Schottky Diodes in Power Supplies

Schottky Diodes in Power Supplies

The most challenging part of power supply design is the always-on 5 V output, as it means designers need to use a separate AC/DC power supply, which takes up valuable space. Since the design had to remain compact, the only option for placing this extra circuit was close to the main output device, which would heat up while the output current was being transmitted. This means that overheating is a big risk and must be carried out with great care when designing.

Initially, Recom tried to install planar Schottky rectifier diodes for DC/DC and AC/DC auxiliary power converters, but overheating remained a problem, especially at full load.

To solve this challenge, Recom chose to use the supplied Trench Schottky Diodes. The Trench Schottky diode was developed from the original concept of the Schottky diode. The trench concept is designed to reduce

leakage current, thus improving thermal stability. Compared to planar Schottky Diodes, trench Schottky Diodes can improve switching performance.

The device is currently used in RACM1200-V buck converters with a 12 W fan output. Housed in a small, low-profile, surface-mount package, Trench Schottky Diodes are capable of handling forward currents up to 2 A and reverse voltages up to 100 V. In addition, it has a very low leakage current.