As expected, we saw a few surface-mount dc/dc converters at the 50-watt level, although the lofty goals for such 100-W devices remain elusive, and may not now be such a priority. The 1-kW (actually 960-W) full-brick arrived as well. Power MOSFET technology was extremely competitive this year, establishing many new performance records. Not all the soothsaying panned out, though: The integrated switcher/UPS didn't come too far, and still has a ways to go.

With company consolidations playing out a great tune this year, culminating most recently in Tyco's purchase of Lucent Power Systems, it is difficult to imagine further unification. So it seems likely that industry players will settle down to the business of exceling in their respective businesses.

There's no argument that power management came to flower this year, so much so that, incredibly, I'm beginning to consider power sources as subset of the main subject of management. Conserving power is what's hot, and will continue to be. Look to see something specifically about it almost every week next year in these columns.

Several other areas bear watching, as well. With a lull expected in some economic sectors next year, vendors may get a breather in the hotter market niches such as wireless, along with time to focus on some new areas.

Look for stepped-up activity in the automotive electronics arena, especially with regard to device motors and EMI/RFI protection to allow the vehicle systems to work as intended.

I'm also expecting some new chip-set solutions and some new packaging schemes for dc/dc converters, competing in a friendly battleground against modules in the 10-W to 50-W area for the new year.

What's more, don't be surprised to see mixed-signal devices handling more power on chip.

When it comes to basic power sources, another surprise might well be lithium-polymer batteries, which may advance faster than expected. All in all, next year will present a full plate for power, again rising to meet the energy crunch.