Maxim looks to take the lead in digital power

According to the company, InTune is based on 'state space' or 'model predictive' control, rather than the commonly used proportional integral derivative (PID) approach. InTune performs an automatic compensation routine based on measured parameters, which enables the construction of an internal mathematical model for the power supply, including its external components. This is said to enable a switching power supply that achieves the highest possible dynamic performance while guaranteeing stability. InTune is also said to require a bias current up to five times less than that of competing devices, further improving overall efficiency. "Unlike competing technology, InTune is not an iterative tuning technique," said Jim Templeton, Maxim's director of business management. "It is deterministic and resolves several limitations present in today's digital power solutions. "Unlike PID based solutions, the loop used by InTune provides seamless small and large signal response without the need to cross back and forth between linear and nonlinear modes. This enables loop response to be up to ten times faster than competitors and does not require any user set thresholds. In fact, the PWM controllers used by InTune are even faster than their analogue equivalents." Alongside internal R&D, Maxim has made what is says is a 'key acquisition of a digital power R&D firm', as well as university IP. It has also licensed digital power technology patents from Power-One. A complete family of digital power products is being developed, complementing Maxim's analogue power ics, and the first such devices are currently sampling. Individual product announcements will be made in the near future.