Fairchild's mWSaver technology offers best-in-class power savings for power supplies

SAN JOSE, USA: As electronic applications gain in popularity, the demand for AC-DC external power supplies is also occurring. The volume of external power supplies is expected to increase more than 11 percent between 2009 and 2013.

Today, there are between 6 and 10 billion power supplies in use worldwide which are typically plugged in and unused for 20 hours a day, while constantly drawing power. These numbers illustrate the growing concern of energy waste and illustrate the profound possible impact of reducing standby power.

While the best power supplies are more than 90 percent efficient, some are only 20 to 40 percent efficient, wasting the majority of electricity that passes through them.

Power supplies can account for nearly 10 percent of the total residential electricity used yearly. Regulations and technology help to reduce standby power, but the increase in the number of appliances and equipment that consumes power continues to grow, especially in developing countries.

Fairchild Semiconductor’s new mWSaver technology offers the best-in-class power savings for power supplies, with the fewest possible components. Devices in the mWSaver series integrate five patented technologies: off time modulation, JFET HV start-up and circuit, feedback impedance switch, HV discharge, and PSR control to drop out voltage; as well as burst mode operation and low operation current techniques.

It is only by the unique integration of these technologies, leveraged together, that the most stringent standby specifications can be met.

Power supply manufacturers can now achieve the ultra-low standby power performance their customers want, while eliminating components and lowering BOM costs with mWSaver technology.