Maxim enters digital power market with patented InTune DC-DC control technology

SUNNYVALE, USA: Maxim Integrated Products has announced its entry into the fast-growing digital power market with its patented InTune brand digital power technology; it is based on “state-space” or “model-predictive” control rather than proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control used by competitors.

Maxim’s InTune digital power technology performs an automatic compensation routine that is based on measured parameters, which enables the construction of an internal mathematical model of the power supply, including the external components. The result is a switching power supply that achieves the highest possible dynamic performance while guaranteeing stability.

Further, this information enables several proprietary algorithms that optimize efficiency across a wide range of operating conditions. Maxim’s InTune digital power technology requires up to 5x lower bias current than competing devices, further improving overall efficiency for applications such as networking, telecom, and servers.

“Unlike competing technology, Maxim’s InTune digital power technology is not an iterative tuning technique. It is deterministic and resolves several limitations present in today’s digital power solutions,” said Jim Templeton, Director of Business Management, leading Maxim’s digital power effort.

“Unlike PIDbased solutions, the loop used by Maxim’s InTune digital power technology provides seamless small- and large-signal response without the need to cross back and forth between linear and nonlinear modes. This enables loop response up to 10x faster than competitors and does not require any user-set thresholds. In fact, the PWM controllers used by Maxim’s InTune digital power technology are even faster than their analog equivalents.”

Besides the internal R&D efforts, the company has made a key acquisition of a digital power R&D firm and notable university intellectual property. The company also recently licensed digital power technology “DPT” patents from Power-One Inc. Using its new technology and acquisitions, Maxim plans to leverage its position as a top supplier of power-management and control ICs to become the number one supplier of
digital power solutions.