TDK-Lambda Robotic Solutions

Challenges & Solutions

Communication Interface
Challenge: Board-level PMBus, long distances and multiple devices, Modbus protocol on RS-485 serial bus.

Solution: Communication protocols for signals and controls that can be application-dependent are included.

Battery Charging
Challenge: Power devices need to be carefully selected to handle dead shorts that occur when the battery is discharged, and the power supply topology requires the constant current to be maintained across the full range of the power supply.

Solution: TDK-Lambda provides constant voltage (CV) and constant current (CC) solutions with different cooling methods suitable for charging supercaps and high-capacity batteries. Additionally, there are power solutions that combine the two charging methods, CV and CC, enabling fast charging without the risk of overcharging.

Overvoltage Category
Challenge: Specify transient overvoltage levels from the incoming AC source. The overvoltage category determines where the equipment can be located in a structure.

Solution: Robotic controller power supplies offer certification to overvoltage category (OVC) III, enabling direct connection to the incoming AC distribution panel and saving space for an isolation transformer.

Long Reliable Life
Challenge: High-quality components and conservative design derating guidelines.

Solution: The conservative design guidelines allow the power supply to operate at specified ratings, ensuring long power supply field life.

Small, Cool, Quiet Charging Stations
Challenge: Docking stations for charging robots are generally located where people can hear, see, and touch them.

Solution: Thermal management techniques and proper power technologies provide convection - or conduction-cooled units - for small, tight spaces, and constant current supplies control the near-zero voltage required during initial charging.