Lithium-ion battery (LIB) safety is a major concern for designers. LIBs are generally safe to use if they have been properly manufactured and are integrated correctly into systems. However, the use of sub-standard materials and the possibility of manufacturing or design defects can result in hazardous conditions. As a result, there are many global safety […]
Magnetics for Power over Ethernet
Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) delivers power to remote powered devices (PDs) over twisted-pair Ethernet cables up to 100 meters long. Over time, the standard has evolved and can now deliver up to 71W, making it useful for a wide variety of applications, including network routers and repeaters, VoIP phones, IP security cameras, wireless and Bluetooth access points, […]
Transformers for ultrasonic sensing applications
Ultrasonic sensing is used in various automotive and industrial applications ranging from liquid level sensing to robot obstacle detection and automated parking assistance. Transformer-based designs can produce highly accurate solutions with maximum ranging distances. This FAQ will review several applications for ultrasonic sensing, compare the capabilities of transformer drive with direct drive solutions, and then […]
18650, 21700, 30700, 4680 and other Li-ions – what’s the difference?
There are many sizes of cylindrical lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells, and the number of sizes continues to grow. Some are optimized for use in simple devices such as toys and flashlights; others are mainly found powering portable electronics and electric vehicles. This FAQ begins by reviewing the broad landscape of cylindrical Li-ions, including protected and non-protected […]
Gate drive transformer specifications and applications
Gate drive transformers are often a good solution for providing galvanic isolation in high-voltage and high-frequency applications where fast and accurate signal timing is critical. A gate drive transformer is optimized to handle fast-rising and fast-falling rectangular pulses to turn power switches “on” and “off” in switching power converters. Although many gate drive transformers have […]
What is a Bode plot?
A Bode plot represents the gain and phase of a feedback system as a function of frequency. It was developed by Hendrik Wade Bode in the 1930s and reflects the system’s frequency-domain behavior. He invented it while at Bell Labs to help design stable amplifiers with the feedback needed in telephone networks. The graphical design […]
AC challenges with inductors
To get good performance from inductors in power supplies, you need to be careful about the AC characteristics. Physical inductors are complex structures, not ideal components. And the AC challenges with inductors are growing due to the higher operating frequencies of power supplies using silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power switches. This FAQ […]
DC voltages, AC voltages and Stiff voltages
At its most basic level, voltage is a simple concept. Voltage, also referred to as electric potential difference or electromotive force (emf), is the difference in electric potential between two points. In the International System of Units (SI), one Volt equals one Joule of work per Coulomb of charge. In practical applications, voltage is simple, […]
Thermistors, thermocouples, and RTDs for thermal management
Thermal management is the ability to control the thermal environment of an electronic system. It is often associated with cooling heat-generating electronics, but it also encompasses generating heat in cold environments to maintain optimal system operation or power wax-based linear motors. As a result of the many uses for thermal management, a wide variety of […]
Fuses, eFuses, thermistors, and fusible resistors – which and when?
Fuses, eFuses, various types of thermistors, and fusible resistors can be used to provide varying levels of circuit protection. Fuses provide only the most basic level of overcurrent and short-circuit protection. Thermistors can be added to provide inrush current control, and a fusible resistor can provide both inrush current control and overcurrent/short-circuit protection. The most […]
