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Fundamentals of Power Supply Design is widely regarded as an essential "bible" for engineers working in power electronics. Published by Texas Instruments, this book serves as both a textbook for students and a practical reference for practicing engineers. Robert Mammano, a pioneer in the power electronics industry (often credited as the inventor of the first PWM controller IC), leverages decades of experience to demystify the complex art of converting power efficiently.
Unlike academic textbooks that spend chapters deriving differential equations, Mammano focuses on the "physics of the application." He uses approximations and "rules of thumb" that are grounded in theory but tailored for the workbench. For example, he explains why you might derate a capacitor’s voltage rating by 20% or why you should avoid certain wire gauges in high-frequency switching.
Mammano’s text begins with the absolute fundamentals: managing the transformation of electrical energy from an unregulated source to a regulated output. Power supply design is fundamentally a balancing act between three primary constraints: : Minimizing thermal losses. Size : Maximizing power density. Cost : Ensuring manufacturing viability.
The 333-page book is organized into 13 chapters that move from foundational electronics to advanced system integration:
Beyond his technical inventions, Mammano dedicated his career to education. In 1983, his company, Unitrode, launched the first Power Supply Design Seminar (SEM100). This tradition of sharing cutting-edge, practical knowledge continued after Texas Instruments' acquisition of Unitrode in 1999 and thrives to this day. Mammano not only oversaw the seminars' content for decades but also served as a primary presenter, sharing the stage with other legendary figures like Lloyd Dixon. Fundamentals of Power Supply Design represents the crowning achievement of this life's work: the fundamental knowledge, advanced concepts, and hard-won lessons from over four decades of seminars, meticulously organized, refined, and preserved between two covers.
Covers regulatory mandates, including Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), human isolation safety, and global standby energy efficiency.
One of the most valuable sections of the 2017 publication involves magnetism. Magnetic design is frequently cited by engineers as the most "mystical" and difficult part of power supply design. Mammano demystifies inductor and transformer selection, covering core materials, winding techniques, and skin effect considerations. He provides clear formulas for calculating flux density and wire gauge, ensuring the magnetics don't become the bottleneck of the system's efficiency.
in 2017, is a comprehensive technical resource for power electronics engineers. It serves as a distillation of over 40 years of knowledge from the Unitrode/TI Power Supply Design Seminars Amazon.com Key Content Overview The book consists of 13 chapters
For decades, engineers seeking to master this discipline have turned to the work of Robert A. Mammano. His 2017 book, Fundamentals of Power Supply Design , published by Texas Instruments, stands as a definitive blueprint for understanding, designing, and optimizing power conversion systems.
A primary challenge highlighted in the text is navigating the complex trade-offs between physical form factor, conversion efficiency, and manufacturing cost. The book begins by transitioning from basic linear voltage regulation to modern high-frequency switch-mode topologies. Non-Isolated vs. Isolated Topologies