Microchip Technology Introduces dsPICDEM Buck Switch-Mode Power Supply Development Board
Chandler, AZ - Microchip Technology Inc., a provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, recently announced the dsPICDEM Buck Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Development Board (Part # DM300023), which comes with sample software and exercises to help designers quickly evaluate and develop digital SMPS and power-conversion products. According to the company, the new board is populated with a dsPIC30F2020 Digital Signal Controller (DSC), and is supported by Microchip's world-class development tools, as well as a series of educational WebSeminars on digital SMPS-related topics (www.microchip.com/training). 
The dsPIC30F2020 DSC on the new board implements two of four possible independent, synchronous Buck converter circuits to allow designers to examine digital-power control techniques, as well as application performance indicators such as transient response. Onboard user potentiometers enable simulation of application features such as trim, remote-voltage sense, voltage tracking and current sharing. Additionally, a CD that includes hands-on digital power-conversion training exercises and example Buck-converter software comes with the board, to help designers quickly adapt digital power to their designs.
Designers wanting to learn more about SMPS designs and digital power-conversion can view Microchip's eight online WebSeminars, on topics ranging from SMPS theory, to digital-SMPS design, to designing with the dsPIC DSCs in SMPS and digital power-conversion applications. The WebSeminars quickly educate designers on the technical aspects of digital power conversion and SMPSs, and are hosted on Microchip's Web site at www.microchip.com/training. According to sources at Microchip, they are an excellent complement to the tools and resources found at Microchip's Intelligent Power Supply Design Center (www.microchip.com/power).
Development Tools
To support development using the dsPICDEM Buck SMPS Development Board, Microchip offers its high-performance MPLAB IDE Integrated Development Environment, MPLAB C30 C Compiler, SIM 30 Software Simulator, MPLAB ICD2 In-Circuit Debugger, and the recently announced MPLAB REAL ICE emulation system. The MPLAB IDE is available for free from Microchip's Web site at www.microchip.com/MPLAB. The MPLAB ICD2 In-Circuit Debugger, MPLAB C30 C Compiler, SIM 30 Software Simulator and MPLAB REAL ICE emulation system can all be purchased online at www.microchipdirect.com.
Additionally, supporting the dsPIC30F1010 and dsPIC30F2020/2023 DSCs are 28- and 80-pin dsPICDEM starter boards (Part #s DM300017, DM300019, respectively), as well as a 44- to 80-pin dsPIC30F2023 plug-in-module (PIM).
Samples of the dsPIC30F1010 and dsPIC30F2020/2023 (dsPIC30F202X) DSCs for SMPS and digital power conversion applications are available at http://sample.microchip.com. The dsPIC30F1010 is available in 28-pin SOIC, SPDIP and QFN packages; the dsPIC30F2020 in 28-pin SOIC, SPDIP and QFN packages; and the dsPIC30F2023 in 44-pin TQFP and QFN packages.
SOURCE: Microchip Technology Inc.