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Current converters

The term "current converter" is often erroneously used for DC/DC converters. Assuming that the functional principle of DC/DC converters consists of turning an input voltage into an output (DC) voltage that is as smooth as possible, a current converter would generate a constant output current from an input current.

Current converters in this sense are current sources that deliver a constant current regardless of the supply. However, this is more often simply confused terminology, with the term "current converter" used to mean voltage converters that produce a certain level of current.

Another field of application for current converters would be LEDs. Here, the current converter ensures that the LED functions under certain predefined and constant operating conditions. In this case, the current converter may also be referred to as a source of current. LED control units have increased in importance - especially in the automotive industry - which is why RECOM is concentrating on entering the market for current supply units and current converters.

At the moment, the product range only consists of DC/DC converters and does not include any current converters, but this may change very rapidly due to the increased demand. Current supply units are often necessary in instrumentation technology, and there is a certain level of potential for current converters; however, the specifications would be completely different from the example given above. Current converters of this type would have to be optimised more for precision and temperature stability than those used in LED control units in higher output ranges.