Power Integrations has released version 7.1.5 of the PI Expert Suite power supply design software package.

The latest upgrade includes improved support for PI’s HiperPLC controller IC for offline resonant converters. This lets designers choose from a variety of magnetic core materials and sizes for both the LLC and PFC stages. The design spreadsheet also allows for transformer design optimisation for improved efficiency. The software provides accurate calculation of the external resistor required to reduce no-load consumption in designs using PI’s LinkSwitch-II and LinkSwitch-CV product families in flyback topologies.

PI Expert is an interactive program that takes a designer’s power supply specifications, automatically generates the electrical design, and selects the critical components required. It also provides a detailed electrical and mechanical transformer design using PI’s proprietary E-Shield EMI reduction techniques. Optimisation choices stressing cost and efficiency are included to help target specific needs. The program is free of charge and can be downloaded from the PI website.