DESIGNING VME POWER SYSTEMS WITH STANDARD MODULES

Off-the-shelf DC-DC converter and EMI filter modules enable rapid development of custom power solutions.

Military electronics continue to push the performance envelope in all directions. Each new system design faces the same challenges: the need for more processing power, tighter specs, and shorter development time. Continual advances in system performance often require similar advances in the power system. VME architecture is common in many military applications, as systems can readily be built around standard or custom circuit cards. Off-the-shelf VME power supplies are available, but often don't meet the necessary requirements or haven't kept up with recent performance advances. Usually, neither schedule nor budget allow for a full custom power supply development effort.

Fortunately, an optimized VME power supply solution can be built from standard off-the-shelf high-reliability or COTS DC-DC converter modules. This solution can be rapidly developed at minimal cost since most of the design effort is internal to the modules. Input power bus requirements such as MIL-STD-704, MIL-STD-1275, RTCA DO-160 Section 16, and DEF STAN 61-5 can be met by combining standard DC-DC converter, EMI filter, and transient protection modules. Control and telemetry functions, secondary filtering, and other special requirements can be implemented with discrete circuitry. This modular approach can be made to fit almost any application, achieving the same end performance as a custom power supply with much lower risk.