Product category:
Power Supply ICs and Controllers
News Release from: Future Electronics
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 24 December 2001
Future FAE Rigg wins IR design
competition
Mike Rigg, Field Applications Engineer for power and linear components at Future Electronics, was awarded first prize for International Rectifier's Distribution FAE Design-In competition.
Mike Rigg, Field Applications Engineer for power and linear components at Future Electronics, was awarded first prize for International Rectifier's Distribution Field Application Engineer (FAE) Design-In competition Engineers had a free range with the choice of application from a specified list of products supplied by Andy Johnson, Northern European Field Applications Engineer, International Rectifier
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 1 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The prize was a substantial amount of electrical goods.
Mike Rigg's design, uses the new IR2159 dimmable fluorescent ballast control IC and IRF540N mosfets for an internal lighting system for buses.
The original target application of the IR2159 was for a mains powered, fully dimmable fluorescent lamp control.
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The difference with Rigg's application was that the lamp was powered from 28V batteries and this presented a number of circuit design hurdles.
The challenge was to ensure that the fluorescent light was totally controlled from full to low power levels from a supply, which varied from 22 to 28V.
The new circuit design compensates for fluctuations in the source of power and allows for a reasonably constant light output.
"Normally, the power available on a bus varies due to a number of reasons.
These fluctuations cause the internal lights to dim unpredictably", Rigg explained.
With the new IRF2159 chip from International Rectifier, he was able to design a lighting system with a controlled and steady output irrespective of the power available, ensuring that passengers will be unaware of fluctuations in the supply.
The 'bus light' is intended for use in buses or coaches where fluorescent lighting is used for internal passenger safety lights due to its energy saving nature and the high quality of the light.
For the first time this circuit design allows the brightness of fluorescent lights to be fully controlled, which means that the lighting system can be programmed to slowly dim as the bus door is closing.
This gives passengers a more comfortable transition from bright to low light and gives the driver control options to override the automated program in an emergency.
"We were delighted with Rigg's design", said Andy Johnson.
"It was unusual and fitted an application area which historically has not been a mainstream market for us.
Awarding him this prize just goes to prove that the technical expertise of Future Electronics is invaluable to us in servicing our customers".
The design has been successfully completed and the first batch of units is about to go into production.
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