Semiconductor Active PFC design concept focuses on power loss and inrush current control by Ernö Temesi, Michael Frisch and Peter Sontheimer, Tyco Electronics AC powering semiconductor growth by The computer segment is the primary driver of ac-dc power market. In this segment, applications like blade servers and storage provide growth opportunity for highwattage segments (501W to 1,000W and higher). Blade servers, projected to constitute 20 percent of total server market in 2006, and 27 percent in 2007, will greatly alter server power requirements, opening up new opportunities for embedded power. Two other applications that will boost embedded power demand are storage and PoEs. Storage-related power supplies are primarily being driven by broadband technologies providing colossal amount of Internet content. The storage of these contents generates demand for storagerelated power supplies. PoE-compatible hubs, switches and devices are growing rapidly in numbers. Two other applications that will boost embedded power demand are storage and PoEs. Storage-related power supplies are primarily being driven by broadband technologies providing colossal amount of Internet content. The storage of these contents generates demand for storagerelated power supplies. PoE-compatible hubs, switches and devices are growing rapidly in numbers. VoIP and adoption of IEEE 802.3af are other driving forces in communications contributing to embedded power supply growth. There are several other drivers of embedded power, such as: rise of notebooks; increasing demand for STBs, CATV, solid-state lighting; impact of Intel¡¯s Balanced Technology Extended (BTX) form factor; and all-in-one peripherals¡¯ effect on computer peripherals market. Yet other factors favoring embedded power supply growth are energy-efficient devices and government regulations for lead-free products. Asia is likely to be a laggard in this industrial segment. In unit terms perhaps Asia may be leading; but in dollar terms the U.S. is projected to be no. 1, followed by Europe. This is because the applications using high-priced embedded power systems will be used less extensively in Asia than in the West. This supplement discusses some leading issues pertaining to embedded power systems.