Alex Lidow’s latest book provides an update on gallium-nitride technology and applications. Lidow, CEO and co-founder of Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) and the former CEO of International Rectifier, is actually the book’s editor: besides Lidow, there are 27 other contributors. Lidow says there’s a need for this book because of the numerous advances in GaN […]
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The difference between Moore’s law and Edholm’s law
Most engineers are familiar with the observation named after Gordon Moore, the co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, who in 1965 posited that the number of components on integrated circuits had doubled annually and projected this rate of growth would continue for at least another decade. In 1975, looking forward to the next decade, he […]
Inverters for green energy systems
Inverters are a key component in green energy systems ranging from solar energy systems to wind turbines. Depending on the size and sophistication of the application, inverters can produce various forms of a square wave, modified sine wave, or true sine wave outputs. Some only invert DC to AC while others are integrated with battery […]
Artificial intelligence and machine learning for power electronics
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in power electronics build on the existing foundation of digital power and represent the next step in the evolution of power converter design, control, and optimization. Just as digital power enables more complex control algorithms than analog control techniques, AI and ML will allow even more complex and […]
Choosing the right amplifier
Amplifiers come in all shapes and sizes. The key characteristic of virtually every amplifier is its gain and fidelity of the output relative to the input. Gain, denoted by β (Greek letter beta), is the ratio of output voltage, current or power to input. An amplifier by definition has a power gain greater than one. […]
Book review: Practical Linux Forensics by Bruce Nikkel
Practical Linux Forensics by Bruce Nikkel, a professor of applied sciences at Bern University in Switzerland, (No Starch Press) covers how to search a Linux-based system for digital evidence that will allow you to draw conclusions and create forensic reports about a particular case or incident. The book is thorough, spanning 398 pages. It covers […]
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces: Video interview with standards group chair
Dr. Arman Shojaeifard of Interdigital Europe explains the concept behind reconfigurable intelligent surfaces and how the standards group he leads will develop those standards.
The brushed DC motor: Still a very viable option, Part 2: Applications
Brushless DC and stepper motors may get more attention than the classic brushed DC motor, but the latter may still be a better choice in some applications. The brushed motor is available in sizes from tiny ones providing a few inch-ounces of torque through hundreds of horsepower and has been used successfully for over 100 […]
The brushed DC motor: Still a very viable option, Part 3: Drivers
Brushless DC and stepper motors may get more attention than the classic brushed DC motor, but the latter may still be a better choice in some applications. The attractiveness of brushed DC motors for some applications and the challenges of optimizing their performance has attracted vendors of special driver ICs which are well-suited for this […]
MCUs for ADAS – what’s the difference?
The emergence of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is changing how designers use and specify microcontrollers (MCUs), but it’s only one dimension of the changes occurring in the design of automotive systems (Figure 1). This FAQ will begin with the basics of AEC-Q100 requirements for automotive integrated circuits – those requirements are not going away […]