Power Integrations and SnapMagic automate power supply design
Power design engineers can move from a power supply specification to PCB layout in minutes, say Power Integrations and SnapMagic, using online tool, PI Expert and SnapMagic’s schematic export technology.
The two company’s have collaborated to streamline the design flow using Power Integrations’ robust, online design tool, which now features schematic and netlist export, and made possible by SnapMagic’s new schematic export technology.
Based on specifications input by the user, PI Expert automatically generates a complete power supply schematic utilising Power Integrations’ power conversion ICs, including a custom magnetics design. Previously, the automated tool flow covered everything up to full circuit optimisation but required manual transcription into a CAD package to facilitate simulations and physical layout.
The new export capability ensures a fast and seamless transfer of the design, including symbols, footprints, 3D models and electrical netlist into one of four popular PCB CAD tools. Cadence OrCAD, Altium, Autodesk Eagle / Fusion360 and KiCad are currently supported.
Trevor Hiatt, director of channel marketing at Power Integrations said: “Eliminating the need to manually create or download symbols, draw a schematic and then port those files into a PCB layout tool will save time, reduce transcription errors and, importantly, assist with version control and traceability. The schematic is laid out in a consistent format and optimised for readability on the industry-standard 0.1 inch format.”
Natasha Baker, CEO and founder at SnapMagic added that by pairing : “Power Integrations has created an extraordinary power supply design tool. By pairing PI Expert with SnapMagic’s CAD expertise, “we’ve made it possible to export schematics in real time, obliterating the old timelines and freeing engineers to do what they do best – innovate. We’re not just saving engineers weeks; we’re changing the game entirely,” he said.
PI Expert Online is a web-based program that takes designers’ power supply specifications and automatically generates a power conversion solution, providing everything necessary to build and test a working prototype. It includes a ‘ready-to-build’ Transformer Construction Report, winding instructions, electrical and mechanical diagrams, BoM (bill of materials) and board layout recommendations. No download or installation is required. PI Expert Schematic Export is compatible with user-defined custom components, and exported schematic files contain a readme text file providing step-by-step instructions for opening in the desired CAD tool.
SnapMagic created the schematic export capability within PI Expert, which helps engineers speed up the process of designing with chosen components and removes manual errors. To get started, engineers simply select File > Export Schematic and then select the PCB format of choice. SnapMagic’s schematic translator provides the completed schematic, including schematic symbols and PCB footprints, for a seamless flow. In addition to the schematic export, CAD models for select Power Integrations components can also be downloaded on the main SnapMagic Search website, previously known as SnapEDA.
