Power Integrations, the leader in high-voltage integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion, today 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?A 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 4mW, or effectively zero. (IEC 62301 Clause 4.5 classifies power usage of less than 5mW 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®. Comments Silvestro Fimiani, product marketing manager at Power Integrations: "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." LinkZero-AX devices are available now in an SO-8C package at $0.35 each for 10,000-piece quantities. Full technical details, including the product datasheet, design ideas, and introductory video, are available now on the Power Integrations website at: www.powerint.com/linkzero-ax www.powerint.com
PDF
