Power supply efficiency improvements at low load conditions

Traditionally, power supply efficiency is important for high power levels to reduce energy consumption of the overall application during normal operation. Designers must minimize the size and cost of component and power supplies by operating at a lower temperature due to reduced losses in the power supply. But more and more applications have become “smart” and run in different operation modes, even at lower power levels. Due to environmental objectives, energy consumption in standby mode has become a subject of legal requirements. There is also more competition between companies on showing how “green” their products are. Therefore, the efficiency performance of modern power supplies must demonstrate excellent efficiency at all power levels.

In this presentation, we’ll discuss selecting efficient passive components and delve into the discussion of various passive elements employed in power converters. We’ll also provide design tips and highlight their advantages compared to different technologies available in the market.