Who Invented Computer Power Supplies?

The concept of computer power supplies dates back to the early 20th century, when the first electrical systems were being developed. However, the modern computer power supply as we know it today was not invented by a single person. Instead, it evolved over time through the contributions of numerous individuals and companies.

In the early days of computing, power supplies were relatively simple and consisted of a transformer, a rectifier, and a filter circuit. These early power supplies were designed to provide a stable voltage to the vacuum tubes used in early computers. One of the pioneers in the field of power supply design was Mervin J. Kelly, an American engineer who worked at Bell Labs in the 1930s and 1940s. Kelly developed a high-power DC supply that used a series of transformers to step down the input voltage to a lower level, and then used a rectifier and filter circuit to produce a stable DC output.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the development of computers began to accelerate, and the need for more advanced power supplies became apparent. Companies such as Hewlett-Packard and National Semiconductor began to develop power supplies that were designed specifically for use in computers. These power supplies used newer technologies such as transistors and integrated circuits, which allowed for greater efficiency and reliability.

One of the key breakthroughs in power supply design came in the 1960s with the introduction of the switching mode power supply. This design used switching transistors to convert the input voltage to a higher frequency, which was then rectified and filtered to produce a stable DC output. This design allowed for much higher efficiency and power density than earlier power supplies, and quickly became the standard for modern computer power supplies.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the development of microprocessors and other digital components led to the need for even more advanced power supplies. Companies such as Intel and Western Digital began to develop power supplies that were designed specifically for use in personal computers. These power supplies used newer technologies such as power factor correction and active power factor correction, which allowed for even higher efficiency and power factor.

Today, computer power supplies are a crucial component of modern computing, providing power to everything from desktop computers to data centers. The development of computer power supplies has been a collaborative effort, with contributions from countless individuals and companies over the years. While it is difficult to identify a single “inventor” of the computer power supply, we can recognize the pioneers in the field who have helped to shape the technology over the years.

Pioneers in the Field

• Mervin J. Kelly: Developed high-power DC supplies for use in early computers.
• Martin E. Laffey: Developed the first commercially viable switching mode power supply in the 1960s.
• Richard A. Chernock: Developed power factor correction and active power factor correction technologies.
• The teams at Hewlett-Packard, National Semiconductor, Intel, and Western Digital: Developed advanced power supplies for use in personal computers.

Conclusion

The development of computer power supplies has been a long and collaborative process, involving the contributions of countless individuals and companies over the years. From the early days of vacuum tube computers to the modern era of microprocessors and data centers, the power supply has evolved to meet the changing needs of the industry. While it is difficult to identify a single “inventor” of the computer power supply, we can recognize the pioneers in the field who have helped to shape the technology over the years.