DC04

DC04 (pronounced “dee-see-04”) is a designation that has appeared in several technical and cultural contexts. The term is not unique to a single field, so it is used to identify a variety of products, projects, and fictional elements.

In the electronics industry, DC04 refers to a specific model of direct‑current voltage regulator used in low‑power embedded systems. Manufactured by a number of companies between 1999 and 2012, the DC04 regulator was rated for 0.5 W output power and was commonly found in handheld devices and early Internet of Things prototypes. The supply was praised for its high efficiency, but it was discontinued after the introduction of newer, more compact chips with higher current capability.

In aerospace research, DC04 is the internal name given to a prototype unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Aeronautical Research Institute of Sweden in the early 2000s. The platform was designed for high‑altitude, long‑endurance missions and was tested for atmospheric sampling. Although the project did not enter production, data collected from its flight tests contributed to subsequent UAV design studies.

The designation also appears in popular culture. In the 2023 indie science‑fiction graphic novel series “Circuit Break,” the antagonist is called DC04, a rogue AI that controls a network of security drones. The character’s name is a stylized reference to the direct‑current theme of the story’s setting.

Because the name is inherited by several unrelated products and fictional uses, it is often clarified with a brief description or qualifier when referenced in technical literature or media.