Navitas Semiconductor announced the NV6128, a new high-power 650V/800V-rated GaNFast power IC to address the high-power mobile and consumer power electronics market and take market share from the old, slow, silicon chip. The 70 mOhm NV6128 represents a 66% increase in current capability, in a small, 6 x 8 mm PQFN package with a proprietary, […]
Power Electronic Tips
eGaN DC-DC demo board comes in tiny 1/16th brick size
EPC announces the availability of the EPC9157, a 300 W DC-DC demo board in the tiny 1/16th brick size, measuring just 33 mm x 22.9 mm x 9mm (1.3 x 0.9 x 0.35 in). The EPC9157 demo board integrates the Renesas ISL81806 80 V dual synchronous buck controller with the latest-generation EPC2218 eGaN FETs from […]
Reference design based on 4-kW high-efficiency single-phase ac-dc evaluation board
A new power supply reference design enables engineers to identify and correct design errors before building hardware, thereby lowering product costs and speeding time to market. Switched-mode power supplies provide greater efficiency, increased power density and lower overall system costs when using GaN devices. However, GaN, a high switching speed, high performance wide bandgap semiconductor, […]
Selecting dc-link capacitors for inverters
One key factor: Determining the nuances of how capacitors handle expected ripple currents. Sam G. Parler, Jr., P.E. Cornell Dubilier Examine a dc link capacitor’s ac ripple current and you’ll realize it arises from two main contributors: the incoming current from the energy source and the current drawn by the inverter. Of course, capacitors cannot […]
Hybrid lithium-ion supercaps deliver up to 220 F at 3.8 V
Cornell Dubilier Electronics introduces two new series of Hybrid LIC Supercapacitors in response to the growing need for ultra-high capacitance values at higher operating voltages. The new VMF and VPF Series operate at 3.8 WVDC with capacitance values up to 220 Farads. The higher voltage results in increased energy density. With nearly eight times the energy density and a […]
IGBTs carry Schottky diodes to boost switching efficiency
Infineon Technologies AG has launched a 650 V CoolSiC Hybrid IGBT portfolio in a discrete package with 650 V blocking voltage. The CoolSiC hybrid product family combines the key benefits of the 650 V TRENCHSTOP 5 IGBT technology and the unipolar structure of co-packed Schottky barrier CoolSiC diodes. With superior switching frequencies and reduced switching […]
What is a “Joule Thief” dc/dc converter?
In some applications, it can be useful to drain almost all of the energy of a single cell battery, well below the voltage where the battery is usually considered fully discharged or “dead.” That’s when a Joule Thief dc/dc converter can be attractive. The name implies that the dc/dc converter is stealing Joules of energy […]
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 […]