In 2017, Robert A. Mammano—widely celebrated as the "Father of the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller industry"—released a definitive text titled Fundamentals of Power Supply Design. Published in collaboration with Texas Instruments, this 333-page hardcover serves as a technical compendium of four decades of knowledge gleaned from the legendary Unitrode/TI Power Supply Design Seminars. The Author: A Legacy in Silicon
Robert (Bob) Mammano’s career spans over 50 years in power electronics. His most notable contribution was the design of the SG1524 in 1974, the world’s first integrated PWM controller IC, which revolutionized switch-mode power supply (SMPS) design by moving from discrete components to integrated silicon.
Mammano co-founded Unitrode Corporation in 1981, which was later acquired by Texas Instruments in 1999. As a TI Fellow, Mammano was instrumental in developing the Power Supply Design Seminars (PSDS), which have educated over 50,000 engineers globally since 1977. Core Themes of the Book
The book is structured to guide both novice and expert engineers through the complexities of modern power conversion. It is divided into 13 chapters that blend historical perspective with practical design equations. Fundamentals of Power Supply Design - IEEE Xplore In 2017, Robert A
Robert A. Mammano’s 2017 book, Fundamentals of Power Supply Design, consolidates over 40 years of engineering expertise from the Unitrode/Texas Instruments Power Supply Design Seminars. The text serves as a foundational guide for new designers and a comprehensive reference for experienced engineers, covering topics from component selection and control topologies to EMI compliance and digital power control. For more information, visit the Amazon listing for Fundamentals of Power Supply Design. Fundamentals of Power Supply Design: Robert A. Mammano
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In the world of electronic engineering, few names command as much respect in the field of power management as Robert A. Mammano. A pioneer credited with developing the first monolithic pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller (the SG1524), Mammano has spent decades shaping how we convert, regulate, and protect electrical energy. In 2017, under the aegis of Texas Instruments (TI), he released what has quickly become a canonical text: Fundamentals of Power Supply Design. Define electrical, thermal, and regulatory specs
For engineers, students, and seasoned hobbyists, this book is not just a collection of datasheets or application notes—it is a structured, intuitive journey through the physics, topology, and practical realities of power supply design. This article explores the book’s core philosophy, its technical depth, and why the combination of Mammano’s expertise and TI’s resources makes this a definitive reference for the 21st century.
Compared to Abraham I. Pressman’s Switching Power Supply Design, Mammano’s book is more focused, less encyclopedic, and more aligned with modern integrated controllers. Next to Robert W. Erickson’s Fundamentals of Power Electronics (a canonical graduate text), Mammano’s work is less theoretical and more pragmatic, emphasizing rules of thumb and IC-specific implementation. It sits perfectly between a superficial application note and a doctoral thesis.
A power supply that outputs the correct voltage but oscillates is a failed design. This section is often cited as the most valuable part of the book. Mammano simplifies control theory concepts specifically for power supplies: By purchasing the book
What makes this book unique is its synergy with TI’s ecosystem. Mammano frequently references:
By purchasing the book, you gain not just knowledge but access to a proven silicon ecosystem. Mammano’s design methods align perfectly with TI’s part numbering (e.g., the LM2576 simple switcher, the TPS54360 high-voltage buck, the UCC25600 LLC controller).
No book is perfect. Some readers note that the book assumes a basic understanding of circuit theory (Ohm’s law, impedance, diodes, transistors). It is not for absolute beginners. Additionally, it touches only lightly on digital power management (PMBus, I2C-controlled converters) and does not deeply explore resonant or soft-switching topologies.
For those topics, TI’s application notes (many written by Mammano himself) and online training videos are excellent companions.