In modern data center power architectures, a quarter brick (QB) solution plays a critical role by converting intermediate bus voltages to regulated outputs that power advanced processors. To meet stringent performance and reliability requirements, integrating a digital power system manager (PSM) has become essential.

Evaluating, testing, and prototyping are critical and widely recognized processes in the development of various applications. Applications such as 5G timing transport, high-precision synchronization, automatic test equipment (ATE) pin electronics, and phased array radar applications can benefit from evaluation boards combining both hardware and software for testing.

Engineers test, prototype, and evaluate high-voltage power solutions to ensure they operate safely and reliably in systems like automotive, military/avionics, industrial, telecommunications, and distributed power applications. An evaluation board is designed to support the engineer, corroborating that these systems behave efficiently and predictably in real-world conditions.

This article explores the various sources of noise in switching regulators and their impact on different analog signal chain components. It highlights several noise mitigation strategies, including the use of low dropout (LDO) regulators as effective postregulation filters. The article also shows a range of solutions from Analog Devices (ADI) that deliver optimized LDO efficiency across varying load conditions and output voltages, while pairing good power supply noise rejection. One solution offers a new method for LDOs to control the headroom provided by switching regulators with current reference architectures.

In this episode of Embedded Insiders, the VP of Sales and Business Development at Gateworks Corporation, Kelly Peralta, joins me to discuss the trends, challenges, and innovations surrounding Wi-Fi HaLow for industrial and IoT applications.

The next segment is sponsored by Analog Devices, and Contributing Editor, Rich Nass, and Analog Devices’ Senior Vice President of Software and Digital Platforms, Rob Oshan, discuss the complexity of designing AI systems and how Analog Devices’ CodeFusion Studio, which includes an IDE, a software development kit, and coding tools, is designed to accelerate the process. 

Check out the embedded world North America 2025 Best-in-Show winners. 

There are lots of semiconductor vendors that do a great job of providing AI hardware. But unfortunately, for many of them, their offerings end there, requiring developers to source software and tools from multiple sources. It’s no secret that designing a system with AI is complex enough. Having to go to different vendors for different pieces just adds multiple layers of complexity. 

Part 1 of this two-part series introduces voltage input-to-output control (VIOC) systems that are commonly configured as a combination of low dropout (LDO) regulators with the VIOC feature and buck-topology switching regulators. The article then gives guidance for VIOC system design, including a list of suggested pairs of LDOs and switching regulators and the reasons for the pairing. Lastly, it shows how the use of the LDO’s VIOC feature can reduce noise at the LDO output, optimize power dissipation, protect the system during faults, and ensure proper operation during dynamic conditions like startup and overload. Part 2 expands on the guidance for VIOC system design from Part 1 and also discusses VIOC theory of operation and background.