Date: 11/11/2009

National's WEBENCH compares devices and power supply circuits for performance

National Semiconductor has introduced WEBENCH Visualizer, a comparison and selection tool for power supply design engineers to select an optimal power system design. WEBENCH Visualizer creates a graphical snapshot of options across multiple criteria, such as power efficiency, footprint and system bill of materials (BOM) cost. WEBENCH produce options from its resource of 25 different switching power supply architectures and 21,000 components. This tool allows design engineers to select the best DC-DC power supply system based on their needs.

"With WEBENCH Visualizer, National has enabled analog experts to be superior business decision makers because we've given them all of the tools to produce the best possible design in the shortest time," said Phil Gibson, vice president of Technical Sales Tools at National Semiconductor. "We've also given non-power experts the ability to do extraordinary things with analog power designs."

WEBENCH power supply software tool supports dc-dc conversion topologies such as buck, boost, buck-boost, SEPIC and flyback. Several alternative circuit configurations are also made available for fixed-frequency and constant-on-time architectures, and current-mode and voltage-mode control loops.
The tool holds parts library from 110 manufacturers allowing designers to select based on parameters range as below:
Input Voltage: 1V - 100V
Output Voltage: 0.6V - 300V
Power Rating: 300W
Efficiency: up to 96 percent
Frequency: up to 3 MHz
Footprint/component base size: from 14 mm by 14 mm

How WEBENCH Visualizer Works:

The WEBENCH Visualizer tool features an optimizer dial that enables engineers to "dial-in" their preference for footprint, system BOM cost and power efficiency. The tool instantly creates 50-70 designs from 48 billion possible design options. It then highlights the smallest and most efficient designs, with one recommended as a starting point for further optimization.

A second visualizer control panel allows engineers to adjust their design options for voltage, current and temperature. In seconds, an updated set of solutions appears, highlighting each design's topology, schematic, footprint, efficiency, operating values and BOM cost/count. The tool's interactive filter allows engineers to further fine-tune the power supply design to meet the target system's exact requirements.

Once a design is selected, National's WEBENCH design environment offers the ability to further tune and optimize that design through additional component options and electrical and thermal simulation. With the "Build It!" feature, National ships a custom power supply prototype kit within 24 hours. To view a video demonstration or begin an analysis with the WEBENCH Visualizer tool, go to www.national.com/visualizer.

The WEBENCH Visualizer tool is an extension of National's popular WEBENCH tools for LEDs and power design.

For more details visit www.national.com


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