The high-frequency switching of WBGs presents challenges related to bandwidth and speed that can be addressed with new sensing techniques. In addition, gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) devices have different tolerances to short circuit conditions and requirements for current sensing. Current sensors with the bandwidth needed to capture ultra-fast short-circuit events can be […]
What are bidirectional GaN power ICs good for?
Bidirectional GaN power ICs are designed for various applications, from motor drives and renewable energy inverters to USB chargers, portable electronics, E-bikes, and more. This article presents examples of the application possibilities with bidirectional GaN switches. GaN high electron mobility transistors, HEMTs, or HFETs, have been fabricated using a 600 V process that produces devices […]
What is a power quality survey used for?
Power quality (PQ) surveys are used in data centers, hospitals, and industrial installations to improve uptime and equipment performance by identifying the root causes of power quality problems. When discussing PQ problems, three important considerations are the types of PQ problems, the sources of PQ problems, and the tools for identifying and measuring PQ problems. […]
How is ice cream being digitized?
Industry 4.0, including Cloud connectivity, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI), is transforming many industries. The ice cream industry is no exception. This article reviews how Industry 4.0 can contribute to more sustainable, higher-quality, and more efficiently delivered ice cream. All ice cream contributions are appreciated! More sustainable ice cream The European Union is […]
How does an osmometer make ice cream better?
Ice cream mixtures can be quickly monitored with an osmometer as part of a quality control program. Sometimes, the important ingredient is only 0.5% of a commercial ice cream mix. An osmometer can be used alone or in combination with other instruments like a cryoscope to ensure the proper consistency of the finished ice cream. […]
How can robots improve the ice cream experience?
Speed is important with ice cream. When it’s produced, it needs to be packaged and delivered quickly; when purchased to enjoy, it needs to be served promptly. Robots are being used to speed up ice cream packaging, delivery, and serving. Yea, robots! Food-grade robots and clean rooms Special food-grade grease (FGG) must be used with […]
How to overcome the test and measurement challenges with WBG devices
The use of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors like SiC and GaN to improve data center, renewable energy, and EV powertrain efficiencies and speed up EV charging times requires that designers use new validation testing approaches to better understand device and system performance. This article begins by reviewing standard double-pulse testing (DPT) of WBGs. It then […]
How twin axial cable assemblies support high-performance computing for AI/ML systems
The high-performance computing platforms used for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in hyperscale data centers need high-speed interconnects like 112 Gbps PAM 4 and faster inside the servers. High-speed interconnects are also required between the servers and storage devices. Twin axial (Twinax) cable assemblies are one way to address those needs. This article […]
What are some design considerations for titanium ac/dc power supplies?
With the development of Energy Star Titanium efficiency power supplies, the power electronics industry has met the challenges of reducing data center energy consumption and supporting a greener society. What were those challenges, and is there a path to “more than Titanium” power supplies? High-efficiency power factor correction (PFC) and high-efficiency DC/DC conversion were key […]
What are the derating and other design considerations when using bimetallic thermal control devices?
Several design factors relate to specifying and using bimetallic thermal control devices and how they are used in systems. The metals and structure of the bimetallic element are of first importance. The selection of those metals impacts the device’s sensitivity and other performance parameters. Derating is especially important for conductive-type devices. The coefficients of linear […]
