Why Many Big Companies Use Module Power Supplies Instead of Switching Power Supplies

Introduction

DC/DC power modules are implemented with the concept of switching power supplies, and their principles are not much different. The advantages of DC/DC power modules mainly lie in their small size, high conversion efficiency, and better stability. On the other hand, switching power supplies can achieve higher power levels and are relatively cheaper, but they are larger in size, have lower conversion efficiency, and their stability is not as high as that of power modules.

DC-DC has both buck and boost types; here we only discuss buck. For instance, if you input 10V to a DC-DC converter, it has an oscillator and chopping module inside, which allows 10V to pass during one time period and not during another (equaling 10V). At the output, there is a capacitor for filtering. As long as the capacitor is large enough, the result is equivalent to integrating the intermediate pulse waveform, outputting a 5V DC waveform.

This buck process, compared to a voltage regulator module, maximally avoids energy consumption on the buck module and controls the duty cycle of the internal oscillation to change the output voltage (within the 10V range), maintaining a constant output (for example, a specific DC/DC power module specifies an input range of 6V to 16V with a 5V output; as long as it is within this input range, the output will be 5V with only a few hundred millivolts of error, whereas the output of a voltage regulator module has a certain linear relationship with the input voltage, resulting in a significant difference in output voltage between 7V and 14V inputs).

Advantages of Using Power Modules:

Different suppliers have launched various power modules in the market, with different input voltages, output powers, functions, and topologies. The power module market is quite mature, with many standardized products that can quickly assist electronic designers in completing the power supply circuit design for their products. Yushun Electronics designs and manufactures products entirely according to industry standards, which can meet most product demands for power modules. They also adapt and optimize products based on customer requirements to meet individual needs as much as possible.

Using power modules can save development time, allowing products to be launched to market faster, making power modules superior to integrated solutions. Power modules also have several other advantages:

1) Small size. Since power modules are a type of switching power supply, they utilize a higher integration of PCB boards and components, along with reasonable layout and design, giving them a significant advantage in size and effectively reducing the size of the developed products.

2) Each module can be rigorously tested to ensure high reliability, including power-on tests to eliminate defective products. In contrast, integrated solutions are more challenging to test because the entire power supply system is closely linked to other functional systems on the circuit. Each power module undergoes stringent high-temperature testing and aging, ensuring stable product performance.

3) Different suppliers can design modules of the same size according to existing technical standards, providing engineers designing power supplies with a variety of options. They can modify the pin names, sizes, and shapes of the products to better meet customer needs.

4) Power modules are more efficient than switching power supplies, effectively reducing energy consumption. High-efficiency conversion makes target products more competitive and aligns with current energy-saving development requirements for environmentally friendly products.

5) Each module’s design and testing are conducted according to standard performance specifications, helping to reduce the risks associated with adopting new technologies.

6) Easy to use and maintain efficiently. If an integrated solution encounters a problem, the entire mainboard must be replaced; with a modular design, only the problematic module needs to be replaced, saving costs and development time.

7) Power module products are generally encapsulated with potting glue, making them less susceptible to external influences, such as dust and vibration, and better suited for different operating environments.

Power Alliance – The leading media outlet for high-reliability power supplies

Here you can find technical insights on power supplies, analysis of industry trends, introductions to the latest power supply products, and share technical experiences with many power supply experts. Follow us and grow with the Chinese power supply industry!

Click“Follow”to learn power supply knowledge with hundreds of thousands of engineers