PI Expert
PI Expert Online is a web-based program that takes your specifications and automatically generates a power conversion solution.
- New products added as they become available
- Software updates and new features added automatically
- No download or installation required
PI Expert Online provides everything necessary to build and test a working prototype.
- Comprehensive Transformer Construction Report – a "ready-to-build" solution
- Electrical and Mechanical Diagrams
- Winding Instructions
- Bill of materials (BOM)
- Board layout recommendations
New in version 2.7
- PI Expert now supports the entire InnoSwitch3 family
- New planar magnetics builder generates an application-specific transformer design within minute:
- Planar transformers enable slimmer profile flyback designs of chargers and adapters
- Complete with printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer-ready documentation and Gerber files
- Full information includes stack specification, vertical and horizontal PCB construction, trace parameters, current density information and layer resistance
Learn More
- PI Expert FAQs
- Watch this 3-part webinar about PI Expert Online:
Pt 1: Introduction to PI Expert Online
Like PI Expert Online, PI Expert Suite, PI's legacy power supply design tool, gives you all of the necessary information to build and test a working prototype.
- No need for an Internet connection
- Updates made on a regular basis
New in version 2.6
- InnoSwitch4-CZ support in PI Expert
- Improvements and fixes for other product families
New in version 2.5.3
- Improvements in PI Expert InnoSwitch3 product families
New in version 2.5.2
- Added Litz Wires support for all InnoSwitch-3 family devices
- PI Xls now supports HiperLCS-2
- Minor updates to Hiper PFS-4 Boost spreadsheet
- Minor updates to Hiper PFS-5 Boost new spreadsheet
New in version 2.4.7
- New features in PI Expert Online:
- InnoSwitch3 Designs now supports RC Feedforward circuit in PI Expert
- Transformer Engine 2.0 support added for HiperPFS-4 family in PIXls
- PI Xls now supports InnoSwitch3-TN
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch4-CZ Flyback spreadsheet
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch4-CZ USB-PD Flyback spreadsheet
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch3-AQ Flyback spreadsheet
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch3-EP 1700V Flyback spreadsheet
- Minor updates to Hiper-PFS4 Boost spreadsheet
New in version 2.4.6
- Transformer Engine 2.0 support added for 16 most popular PIXls spreadsheets
- Minor improvements to InnoSwitch3-AQ Flyback spreadsheet
- Improved AC Losses Calculations
New in version 2.4.5
- Firmware Configuration Feature now available
New in version 2.4.4
- InnoSwitch3-PD included in PIXls
- Transformer Engine 2.0 support added for InnoSwitch3 and InnoSwitch4 families in PIXls
- Inductor engine in PIXls for LinkSwitch-TN2 family
- Enhancements and fixes
- PI Xls Designer ‘On Display’ Information Panel
- TE2.0 Stack Structure – Extended Winding information added to winding diagram
- Updates to file management system
- PIXls Spreadsheet updates
New in version 2.4.3
- TinySwitch-3/4 optimization issue resolution
- General Tiny-like PI Device optimization update
- USB-PD GUI logic update
- Zener Diode Database update
- PI Xls Spreadsheets update to TinySwitch-III, TinySwitch-4, TopSwitch-JX, HiperPFS-2
New in version 2.4.2
- USB PD GUI - changes /modifications.
