Full Custom Solutions for AC/DC Power Adapter for Information Technology Equipment | Telecommunications Equipment and Gateway Applications

Case study of full custom support for AC/DC Power Adapter for information technology equipment. We introduce a real example of support provided from the design stage based on required specifications for communications equipment and gateway applications.

What Is Full Custom Support

Full custom support refers to optimization starting from circuit design, based on safety standard requirements, reliability conditions, and the intended operating environment. It is selected when required specifications cannot be met through semi-custom solutions.

Full Custom Case Study 1

Development of an AC/DC Power Adapter for Routers for a Domestic Telecommunications Carrier

We received a request to develop a custom AC/DC Power Adapter for router applications for a major domestic telecommunications provider.

In this project, it was necessary to simultaneously satisfy multiple conditions:

Although intended for the domestic market, compliance with IEC60950 was mandatory
The telecommunications carrier's own reliability standards
The equipment manufacturer's proprietary power supply adoption criteria

Response During the Hearing and Design Stages

At the initial stage, we focused our discussions on the following points:

Heat generation conditions
Policy for adjusting conducted noise
Reliability conditions assuming the actual operating environment

Based on these, we implemented full custom support including:

Circuit design
Creation of evaluation jigs
Acquisition of PSE and IEC60950 certification

Full Custom Case Study 2

Wide Temperature Range AC/DC Power Adapter for Gateway Equipment

We received an inquiry from a wireless equipment manufacturer regarding an IoM gateway application.

Typical AC/DC Power Adapter often have a guaranteed operating temperature range of 0 to 40 C, making them unsuitable for this application, which required operation from -20 to 60 C.

Background of the Requirements and Response

As a result of our discussions, the following circumstances became clear:

Relocation is difficult once installed
Use in high- and low-temperature environments is anticipated
The application has significant social impact in the event of communication failure

Therefore, we modified the design based on an AC/DC Power Adapter with a rating providing sufficient margin over the actual load, enabling guaranteed operation from -20 to 60 C.

This Products is currently used in high-speed railway onboard Wi-Fi services.

Results of Full Custom Support

This initiative led UNIFIVE to release the wide temperature range SU Series.

Full custom support goes beyond one-off solutions and represents an important initiative that also contributes to future Products lineup expansion.

Transition to IEC 62368-1 and Its Impact on Power Supply Design

In recent years, the safety standard for information technology equipment has transitioned from IEC 60950-1 to IEC 62368-1. This is not simply an integration of previous standards but a new standard based on the concept of hazard-based safety engineering (HBSE).

IEC 62368-1 broadly defines safety requirements for ICT and AV equipment and requires a design philosophy that reduces potential hazards to users through risk assessment conducted during the design stage.

Even in custom AC/DC Power Adapter development, it is essential to have a design and evaluation strategy compliant with IEC 62368-1. UNIFIVE proposes optimal solutions based on this premise.

Key Concepts of IEC 62368-1 to Understand

In full custom support, the greater design flexibility means that safety standard requirements directly impact the design itself. IEC 62368-1 goes beyond the framework of IEC 60950-1 and is adopted as a safety evaluation model capable of addressing unknown energy sources and increasingly diverse Products designs.

Rather than merely listing safety test items, IEC 62368-1 requires that how energy within a Products is controlled and safeguarded be considered as a safety strategy from the design stage.

Design Impact Points of IEC 62368-1

Design approach based on hazard-based safety engineering (HBSE)
→ It is necessary to identify hazards (e.g., high voltage or heat sources) and incorporate protective measures into the Products design.
Classification of energy sources and establishment of protection levels
→ IEC 62368-1 more clearly categorizes required safety levels than previous standards.
Certification strategy for global deployment
→ IEC 62368-1 has become the de facto standard in major Western markets, and designs compliant with it enhance reliability for overseas expansion.

UNIFIVE Full Custom Support and IEC 62368-1

In UNIFIVE's full custom support:

Safety standards are evaluated at the initial hearing stage
Risk analysis and protective design based on IEC 62368-1 are reflected
Design improvement proposals are made with certification acquisition in mind

Particularly for information and communication equipment applications, design optimization according to the Products use and market-specific safety requirements directly impacts competitiveness.

UNIFIVE offers optimal solutions for AC/DC Power Adapter for information technology equipment through both rapid compliance via semi-custom support and dedicated design through full custom support.