At PCTI, we have always been dedicated to innovation. This is especially true when it comes to digital signal processing technology, or DSP. DSP is a technology used in several industries, including power electronics controls; it’s a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the operational needs of digital signal processing. According to The Scientist and Engineer’s Guide to Digital Signal Processing, DSP is the mathematics, the algorithms, and the techniques used to manipulate these signals after they have been converted into digital form. When digital signal processing technologies were first introduced, they were used in processing-intensive applications such as speech synthesis and are now common in spectral estimation, sonar, radar, digital image processing, wireless networks, control systems, and much more.
PCTI and DSP
We are proud that we were one of the first power electronics companies to implement digital signal processing technology into commercial designs. We began our research on DSP technology in 1995, and in 1998, we provided a special DC/AC inverter for an electric bus with digital signal processing control.
Digital signal processing is not just an innovative technology. Inside, it contains the expert knowledge which includes high level power electronics calculations and formulas that reflect PCTI’s engineering expertise. It’s a reflection of the collective knowledge of PCTI’s proprietary design library and the expertise of the founder and power electronics expert, Mihai Chis, PhD, who directed and supervised the generations of digital signal processing development.
Universal DSP Controllers
Today, we are on our fifth generation of DSP control and developing our sixth generation, which is set to be commercialized this year. Unlike other DSP versions on the market, which are typically application-specific, our DSP controllers are universal and can handle an array of topologies in the power conversion market, including power supplies, battery chargers, inverters, converters, and more. The Universal DSP can be used in any power electronic application.
As part of our policy of continuous innovation, we are now working hard to produce our sixth and most advanced DSP to date. This latest DSP, with Texas Instruments TMS320F28M36, combines C2000 floating point DSP and Cortex M3 ARM into a single chip. This mixture of the latest technology enables advanced control algorithms along with seamless control panel and remote communications integration.
Benefits of PCTI's DSP
Our Universal DSP Controllers, which permit us to customize control via software, provide a number of benefits to our customers, including reduction of material cost across the board, smaller and lighter forms, increased applications and design flexibility, ease of modification and increased standardization, and decreased lead times. The Universal DSP controllers can be used in numerous different kinds of equipment simply through software change. One of the advantages that the advanced control algorithms provide is the ability to parallel two units without intercommunication wires.
Applications
As you might expect with all these benefits, DSP controllers are an outstanding choice for a number of different applications. Some of the various topologies they are commonly known for include power electronic data acquisitions systems, UPS, power supplies (both liner and switched mode), active power factor correction, harmonic cancellation, and all types of inverters including AC/DC, DC/DC, and AC/AC frequency converters.
Utilizing Universal DSP controller is one more way PCTI stays at the top of the game as a leading edge power electronic supplier of DC power supplies to 15MW, battery chargers and dischargers to 3MW, and frequency converters to 1MVA.
About PCTI
Power Conversion Technologies, Inc. is a certified DBE woman-owned business. PCTI designs and manufactures leading edge power electronic equipment in the highest power ranges. PCTI’s engineering staff has in-depth knowledge in the key areas of power conversion such as power semiconductor analysis and application, thermal exchange, magnetic design, packaging, DSP (digital signal processor) control for inverters, frequency converters, DC power supplies, battery chargers and dischargers. Contact us for more information on our products, applications assistance, or pricing.