- Updates to algorithm for current sensing circuit component selection
- Change of preferences for SR MOSFET and VBUS Switch components
- Simplification of winding layer adjustment algorithm for optimal transformer design
- Updated several PI Xls spreadsheets
New in version 2.4
- Updated transformer design engine for InnoSwitch3-CE/CP/EP/Pro offers flexibility in creating custom winding construction and shield windings
- Features to enable design report creation including change log
- Improved Optimization. User adjustable parameter ranges and optimization priority between cost, efficiency, core volume and thermal performance
- Update to PI xls format. Allows hiding section of spreadsheet for easy viewing
- PI Expert designs for all product families now prefer surface mount components by default
- Updates to legacy transformer designs for additional clearance/creepage considerations
- InnoSwitch3 Designs now supports up to 24.5V in PI Expert
New in version 2.3.5
- LYTSwitch-6 update with new part numbers (feature codes)
- Added ability to allow second (parallel) SR-FET on the output
- Transformer construction now supports Parallel Wound Secondary
- PI xls Design now supports Litz Wire in Transformer Construction
- PI Device database update with additional part numbers (feature codes) and current limit dependency
- Update to InnoSwitch-3 bias calculations
- Update to high output voltage design rules for InnoSwitch3
- Update to guidance for using VOUT-Pin Linear Regulator - PI xls Spreadsheets update to InnoSwitch3-CE, InnoSwitch3-CP, InnoSwitch3-EP, InnoSwitch3-Pro, 900 V InnoSwitch3-EP and InnoSwitch3-AQ
New in version 2.3.4
- PI Expert now supports Litz Wires
- DC-DC LYTSwitch-6 now supports Design Evaluation in PI Expert
- Calculation Engine updates
- For InnoSwitch-3 Flyback spreadsheets,
- Interactive Design Evaluation feature for InnoSwitch3-CE/EP/CP/Pro and spreadsheets
- Updates to InnoSwitch3-EP/CP/Pro with Size 8 GaN devices - Minor updates to TOPSwitch-JX Flyback spreadsheet
New in version 2.3.3
- PI Expert now supports CAPZero-3
- PI Expert Online new Look and Feel Phase 1 - Quick links to product documents and new design for components selection
- New performance-optimizing bias winding circuit calculations for InnoSwitch3 Family
- Minor updates to InnoMux and InnoSwitch3-MX spreadsheet
New in version 2.3
- PI Expert now supports DC Input for LYTSwitch-6 product family
- New features in PI Expert Online
- Enables freezing of components prior to optimization
- Component Database now includes new Surface Mount parts
- InnoSwitch3-CP and InnoSwitch3-Pro have a new bias winding circuit calculation for optimizing design performance
- For all InnoSwitch-3 family devices:
- Interactive Design Evaluation Report
- Updated Clamp calculations
- PI xls now supports LinkSwitchTN2-900V Buck Boost
- Improvements in PI Expert Online performance and stability
New in version 2.2.10
- Updates to InnoSwitch-CH/CE/EP/EP 900V Flyback spreadsheets
- Updates to LYTSwitch-6 Flyback and Switched Valley-Fill PFC with Flyback spreadsheets
New in version 2.2.9
- Updates to InnoMux and InnoSwitch3-MX spreadsheet
- Bug fixes
New in version 2.2.8
- New features in PI Expert Online:
- InnoSwitch-3 EP/CP/Pro now include additional parts with breakdown voltage of 750 V
- CAPZero support
- Calculation and Optimization Engine update for InnoSwitch3 families
- Magnet wire database update
- PI xls now supports InnoMux and InnoSwitch3-MX Chipset
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch-CP Flyback spreadsheet
- Bug fixes
New in version 2.2.7.14
- Updates to PI xls InnoSwitch-3 EP/CP/Pro Flyback spreadsheets – Additional parts with breakdown voltage of 750V added to the spreadsheets
New in version 2.2.7
- Updates to PI xls LYTSwitch-6
- Major updates to Transformer Engine for all families – Support uneven primary winding split and other enhancements which provides superior transformer optimization
- PI xls now supports InnoSwitch3-EP 900V Flyback and LinkSwitchTN2-900V Buck spreadsheets
- Major update to HiperPFS-4 Boost spreadsheet
- Bug fixes
New in version 2.2.6
- Minor updates to LinkSwitch-TN2 in Buck Boost topology
