Power Integrations, Inc., announced today the availability of a revolutionary switching power supply IC that for the first time, cost-effectively replaces inefficient linear transformer designs in adapters and battery chargers rated at 3 W and below. The LinkSwitch, which derives its name from the phrase "Linear Killer Switch," is the industry's first highly integrated high-voltage power conversion IC designed specifically to displace low power linear transformers by delivering switcher benefits - smaller size, lighter weight, superior performance and energy efficiency - at equal or lower system cost. With as few as fourteen components, the LNK501 enables a fault protected, universal input (85 VAC to 265 VAC), constant voltage, constant current (CV/CC) output switching power supply that meets worldwide energy efficiency standards. The LNK501 is available in both through-hole and surface mount DIP packages. The LinkSwitch family is based on the same proven technology as the company's widely used TOPSwitch® product lines of which approximately one billion devices have shipped since 1994. The LinkSwitch cost effectively combines a 700-volt power MOSFET, PWM controller, high voltage start-up, current limit, and thermal shutdown circuitry onto a single CMOS chip. LinkSwitch introduces a revolutionary topology for low power switching supplies that rivals the simplicity and low cost of linear supplies. The part utilizes a novel primary-based CV/CC solution that combines the primary clamp, feedback, IC supply and loop compensation functions, eliminating up to twenty external components typically found in alternative switcher designs. This primary controlled, constant current power supply output characteristic is ideal for many low cost battery chargers, providing overload protection under output short circuit conditions. Requiring only three terminals, LinkSwitch includes a number of built-in features including thermal and current limit protection, auto-restart for short circuit and open loop fault protection, and the company's EcoSmart® technology. EcoSmart dramatically reduces the energy consumption of the power supply during standby and no-load conditions, enabling engineers to design converters that easily meet government energy guidelines such as Energy Star, Blue Angel, the EC Code of Conduct, and others. "Energy efficiency standards around the world are tightening the noose on linear transformer designs because they are notoriously inefficient in normal operation and consume a significant amount of power in standby/no-load mode," stated Balu Balakrishnan, Power Integrations' President and CEO. "When compared to a linear design of the same power rating, LinkSwitch's revolutionary patented technology can reduce energy waste by up to 90% in no-load conditions. This new family, combined with our TinySwitch®-II and TOPSwitch-GX product families, allows Power Integrations to address power supplies from 0 to 250 W, offering improvements in size, weight and energy efficiency. We believe our technology can now address over 90% of all AC to DC power supplies made today." Applications for the LinkSwitch include linear transformer replacement in adapters and battery chargers for a wide range of personal electronics (cell phones, cordless phones, PDAs, digital cameras, MP3 players, shavers), home appliances including white goods, television standby, and other auxiliary power supplies. Pricing in 10,000 piece quantities for the LNK501P, a 3 W part housed in a plastic DIP-8 package, is $0.50 each. The LNK501G, a 3 W part housed in a surface mountable SMD-8 package, is priced at $0.52 each. Small quantities of each type are available from factory stock, with production quantities available 4 weeks ARO. LinkSwitch is supported by a number of design tools including a 20-page datasheet, a Design Guide application note (AN-35), a Design Accelerator Kit (DAK-16) containing two operational 2.75 W universal input AC-DC adapters and product samples, and the company's power supply design software program, PI Expert™

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