Power supply is a reference to a source of electrical power. A device or system that supplies electrical or other types of energy to an output load or group of loads is called a power supply unit or PSU. The term is most commonly applied to electrical energy supplies, less often to mechanical ones, and rarely to others.
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COTS Products
Controller Adds Graphics to StackableUSB USB for years went underutilized in military embedded applications. That’s starting to change as uses from the technology presentRead More...
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Serial ATA Stakes out Territory as Next-Gen Storage Interface
Over the past several years, serial interconnect schemes have been steadily pushing aside parallel buses, and that trend has impacted the memory and storage realm just as it has everyRead More...
Rugged Boards Push the Performance/Power Envelope
Compute-density has become the watchword in many segments of military system design. More and more programs are pushing for as much computer processing muscle as can possibility fitRead More...
What's the Computer Inside?
When I participate in any kind of press meeting or briefing, I’m the guy who always asks a question–or many questions. I ask questions to satisfy my naturally curious nature, but alsoRead More...
Case Study: Helicopter Cockpit Audio/Video System
Reducing Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) has become the mantra of a variety of today’s military design efforts. Such was the case when Orchid Technologies was selected to develop aRead More...
The Inside Track
Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Demo SEWIP Electronic Attack Capability Navy Lockheed Martin and Raytheon demonstrated a potential electronic attack solution for the U.S. Navy’s SurfaceRead More...
Switched Ethernet Broadens its Reach in Land, Sea and Air
Once relegated only to command and control systems in the military, Ethernet is now gaining traction in numerous other military applications. As a result, Ethernet switch boards areRead More...
Stand-Alone Rugged Boxes Come into their Own
Technology developments that reduce complexity and enhance usability are always a welcome addition to military applications. That need is being fueled by the increasing availability ofRead More...
3A Point-of-Load DC/DC Converter Meets SWaP Needs
The power supply is a key factor in a system’s size, weight and thermal design. With that in mind, VPT has unveiled its latest point of load (POL) DC/DC converter, the DVPL0503S. TheRead More...
COTS Products
3U VPX SBC Sports Freescale MPC 8640D Processor There have been only a handful of SBC vendors so far that have rolled out VPX products. The ones that jumped on board haveRead More...
The Inside Track
ITT Awarded JTRS Support Contract ITT has been awarded a $22.9 million contract for Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) Software In-Service Support (SwISS)Read More...
System, Board and Panel Innovations Fuel Rugged Display Demands
Leveraging cutting-edge graphics chips developed for the demanding gaming market, military graphics subsystems are now able to offer complex video and graphics functionality in highlyRead More...
Space Qualified ICs and Systems Leap New Hurdles
With the Space Shuttle program over and the commercial space industry taking the baton, the space electronics industry is certainly in a period of transition. Feeding those needs,Read More...
COTS Products
BGA Adapters Adapt 0.50 mm Devices to 1.00 mm Boards Keeping up with and mitigating the impact of component obsolescence is a constant challenge in the military industry. ICs oftenRead More...
Many Factors Drive Uninterruptible Power Supply Choice
The process of finding, selecting and qualifying commercial off-the-shelf Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) for military applications can be an exercise in frustration.Read More...
REDI VITA 48.5 Power Supply Delivers 800W
REDI VITA 48.5 Power Supply Delivers 800W VITA 48 “Ruggedized Enhanced Design Implementation” (REDI) standard for 3U and 6U x 160 mm embedded modules creates a unified mechanicalRead More...
Meeting MIL-STD-810 for Batteries Presents Challenges
The military standard MIL-STD-810, "Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests" specifies the equipment'sRead More...
Modular Approach Wins for VME Power Systems
Military electronics continue to push the performance envelope in all directions. With each new system design come the same challenges: more processing power, tighter specs and shorterRead More...
SSPC Advancements Enhance Vehicle Power System Designs
Developers of electrical power management and distribution systems for current and future force ground vehicles face several challenges. As new applications increase the number andRead More...
Rugged Stand-Alone Box System Roundup
Rugged System Features Military Connectors The stand-alone rugged box trend has touched nearly every corner of the military embedded computer market. ADLINK Technology, for its part,Read More...
Slot-Card Systems Vie with Rugged Box Solutions
There’s no doubt that there has been a change occurring in the military embedded computing industry over the past five years or so. At the heart of that change is the risingRead More...
COTS Products
VME SBC Serves Up Low Power Core 2 Duo The Core 2 Duo has become among the most prevalent CPUs in new embedded computer designs in the past couple of years. Its mix of performance andRead More...
Small UAV Tap the Rich Variety of Embedded Options
UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) were originally developed to take the soldier out of harm's way and have come a long way since the days of "large" surveillance drones like the PredatorRead More...
1kW Power Supplies Have Ultra-Low-Profile
1 kW Power Supplies Have Ultra-Low Profile The military market was late to the game embracing distributed power architectures, but now it’s all in. Supporting that need, TDK-LambdaRead More...
Rugged Sensor Interface Supports Remote Data Acquisition
The multifunction I/O trend has been particularly useful for military applications, where reduced system size is such a priority. North Atlantic Industries (NAI) has announced theRead More...
