Glossary

Alternating current (AC) converted to Direct Current (DC)

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DC-to-DC power converter with an output voltage greater than its input voltage

A voltage step down and current step up converter

Transfers heat from high temperature to lower temperature parts by direct contact

Involves the transfer of heat from a device to a fluid, such as air. Natural convection takes advantage of the buoyancy effects of heated air. Forced Convection (aka Fan Cooling) is one of the most common cooling methods and uses fans or blowers to force air across the supply, moving heat away from the device and into the air stream.

Commercial off-the-shelf or commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) is a term used to describe the purchase of packaged solutions which are then adapted to satisfy the needs of the purchasing organization, rather than the commissioning of custom made, or bespoke, solutions. (definition from Wikipedia)

Direct current (DC) converted to Direct Current (DC)

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Environmental Stress Screening is a process of exposing power supplies to certain environmental tests, like temperature variations, vibration and shock testing, etc., in order to ensure the product operates as it should without any catastrophic failures.

Output voltages exceeding 1,000 Volts (1 kV). Typical applications for high voltage power supplies are helmet CRT display applications for fighter and helicopter platforms involved with military and aerospace industries. Other high voltage applications include Electro-Static Precipitators, Fluid ionization / filtration, ion pumps and powering image intensifier tubes. ACT’s HV power supplies utilize light weight potting compounds or ACT’s proprietary oil-gas process to achieve a high level of reliability.

A power supply designed to run an ion pump which is a vacuum pump that removes gas by ionizing the atoms or molecules and adsorbing them on a metal surface.

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) control the export and import of defense-related articles and services on the United States Munitions List (USML). (definition from Wikipedia)

Linear power supplies are for low noise applications. For DC input type of applications ACT engineers have combined switching regulators on the DC input side and then linear regulators are utilized to provide the low noise outputs that are achievable using a linear approach. This approach combines the high efficiency of switching power supplies with the low noise outputs of a linear topology

Output voltages less than 1,000 Volts (1 kV)

Modified-Off-The-Shelf, or MOTS, products are derived from Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products and tailored to meet specific performance requirements. They’re a fast, budget-friendly modification option.

ACT’s proprietary oil – gas process is the preferred approach for voltages exceeding 7 kV. The dielectric gas has insulating properties comparable to the oil that is used to provide for expansion and contraction in most configurations.

Benefits are:

1. The natural wetting action of oil penetrates the pores of the materials it insulates, minimizing the possibility of surface creepage and corona.
2. Adhesion of the dielectric is maintained despite repetitive temperature cycling.
3. Convection currents set up by thermal gradients provide superior cooling to the components eliminating “hot spots” and increasing MTBF figures.
4. Immunity to hostile environments such as high altitude.
5. The modules are repairable down to the component level; thus; a complete failure analysis is possible if a unit is damaged in service.
6. Resistance to shock and vibration is enhanced by the dampening action of the oil.

Filling a hermetically sealed module to isolate the components in high voltage situations.

A Rack Mounted / VME power supply is typically a low voltage power supply in a stand-alone package for rack, VME or similar type slots.

UAV power supplies typically are DC-DC power supplies that require high efficiency, small size and low weight. ACT has designed custom power supplies for UAV applications that convert MIL-STD-704A (and higher revisions) input power into a variety of DC output voltage and power levels. Thermal management at both high and low temperature leads to integrating a variety of thermal solutions, such as liquid cooling. With ACT’s extensive vertical integration custom mechanical configurations are easily designed and produced.