Remotely located wireless devices require extra-long-life batteries to reduce the cost of ownership. Sol Jacobs • Tadiran Batteries Remote wireless devices serve as the cornerstone for all types of IIoT-related applications, including asset tracking, system control and data automation (SCADA), environmental monitoring, AI, and machine learning, to name a few. Applications that are easily accessible […]
Power Electronic Tips
Micro Peltier modules offer compact footprints as small as 3.4 mm
CUI Devices’ Thermal Management Group announced the expansion of its Peltier module product line with the addition of micro Peltier modules. Carrying compact package sizes with dimensions from 3.4 mm to 9.5 mm and profiles as low as 1.95 mm, these micro Peltier modules offer reliable solid-state construction, precise temperature control, and quiet operation for […]
And the LEAP Gold for Power Electronics goes to…Cornell Dubilier
The winners of the 2020 LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) were announced last week in a digital ceremony, with products across 12 categories, including embedded computing, power electronics, and test and measurement. Critical to LEAP’s success is the involvement of the engineering community. No one at WTWH Media selected the winners. Instead, our […]
How to design modular DC-DC systems, Part 2: Filter Design
The previous tutorial in this series highlighted the performance, flexibility, and speed benefits of using power modules to design power systems then provided an overview of the modular design process. A modular design strategy is powerful, but it requires support circuitry in the power delivery network (PDN) to form a complete power system. This second […]
Boosting efficiency in fast-charge adapters
Gallium-nitride transistors help make charging circuits smaller and more economical. Jimmy Liu • GaN Systems Inc. When it comes to fast-charging power adapters for consumer devices, high power density and high efficiency are now the two major technical requirements. With fast switching speed and low on-state resistance (Rdson), GaN transistors enable adapters that charge fast […]
How SiC boosts efficiency in power conversion
The benefits silicon-carbide MOSFETs become evident from comparisons with their silicon counterparts. Rene Mente • Infineon Technologies New 650-V SiC MOSFETs make it practical to hit power conversion efficiency levels exceeding 97% in switched-mode power supply (SMPS) designs. Simply replacing silicon MOSFETs with SiC versions in typical resonant designs will improve efficiency, but the most significant gains […]
GaN FET hermetica half bridge delivers 15 A
Solid State Devices, Inc. continues to expand its hermetic GaN Power FETs line with the SGF30E100Z8, a 1000 volt dual GaN FET. When used in a half-bridge configuration, this device delivers 15 amps of continuous drain current, but can also be connected in parallel to achieve 30 amps. Similar to SSDI’s other GaN offerings, the […]
Voltage clamp protects 5-V circuits from overvoltages
Advanced Linear Devices Inc., announced a first-to-market low power, low voltage, high-precision voltage-clamp module. The SABMBOVP family is an ideal clamping solution for critical mission applications deployed in business, safety, and security products that are 5V or below. When these systems fail or are interrupted, operations may be significantly impacted. These ultra-low-voltage designs are increasingly […]
Fusible resistors vs fuses
Safety standards often dictate what component provides the best protection against overcurrents. Todd Phillips, Saad Lambaz • Littelfuse, Inc. Most people would probably agree that the time it takes to recharge their cell phone, gaming console, or tablet computer is both inconvenient and annoying. Faster charging requires a more powerful charger or power supply. The […]
Driving modern haptics
Piezo haptics now can provide a realistic sensation of a click or the resistance of a pushbutton. Sonja Taylor Brown • TDK In the movie Ready Player One, teenager Wade Watts regularly enters a virtual reality simulator and virtual gaming environment. For citizens in this future dystopian civilization, the currency of the simulator is more […]