Low-noise supplies could eliminate filters

A UK embedded computing specialist has won a Smart award from the Department of Trade and Industry to investigate a novel AC-DC power supply design which, it believes, could eliminate the need for frequency-specific EMC filters to cut conducted emissions.

Cambridge-based Io says, that if the six-month-long project to design and build prototypes is successful, it could lead to power supplies that operate with AC inputs from 50-800Hz and are free of conducted noise.

The resulting power supplies could be smaller and more cost-effective than current designs and would not need to be adapted for use in different markets and applications. Moreover, the supplies would exhibit a near-ideal (unity) power factor, reducing energy losses and other power supply problems.

Io expects to build a prototype demonstrating the technology in the second quarter of 2004.