STMicroelectronics has added new fast-starting devices to its family of intelligent power switches for safety-instrumented systems. With power-on delay time of less than 60µs, the IPS160HF and IPS161HF satisfy standardized requirements for interface types C and D in Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Class 3 applications. Featuring a wide input-voltage range of 8V-60V, maximum switch resistance (RDS(on)) of […]
Power Electronic Tips
On the energy storage front: Structural batteries, capacitors with ultra-high energy density
The high interest in more economical energy storage these days yields a continual stream of news about advances in battery chemistry. Here are a couple recent developments of particular note: Capacitors with a high energy density — Capacitors generally have low energy densities relative to batteries or fuel cells. Researchers at the Dept. of Energy’s […]
eGaN 200-V FETs sport low on resistance, small package size
EPC advances the performance capability while lowering the cost of off-the-shelf gallium nitride transistors with the introduction of the EPC2215 and EPC2207 200 V eGaN FETs. The applications for these leading-edge devices include class D audio, synchronous rectification, solar MPPTs (maximum power point tracker), DC-DC converters (hard-switched and resonant), and multilevel high voltage converters. The EPC2215 […]
CMOS LED ICs are drop-in replacements for bipolar drivers
Taiwan Semiconductor announces the availability of the TSCR4 family of linear CMOS LED driver ICs, providing a much-improved performance drop-in replacement for legacy bipolar drivers. These constant current drivers provide stable LED current over a wide range of conditions including source voltage variations, changes in load or temperature variations. Compared to legacy bipolar LED drivers, […]
Ultra-compact encapsulated ac/dc supplies optimized for industrial uses
Traco Power’s new TMPW line of high-density encapsulated AC/DC power supplies cover 4 power levels at 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 watts and are available in either PCB mount or chassis-mount packages. Designed for industrial, IoT / IIoT and household/building applications where small size and an economical price are critical. The TMPW offers […]
Flow batteries – What’s ahead?
Flow batteries have emerged as a commercial alternative that makes economic sense for certain application profiles. Additional development is still needed for flow batteries to be a mainstream energy storage technology. There are probably hundreds of research efforts worldwide. The following is a sampling of key areas of focus for flow battery research and development. […]
Flow batteries – What can you use them for?
Flow batteries are suited for use in several application areas, including utility-scale energy storage, microgrids, renewables integration, backup power, and remote and off-grid power. Flow batteries are highly scalable, and their power and energy ratings can also be scaled independently. They have very little or no self-discharge current. Flow batteries have demonstrated cycle lives of […]
-30 V, P-channel MOSFET offers on-resistance of 1.7 mΩ
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced the first-ever -30 V p-channel power MOSFET to offer on-resistance of 1.7 mΩ at 10 V. With its industry-low on-resistance and 6.15 mm by 5.15 mm thermally enhanced PowerPAK SO-8 single package, the Vishay Siliconix TrenchFET Gen IV SiRA99DP is purpose-built to increase power density. The low on-resistance of the MOSFET […]
Power management ICs optimized for automotive computing platforms
Dialog Semiconductor plc announced that it is expanding its collaboration with Renesas Electronics Corporation by introducing its power management IC (PMIC) solutions for the R-Car M3 and R-Car E3 automotive computing platforms. Building on the collaboration between the two companies on the Renesas’ R-Car Gen 2 and R-Car H3 platforms, the power solutions for the […]
Super-small current transformers boast 750 Vac insulation voltage
Würth Elektronik expands the product family of WE-CST current sense transformers with the new WE-CST EE4.4 series. An innovative manufacturing process not only makes these current sense transformers extremely small (4.7 x 4.65, 3.55 mm), but also provides better insulation. Their insulation voltage of 750 VAC, is 50 percent higher than that of market competitors. […]