- Transformer Engine now supports Flying Leads
- Bug fixes
New in version 2.2.5
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch3-EP Flyback spreadsheet
- Minor updates to HiperTFS-2 spreadsheet
- Enable Exhaustive Search Optimization method for InnoSwitch3-CP and InnoSwitch3-Pro
- Enhancements in PI Expert Online: added more High Voltage Ceramic capacitors to Component Database; improved Post Filter Circuit components selection; and updated new Design Notifications
- Bug fixes
New in version 2.2.4
- PI xls now supports TinySwitch-LT in Flyback topology
- Minor updates to LinkSwitch-HP Flyback spreadsheet
- Added Current Sense Circuit Slope components to InnoSwitch3-Pro
New in version 2.2
- PI Expert now supports InnoSwitch3-CP/PRO
- Improvements in PI Expert Online performance and stability
New in version 2.1.7
- Minor updates to LinkSwitch-HP Flyback spreadsheet
- Minor updates to LinkSwitch-TN2 Buck spreadsheet
- Minor updates to TinySwitch-4 Flyback spreadsheet
- Minor bug fixes
New in version 2.1.6
- Minor bug fixing
New in version 2.1.5
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch-EP/EP 900V Flyback spreadsheets
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch3-CE/CP/EP/Pro Flyback spreadsheets
- Minor bug fixing
New in version 2.1.4
- PI Expert Online now supports Design Sharing. Users can send a copy (or ‘share’) their design with other users through a hyperlink
- Users can now add brief comments to designs directly in the File Manager
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch3-CE/CP/EP/Pro Flyback spreadsheets
- Minor bug fixing
New in version 2.1.3
- PI Expert now supports two new optimization methodologies for the InnoSwitch-3 Family that significantly increases the number of parameters used in the optimization process. The optimization methodology is user selectable
- Major updates to LYTSwitch-6 Switched Valley-Fill PFC with Flyback spreadsheet, including Transformer Construction
- PI xls now supports LinkSwitch-TN2 in Buck Boost topology
- Improvements in performance and stability
- Minor bug fixing
New in version 2.0.6
- PI xls now supports InnoSwitch3-Pro with up to 9 output voltage set-points and improved quick-check feature for USB-PD applications
- Minor updates to LYTSwitch-6 Switched Valley-Fill PFC with Flyback spreadsheet
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch3-CE/CP/EP Flyback spreadsheets.
- Minor bug fixing
New in version 2.0.5
- PI xls now supports LYTSwitch-6 Switched Valley-Fill PFC with Flyback
- Minor updates to LYTSwitch-3 Flyback spreadsheets
- Minor bug fixing
New in version 2.0.4
- PI Expert now supports folders in File Manager. This helps organize multiple designs and group similar designs e.g. different versions of one design in one place
- PI xls now supports LinkSwitch-CV in Tapped Buck topology
- Minor updates to InnoSwitch-3
- Minor bug fixing
New in version 2.0
- PI Expert and PI xls now support InnoSwitch3-CE/EP
- PI Expert supports "Feature Codes" for InnoSwitch3-CE/EP
- Product Portfolio replaced Product Selector Guide, which is incorporated in New Design Wizard
- Starting with InnoSwitch-3:
- PI Expert estimates real losses and efficiency of created design
- Support synchronous output rectification
- PI xls now estimates transformer fit and losses for InnoSwitch-3
- PI xls now supports InnoSwitch3-CP with up to 9 output voltage set-points and improved quick-check feature for USB-PD applications
- PI xls now supports LYTSwitch-1 (Buck-Boost topology)
- Improvements in performance and stability
- Improvements in PI xls spreadsheets:
- InnoSwitch-CH, InnoSwitch-CE, InnoSwitch-CP, InnoSwitch-EP and InnoSwitch-EP900V (Flyback topology)
- LYTSwitch-5 (Buck topology)
- LYTSwitch-7 (Buck topology)
Web Browsers Supported by PI Expert Online
| Browser | Version* | Supported | Limited Support** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Explorer | 11 | X | |
| Edge | >85 | X | |
| Google Chrome | >90 | X | |
| Firefox | >80 | X | |
| Opera | >70 | X | |
| Safari | >5.17 | X |
** PI Expert requires HTML5. Older version browsers may not be
fully compatible.
