The 100-W rated TDK-Lambda i3A series of non-isolated DC-DC converters are capable of operating from an input voltage of 9 to 53 V. The step-down converter delivers an output voltage that can be adjustable from 3.3 to 16.5 V or 5 to 30 V with output currents of up to 8 A. The series is […]
How advanced IGBT gate drivers simplify high-voltage
IGBTs have nuanced operations associated with high current densities and temperature that force IGBT gate drivers to incorporate sophisticated features. Tom Zemites, Kim Gauen, NXP The automotive industry is moving inexorably towards electrification. As automakers move from electric assistance to full autonomy, the trend in EV invertors is toward higher system efficiency and functional safety […]
Phase-locked oscillators cover output frequencies between 50 MHz to 6000 MHz
A new line of phase-locked oscillators (PLO) deliver accurate and stable output frequencies with low phase noise and spurious performance, making them candidates for use in radar and other exciter or frequency generation applications. Typical applications include phase-locked loops, frequency synthesizers function generators and as a local oscillator source in receiver and transmitter stages. Pasternack’s […]
New 3D image sensor enables easy smartphone unlock by face recognition
A new 3D image sensor in the REAL3 chip family, based on Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology, makes possible the world’s smallest camera module for integration in smartphones with a footprint of less than 12 x 8 mm, including the receiving optics and VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) illumination. Compared to other 3D sensor principles, such as stereoscopic […]
Scalable image-sensor platform for ADAS and autonomous driving aims to speed design, implementation
A scalable family of CMOS image sensors address the spectrum of applications for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving. Developed by ON Semiconductor, the sensor family offers car makers and tier-one suppliers a choice of imaging devices based on a common platform and feature set. The sensors have resolutions scaling from 8.3 megapixels […]
Teardown: Inside Amazon’s Echo Dot
The Amazon Echo Dot is essentially the top portion of the Amazon Echo, but without the speaker underneath it. Eliminating the big speaker drops the price of the from $180 for the Echo to $50 for the Echo Dot. The Echo Dot does have its own speaker, but the speaker is comparable to what you […]
End-to-end sub-1 GHz kit brings easy cloud connectivity
The element14 development kit for the TI SimpleLink Sub-1 GHz Sensor to Cloud Linux Gateway is based on technology from Texas Instruments (TI). The kit provides an end-to-end tool to enable a Sub-1 GHz sensor network with an Internet of Things (IoT) gateway and cloud connectivity. “Sub-1 GHz offers low-power and long-range wireless connectivity, but […]
Pre-APEC workshop will cover power magnetics at high frequencies
The Power Sources Manufacturers Association (PSMA) and the IEEE Power Electronics Society (IEEE PELS) are jointly sponsoring the third high-frequency magnetics workshop, “Power Magnetics @ High Frequency – Eliminating the Smoke and Mirrors,” on Saturday, March 3, 2018. The workshop will take place on the day before and in the same venue as APEC 2018 […]
Do you really need soldermask and silkscreen for PCB design?
Duane Benson, Chief Technology Champion, Screaming Circuits As PCB assemblers, we’ve been asked the question,”Do I really need soldermask and silkscreen?” many times. And, we’ve been asked with good reasons. To us, soldermask protects exposed metal, reduce the chance of shorts and keeps solder where solder needs to be. Silkscreen removes ambiguity, ensuring that parts […]
Researchers demonstrate first data transmission through terahertz multiplexer
Researchers are heralding a technology demonstration as a predecessor to the next generation of ultra-high bandwidth wireless communications links. A research team writing in the journal Nature Communications, reported the first transmission of two real-time video signals through a terahertz multiplexer at an aggregate data rate of 50 gbps, some 100x faster than cellular networks. […]