Power Supply Design

I try to never miss the Texas Instruments Power Supply Design Seminars (the old Unitrode seminars) when they come to my local area. My preferred location is Orange County, California, because I usually meet several design engineers I have worked with over the years. If not Orange County, Los Angeles County is my second choice, again because I get to visit with power supply designers I know. This year I had conflicts for both of these April 2004 seminars and had to attend the seminar in San Diego County on 7 October 2004, the last seminar given in the USA. I still got to see two engineers from my past and make some new acquaintances.

The seminars continue in April and May 2005 in Europe. I think these seminars are one of the best values around and encourage European designer to attend if they can.

All seven of the seminar topics were presented at the seminar I attended in addition to an introduction to new TI power supply components. I will discuss the topics in later blogs.

• How to Design a Power Supply
• How to Layout a Power Supply
• Power Supply Safety
• Sequencing Power Supplies
• Digital Power Supply Control
• Interleaving Power Supplies
• Ceramic Output Capacitors

Although the papers were written by various authors, they were all presented by Ed Walker, a TI/Unitrode staff engineers since 1997, or Lloyd Dixon, Unitrode's longest-term employee, now retired.

The highlight of the seminar was Lloyd Dixon singing Physics Utopia (Faraday's Law Song). Not gifted vocally, only someone with the total self-confidence -- developed by being at the top of the power supply design field for a life time and being among friends -- could have carried this off. I'm glad I witnessed Lloyd Dixon's performance. Happenings like this are just one of the many reasons you get much more from a live seminar than just reading the papers on your own.

The seminars are not free. The one I attended was $95 US, but this probably all went to the hotel for food in a breakfast spread, lunch, and breaks. All excellent. These breaks over food give you a chance to talk to your fellow engineers. At my lunch table, the major topic was power supplies for the medical industry. I used to know something about this, but my knowledge got a considerable update.

I've said it before, and say it again. Don't miss these seminars when they get to your area, even if you have to take a day vacation and pay for them yourself. They are well worth it.

Buried deep in the Texas Instruments Website are the archives of all the previous Power Supply Design Seminars and this one will probably be archived when it completes its European tour.