Power supply design for con-sumer electronics has always posed difficult challenges in achieving form factor, cost, and efficiency targets. The television market is a case in point. It is experiencing a dramatic shift away from bulky, CRT-based solutions to flat-panel TVs that use LCD and plasma displays. LCDs now dominate the flat-panel TV segment, with sales forecasts of more than 100 million units in 2008. At the same time, content has shifted from analog to digital and new features have proliferated, such as multiple tuners for picture-in-picture, full high definition (1080p), enhanced audio, even Internet access. Moreover, the screen-size limits imposed by CRTs have disappeared. The 32-in. wide-screen TV is now the most popular, with the 40 to 42-in. range running a close second. While the adoption of new technologies has fueled growth and improved the TV user's viewing experience, it also has resulted in a dramatic increase in power consumption.
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