Learn How OrCAD X Helps In Isolated Power Supply Design

The isolated power supply design plays a crucial role in every aspect of the modern electronic system where safety, efficiency, and noise reduction is important. So, designing these isolated power supplies includes the challenges like electromagnetic interference (EMI), isolation barriers, and power conversion efficiency. OrCAD PCB designer is one of the powerful PCB design tools which helps the engineers and designers with the essential features that optimize the isolated power supply designs. Hence, this blog explains how OrCAD X helps in isolated power supply design significantly.

Understanding Isolated Power Supplies

The isolated power supply is one type of power supply which acts as an electrical separation between the input and output. The major activity of this component is to prevent the direct electrical connection and this is achieved by using the components like transformers or optocouplers. These components are crucial for the entire system’s safety, noise reduction, and overall performance of the various applications. 

These isolation designs are essential for the industrial, medical, and telecommunications applications to reduce the chances of ground loops, enhance the safety and improve the overall performance. The common types of isolated power supply designs include flyback, forward, push-pull, and resonant converters.

Isolated Power Supply Design Using OrCAD X:

Design Rules And Constraints:

In the isolated power supply design using an OrCAD X, users can define specific rules for the power supply components. It includes transformers, ground planes, trace widths, and clearance. So, users either define or set rules for these components even before starting the design. Hence, with this approach from the OrCAD X you can be ensured about the compliance aligning with the electrical and mechanical regulations. 

3D Layout & Clearance Check:

The OrCAD X offers an interactive 3D viewing feature to detect the clearance issues, especially when the design includes larger components such as transformers. Hence, with the help of this feature in the OrCAD X the engineers and designers can prevent mechanical issues like misfit of transformer size. Therefore, through this approach the user can ensure there is proper placement of the large power supply components. 

Stackup Management

Thirdly, with OrCAD X the stackup management is significantly maintained. This PCB tool provides advanced stackup configuration which includes the power or ground layers that have to be placed in between the signal layers responsible for power supply. Hence, with this feature from the OrCAD X the engineers or designers can provide a better noise isolation for the sensitive circuits. The users can manage the layer configuration and even add specific power or ground layers for the design . 

Thermal Analysis:

The OrCAD X offers a built-in thermal analysis which helps in assessing and managing the overall heat dissipation. This feature holds good especially when the power supply designs are made for the high loads. With this PCB tool the designers and engineers can prevent the overheating issues by easily analyzing the weak spots and even optimize the placement for the thermal pathways or can add heat spots. 

Ground Plane Management

The OrCAD X tool allows you to create a separate power and ground planes for the signals which connect to a single point. Through this approach the overall design of the device has reduced noise and less signal interference. Therefore, by using the OrCAD X the user can reduce the overall noise of the circuit significantly and improve the device overall reliability and circuit performance.

DRC For Power Supply Components

OrCAD X allows setting component-specific clearances and trace width rules for large components like transformers, ensuring that placement and routing meet required electrical and mechanical clearances.Minimizes design errors related to clearances and trace widths, particularly for components such as transformers in isolated power supply designs.

Via & Trace Management

The OrCAD X provides you a complete and detailed management for the pathways and traces including the vias for the thermal and power supplies under the components that get heated easily. This facility from the PCB tool design helps you to handle the essential current laos and heat dissipation effectively.

Designing the isolating power supply offers enormous challenges. With the help of OrCAD X you can streamline the entire design process and help engineers to achieve higher efficiency. Sustream is your ideal partner in designing your power supply as part of our product design and  PCB layout services. Our team ensures that your design meets the industry standards and minimises the design errors while improving the efficiency.