COTS Products
Qseven-Based Carrier/SBC Duo Rolls The Qseven connector scheme leads the way on the notion of combining a variety of I/O technologies onto one connection. Supporting that standard,Read More...
Cots Products
20-Inch 2U Chassis for Trenton 32 Gbyte Boards The days when military system developers did everything themselves are long gone. They’d much rather find building blocks to pieceRead More...
2W DC/DC Converter Pair Boast Miniature Packages
2W DC/DC Converter Pair Boast Miniature Packages SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) has become a top priority in many of today’s military designs. Helping with that, Martek Power hasRead More...
30 Amp POL DC Power Converter Offers Tunable Loop Feature
30 Amp POL DC Power Converter Offers Tunable Loop Feature Gone are the days when power conversion devices forced system designers to reserve large amounts of board space forRead More...
Intelligent Power Switches for Harsh 24V Vehicle Systems
Intelligent Power Switches for Harsh 24V Vehicle Systems Engineers face a major hurdle designing vehicle junction boxes that meet tough new performance standards underRead More...
Case Study: Li-Ion Polymer Battery Approach Meets Mobile Military Needs
Due to IEDs, RPGs and the penetrating power of the AK47, the military is installing a higher level of armor on vehicles to offer as much protection for the soldier as possible. ThisRead More...
Power Supplies and Converters Tackle SWaP Issues
In tandem with the military's drive toward greater compute density, there's a growing demand to reduced size, weight and power (SWaP) of system electronics. And the two go hand inRead More...
Role of the Military Battery: Lightening the Load
There are a number of advantages to having a battery with a higher energy density—for the soldiers on the ground and the unmanned aerial vehicles overhead during any mission. HigherRead More...
The Inside Track
Aonix Java VM Used on Modernized Guided Missile Cruiser USS Bunker Hill Development tools supplier Atego has announced the successful deployment of its industry-leading Aonix PERCRead More...
DC/DC Modules Feature 25W Output in Compact Size
Power supply makers continue to push the barriers of power density and squeeze more power into smaller spaces. Martek Power UK announces a significant addition to its PowertronRead More...
Five Game-Changer Technology Trends Facing the Military
Compute-density has become the mantra for many of today's advanced military programs. More and more of system functionality is now implemented as software running on single boardRead More...
COTS Products
3U cPCI Board and Rack Family Satisfies Extreme Thermal Needs CompactPCI, particularly in its 3U flavor, is no longer the new kid on the block in the military market. It’s paidRead More...
Transitions and New Realities Shake Up U.S. Manned Space Program
Here we are again at a crossroads of National manned space policy—the most significant since the transition from the Apollo/Saturn to the Space Shuttle. The Space Shuttle program isRead More...
EMI Filter Targets Distributed Power Systems
Military system designers were not first in line to embrace distributed power approaches. But now there’s no choice given the voltage and power levels of today’s chips. VPT hasRead More...
Power over Ethernet Compact Vision System
A new compact vision system is based on the Intel Core2 Duo P8400 processor. The EOS-1000 from Adlink Technology provides four independent Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports withRead More...
8051-Based ASP Family with Integrated Programmable Logic
The 8-bit 8051 microcontroller is still a popular solution for very small low-power military devices. The last trend toward application services platforms (ASPs) adds new flexibilityRead More...
75W DC/DC Converters Offer Triple Outputs
Military applications demand more of power converters than other applications. Calex offers its HE triple output DC/DC converters. These 75W converters are housed in a half-brickRead More...
Compact PCB-Mount Supplies Serve Up 100 to 150W Power
TDK-Lambda has unveiled its latest addition to its ZWS line of compact AC/DC PCB-mountable power supplies. The new single-output ZWS-BAF series are 100 and150-watt supplies that acceptRead More...
Distributed Sensors and Sensor Networks Are Self-powered
A new thermoelectric power generator converts waste heat into electrical energy for a variety of self-powered applications in the wireless sensor, automotive, aerospace, industrial andRead More...
Energy-Efficient Processor Family Targets 1-Watt Video-Enabled Devices
Small electronic devices are in the mix of the most advanced military devices under development. A product family of energy-efficient embedded processors provides a small form factorRead More...
Compact Encapsulated AC/DC Converters Boast Long Life
Bear Power Supplies’ compact and rugged BP Series encapsulated AC/DC power converters are now available for purchase. BP Series power supplies are designed for long life and reliableRead More...
300 Amp High Power Solid State Power Controller
Power subsystems for military applications require more than your standard level of reliability and performance. Serving those needs, Data Device Corporation (DDC) has introduced a newRead More...
30-Watt DC/DC Converter Provides 4:1 Input
ConTech, a division of Calex, has announced the “KMW” Series of DC/DC converters. The KMW Series offers up to 30 watts of fully regulated output power with an industry standard 2 xRead More...
SWaP Challenges Drive Small Form Factor SBC Needs
Once playing on the peripheral of military system needs, small form factor boards are now at the center of many key defense applications. The programs include small UAVs, robotics,Read More...
6U Open VPX VITA 62 Power Supply Delivers 1000W
Behlman has introduced the VPXtra 1000CD series COTS DC to DC power supply. The unit is a rugged, highly reliable, conduction-cooled, switch mode unit built for high-end industrial andRead More...
