TDK-EPC cooperates with STMicroelectronics: 50 new reference designs in just one year

TDK-EPC, a group company of the TDK Corporation, has intensified its support of STMicroelectronics, one of the world's largest semiconductor companies, in the creation of tested energy-saving solutions for their customers' applications. ST just recently completed the development of the 50th joint reference design in the past year, predominantly for power supplies. These reference designs combine state-of-the-art ICs from ST and passive electronic components from TDK-EPC. A major design challenge for the IC manufacturers is the selection and qualification of the most suitable passive components, which are one determining factor for the energy efficiency of the designs. For this reason, STMicroelectronics joined forces with TDK-EPC. "We partnered with TDK-EPC because they provided access to the broadest spectrum of high quality passive components in the market," explains Ulrich Kirchenberger, Senior Market Development Manager, Energy Efficiency, EMEA Region, STMicroelectronics. "Our customers know that reference designs qualified with high-performance EPCOS and TDK products from TDK-EPC will work reliably without any further design effort." Reference designs, especially for power supplies, are gaining in popularity among a broad spectrum of manufacturers. A key reason according to Davide Giavarini, TDK-EPC's coordinator for reference designs with ST's Italy-based application teams, is that "they allow our customers to concentrate on their own core competences, while simultaneously speeding up time to market and reducing development costs." The reference designs cover a very wide spectrum of switch-mode power supplies, including compact and high performances DC-DC converters, smart power systems with integrated MPPT (maximum power point trackers) for enhanced photovoltaic applications, innovative system solutions enabling greater energy saving in LED lighting, and many more. TDK-EPC has established an international sales team for reference designs. Together with engineers from TDK-EPC's Business Groups, the team coordinates reference design projects with leading IC manufacturers and design houses, providing global support to customers who use the components from TDK-EPC in the reference designs. About TDK-EPC Corporation TDK-EPC Corporation (TDK-EPC), a TDK group company, is a leading manufacturer of electronic components, modules and systems headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. TDK-EPC has emerged from the combination of the electronic components business of TDK and the EPCOS Group and markets its products under the product brands, TDK and EPCOS. The product portfolio includes ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, ferrites and inductors, high-frequency components such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter products and modules, piezo and protection components, and sensors. With this product spectrum TDK-EPC offers a broad range of products and solutions of outstanding value from a single source and focuses on demanding markets in the areas of information and communication technology and automotive, industrial and consumer electronics. The company has design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. Further information on available reference designs can be found under www.epcos.com/ref-design