Power Integrations cuts standby waste to zero with LinkZero-AX

SAN JOSE, USA: Power Integrations has introduced LinkZero-AX, an integrated offline switching IC that enables designers to achieve 0.00 watts of standby energy consumption in auxiliary power supplies.

Commonly used in such products as major appliances, TVs, and remotely-controlled electronic lighting ballasts, auxiliary power supplies continuously draw power as long as the product is plugged in, resulting in significant standby energy waste.

LinkZero-AX features an innovative power-down mode that effectively turns off the auxiliary power supply when the end product is idle. Power-down mode is triggered by a signal accessible to a microcontroller, completely shutting down switch-mode operation and internal switch control circuits, eliminating energy wasted by these unnecessary functions.

While in power-down mode, the LinkZero-AX stays alive, allowing the IC to be awakened with a reset pulse or button press. The bypass pin on the LinkZero-AX IC can also provide up to 500 μA of current for use by any system control or sensing circuit.

LinkZero-AX provides designers with flexibility to build ultra-low standby power supplies without mechanical AC mains switches. When used in tandem with Power Integrations’ CAPZero X capacitor discharge IC and SENZero sense resistor disconnect device, LinkZero-AX reduces standby power waste in high-power consumer products and appliances to as low as 4 mW, or effectively zero. (IEC 62301 Clause 4.5 classifies power usage of less than 5 mW as zero.)

Delivering the industry’s lowest component count for standby power supplies, LinkZero-AX is a simple upgrade for engineers targeting zero standby energy consumption. The IC allows appliance designs to easily exceed all global energy-efficiency regulations, including the European EcoDesign Directive and ENERGY STAR.

Silvestro Fimiani, product marketing manager at Power Integrations, said: “Power Integrations first delivered a stake in the heart to energy vampires with our LinkSwitch ICs, the first cost-effective replacement for old-fashioned, energy-sucking linear transformers.

“Now, we’ve put a nail in the coffin with LinkZero-AX, which eliminates the energy vampires lurking inside appliances, TVs, and other products that utilize low-power auxiliary power supplies. LinkZero-AX enables designers to achieve zero standby power consumption at the lowest system cost using the fewest parts. It is a simple solution to implement – in new designs or as a retrofit upgrade – and compliance with international efficiency regulations is assured.”