We’ve been thinking mostly of graphical system design as a way to take a model and form an implementation of an algorithm, but National Semiconductor has taken the concept to designing DC-DC switchers rapidly.

With support for the new SIMPLE SWITCHER power modules, the new version of WEBBENCH introduces WEBBENCH Power Architect. National says something like 300,000 power designs are done annually, and they’re getting more complex with more voltages, currents, loads, concerns on heat and battery life, and the constant challenges of time, reliability and cost.

Phil Gibson, VP of technical sales tools for National Semi, walked through an example in a briefing where a design needed to support 9 loads and 5 different voltages. He used WEBBENCH to configure the input source and the loads, compare a set of options looking at cost, footprint, and efficiency, and pick the best architecture from a circle chart. He was then able to go in and optimize that solution even further and examine the performance closely, all without leaving WEBBENCH Power Architect.

Using these graphical tools, not only can the design be executed, but the options can be compared, evaluated, and optimized very quickly, and the confidence in the results is high because solutions reuse proven components. It’s a nice approach to simplify a complex problem and help improve power supply designs.