Page 31 - EngineerIT October 2021

ELECTRONICS

Figure 3 shows the screen for
calculation of the control speed. The
calculated voltage overshoot following
a load transient is shown here.
Optimisation can be done through
variation of the output capacitors and
adjustment of the switching regulator
control loop speed.
When the right parameters
are checked, the number of output
capacitors in a power supply can be
reduced. This saves money and board
space and is thus a recommended
development step. n

About the author
Frederik Dostal studied micro-
electronics at the University of
Erlangen in Germany. Starting
work in the power management
business in 2001, he has been active
in various applications positions,
including four years in Phoenix,
Arizona, where he worked on switch-
mode power supplies. He joined
Analog Devices in 2009 and works as
a field application engineer for power
management at Analog Devices
in München. He can be reached at
frederik.dostal@analog.com.

For more information on Analog
Devices contact Conrad Coetzee at Figure 3: Using LTpowerCAD for optimising the control loop of a switching regulator and
ccoetzee@arrow.altech.co.za reducing the number of output capacitors.

BREAKING NEWS

SANSA and ATNS signs MOU

he South African National Space SANSA is therefore able to provide the information to ATNS in accordance with user requirements.
Agency (SANSA) and the Air Traffic and Another area of co-operation between the two parties includes High Frequency (HF)
TNavigation Services (ATNS) SOC Ltd Communications. ATNS currently deploys HF voice communications as a secondary means to
have signed a memorandum of understanding communicate to aircraft within its Oceanic Area of responsibility. As a Centre of Excellence for HF
(MOU) to increase co-operation between Communications, SANSA can provide propagation prediction and communication planning through its
these two entities. Space Weather Centre and its unique software program IOCAP, a modern, user-friendly HF frequency
The MOU aims to strengthen the prediction application.
dynamic, integrated management of air traffic ATNS provides a pre-flight information bulletin service for air navigation within South Africa which
and airspace with specific reference to the includes Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Weather (METAR info) and other related aviation notifications. ATNS
operational and technological developments foresee that value will be added by including space weather information. SANSA has been recognised as
and alignment to international requirements in a designated space weather information provider to the aviation sector by the International Civil Aviation
the field of aviation. Organisation (ICAO). SANSA is also expanding Space Weather infrastructure and capability to ensure
The areas of co-operation covered by this an ICAO compliant service. SANSA and ATNS can collaborate through this MOU to create awareness
MOU include magnetic variations and the World of space weather impacts and prepare the aviation community to utilise the information while ensuring
Magnetic Model (WMM). SANSA has developed ICAO compliance for the State and the region.
a regional Magnetic Model that allows for Other areas of potential co-operation include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Digital
more regular and accurate geomagnetic field Terrain Data and Satellite Imagery. In accordance with ICAO requirements the signal integrity Monitoring
components than the WMM and as a result, of GNSS is required by each State with the implementation of Performance Based Navigation (PBN). n

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