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, […]
FAQ
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 […]
Electronic engines valves: an idea whose time has come…and gone?, Part 4: The camless outlook
The electronically controlled, cam-free internal combustion engine seemed like a good idea, but technical and market realities stifled its acceptance. The camless engine is more than just a dream. In addition to working prototypes Sturman, Camcom, and Freevalve, manufacturers such as International Truck and Engine Corp (part of Navistar) had planned to use it in […]
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 […]
Don’t touch that! Things they don’t teach you in circuits lab
The domain of most electronics engineers these days is confined to voltage levels ranging from microvolts on up to a few hundred volts. But when electronic equipment fails or there’s a problem with facility wiring, these same engineers may, in a pinch, be called upon to do basic troubleshooting of power levels far beyond their […]
Electronic engines valves: an idea whose time has come … and gone?, Part 3: The electronic camless approach
The electronically controlled, cam-free internal combustion engine seemed like a good idea, but technical and market realities stifled its acceptance. The previous parts of this article discussed the operation of the standard, cam-driven internal combustion engine with a mechanically driven intake and exhaust valve pair for each cylinder. This section looks at the alternative of […]
Electronic engines valves: an idea whose time has come … and gone?, Part 2: Improving the conventional design
The electronically controlled, cam-free internal combustion engine seemed like a good idea, but technical and market realities stifled its acceptance. Part 1 provided the context for the classic cam-based ICE valve system and alluded to some limitations. This part looks at approaches that have been devised to overcome these issues to some extent. This pushrod-and-cam […]
Measure in-band and adjacent channel power
Spectrum analyzers let you see how distortion can affect transmitted RF signals.
Electronic engines valves: an idea whose time has come … and gone?, Part 1: conventional engine design
The electronically controlled, cam-free internal combustion engine seemed like a good idea, but technical and market realities stifled its acceptance. Despite all the attention given to electric vehicles (EVs) as the inevitable replacement for vehicles powered by the venerable internal combustion engine (ICE), the reality is that for the foreseeable future, cars and trucks will […]