Design Software Support Overview
| Design Software Support for PI Products | PI Expert | PI xls |
|---|---|---|
|
BridgeSwitch | X19 | |
|
DPA-Switch | X1 | X2 |
|
HiperLCS | X5 | |
|
HiperPFS | X6 | |
|
HiperPFS-2 | X6 | |
|
HiperPFS-3 | X6 | |
|
HiperPFS-4 | X6 | |
|
HiperTFS-2 | X7 | |
|
InnoSwitch4-CZ | X1 | |
|
InnoSwitch3-CE | X1 | X1 |
|
InnoSwitch3-CP | X1 | X1 |
|
InnoSwitch3-EP | X1 | X1 |
|
InnoSwitch3-Pro | X1 | X1 |
|
InnoSwitch3-EP 900 V | X1 | |
|
InnoSwitch3-AQ | X1 | |
|
InnoSwitch3-MX & InnoMux | X1 | |
|
InnoSwitch-CE | X1 | |
|
InnoSwitch-CH | X1 | |
|
InnoSwitch-CP | X1 | |
|
InnoSwitch-EP | X1 | |
|
InnoSwitch-EP 900 V | X1 | |
|
LinkSwitch-II | X3 | |
|
LinkSwitch-3 | X1 | |
|
LinkSwitch-4 | X1 | |
|
LinkSwitch-CV | X1 | X3 |
|
LinkSwitch-HP | X1 | X1 |
|
LinkSwitch-LP | X1 | |
|
LinkSwitch-PH | X1 | X8 |
|
LinkSwitch-PL | X1 | X15 |
|
LinkSwitch-TN | X4 | |
|
LinkSwitch-TN2 | X10 | |
|
LinkSwitch-TNZ | X4 | |
|
LinkSwitch-XT | X1 | X1 |
|
LinkSwitch-XT2 | X1 | |
|
LinkZero-AX | X1 | |
|
LinkZero-LP | X1 | |
|
LYTSwitch-0 | X12 | |
|
LYTSwitch-1 | X16 | |
|
LYTSwitch-2 | X1 | |
|
LYTSwitch-3 | X10 | |
|
LYTSwitch-4 | X13 | |
|
LYTSwitch-5 | X14 | |
|
LYTSwitch-6 | X1 | X18 |
|
LYTSwitch-7 | X12 | |
|
TinySwitch-III | X1 | X1 |
|
TinySwitch-4 | X1 | X1 |
|
TinySwitch-LT | X1 | |
|
TOPSwitch-GX | X1 | |
|
TOPSwitch-HX | X1 | X1 |
|
TOPSwitch-JX | X1 | X1 |
NOTES:
- Only supported in the Flyback topology
- Supported in both the Flyback and Forward topologies
- Supported in both the Flyback and Tapped-Buck topologies
- Supported in Flyback, Buck and Buck-Boost topologies
- Supported in LLC Resonant topology
- Supported in Boost topology
- Supported in Two Switch Forward topology
- Supported in Flyback and Buck topologies
- Supported in Flyback, Tapped-Buck, Buck and Buck-Boost topologies
- Supported in Flyback, Buck, Buck-Boost and Tapped-Buck Boost topologies
- Supported in both the Flyback, Buck and Tapped-Buck topologies
- Supported in Buck topology
- Supported in Flyback, Buck, Buck Boost and Tapped-Buck topologies
- Supported in Flyback, Buck, Boost, Buck-Boost and Tapped-Buck Boost topologies
- Supported in Flyback, Buck, Boost, Buck-Boost and Tapped-Buck topologies
- Supported in Buck and Buck-Boost topologies
- Supported in Switched Valley-Fill PFC with Flyback topology
- Supported in Flyback and Switched Valley-Fill PFC with Flyback topologies
- Supported in Three-Phase Bridge topology
