Future Trends in DC/DC Converters for Telecommunications

The paper shows the advantages and disadvantages of using the latest topologies in DC/DC converter designs, up to power levels of about 300 Watt. Examples will show different way of controlling feed-back by means of high reliabilty opto-couplers and magnetics. The trends in using higher switching frequencies and the relationship with conducted and radiated noise problems will be shown, along with the growing use of amorphous magnetic materials in regulated amplifier circuits. New production techniques and their effect on reliability and MTBF will be shown and discussed. The author will demonstrate design problems and their solutions in the development of a high reliability multi-output DC/DC converter to be used to supply electronics for fibreoptics. The author, Flemming Aarup, is the managing Director of Danica Supply, Smedevaenget 1-7, DK-5560 Aarup. He has a background as a design engineer of electromedical equipment over 8 years, and has specialised in the design of power supplies for the last 10 years.