A new series of “true” 0=-Ω high-current SMT jumpers designed to replace “Zero” ohm resistors are the latest connectivity devices available from Keystone Electronics Corp. Quick and easy set-up, these Jumpers are uniquely suited as true zero-ohm resistor replacements without the need to change board designs or layouts. Four resistor chip sizes are offered to […]
Trigger-and-decode scope setup handles 1000BASE-T1 automotive Ethernet
The new K58 option for R&S RTO and R&S RTP scopes is billed as the world’s first triggering and decoding solution for 1000BASE-T1. The flexibility of Automotive Ethernet makes the simple twisted-pair network technology a candidate for an ever-increasing range of in-vehicle networks. To verify, commission and troubleshoot designs based on an Automotive Ethernet communication […]
Maximizing the performance of SiC through gate drive techniques
New gate drivers simplify the task of deploying silicon-carbide FETs to shrink the size and boost the efficiency of power inverters. Charlie Ice Silicon Labs The electric vehicle revolution is upon us. Automotive companies search desperately for a technological edge, investors see EV companies as more valuable than traditional automakers, and governments press ahead with […]
Fundamentals of fast chargers for phones and notebook PCs
Overlapping protocols and competing standards have created a confusing landscape for USB chargers. Here are the important differences and similarities of most interest to designers. Masashi Nogawa, Staff Systems Engineer Qorvo The first standard for charging via USB connections allowed power delivery at a 7.5-W maximum. Recently the USB standard jumped up to support 100 […]
No zapping! How to design safe and reliable wireless charging systems
Smart use of protection components can help give consumers a trouble-free charge. Todd Phillips Littelfuse Inc. The convenience that wireless charging systems provide has made them increasingly popular for use with consumer goods and appliances. But the development of wireless charging devices creates a number of challenges for designers. Most wireless applications are characterized by […]
How to boost output hold-up time in power supplies
Many supplies have outputs that don’t stay up long enough in the event of a power loss. Here are some ways to remedy the problem. TDK-Lambda Americas An ac-dc power supply’s input voltage can be interrupted during circumstances such as a brown out condition or a brief power failure. When this happens, the dc output […]
The advantages of Generation-Four SiC FETs
New silicon-carbide FETs perform better than previous versions and can replace silicon MOSFETs with relative ease. Anup Bhalla, VP Engineering UnitedSiC Wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors are now accepted as the future of high-efficiency power conversion. The reason: they provide lower conduction and switching losses than otherwise-comparable silicon-based IGBTs or MOSFETs. Since the introduction of WBG silicon […]
The changing maze of power supply standards
Brexit altered the landscape of standards for power supply products. Here’s an update on the latest revisions. Ron Stull CUI Inc. The usual way of choosing a power supply is to search on the electrical performance parameters the application demands. But today, it is actually more efficient to start with the national or international standards […]
Handling the 48-to-12-V stepdown
A multiphase, interleaved buck converter can reduce bus voltage down to something useful in data center server racks. Brad Xiao, Nazzareno (Reno) Rossetti Maxim Integrated Hyperscale data centers that dissipate hundreds of megawatts demand efficient power delivery beyond the ability of the traditional 12-V power supplies on old server motherboards. A data center on 12 […]
Super-efficient power converters help hovering drones take flight
When the task calls for a aerial system that can hover in place, the often-chosen approach is to employ a tethered drone. A tethered drone, generally a multirotor, gets its power and communications signals via a flexible wire or cable. Where battery powered multirotor drones can exhaust their batteries in 20 minutes or so, tethered […]