Researchers at Purdue University have demonstrated an experimental transistor made from a beta gallium oxide semiconductor. The transistor — called a gallium-oxide-on-insulator field effect transistor, or GOOI FET — is interesting thanks to the ultra-wide bandgap inherent in gallium oxide. Beta gallium oxide (ß-Ga2O3) has a bandgap of 4.8 – 4.9 eV. In comparison, gallium […]
Teardown: Does the Amazon Dash set the tone for IoT appliances?
Amazon’s push-button-ordering gizmo could be a harbinger of things to come on the Internet of Things. But is it a hacker’s dream? Lee Teschler – Executive Editor lteschler@wtwhmedia.com…
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Energy efficient doesn’t mean cost efficient
LEE TESCHLER EXECUTIVE EDITOR I ONCE had a root cellar illuminated by a single incandescent light bulb, the kind of bulb that is being phased out thanks to…
Don’t put batteries in the crumple zone, says automotive expert
Some of the most pressing problems associated with powering electric vehicles have more to do with where batteries sit in the chassis than how much juice they provide….
Review: Control Circuits in Power Electronics, practical issues in design and implementation
When it comes to the design of switching power supplies, there are a handful of basic topologies that engineers learn in their initial coursework. The difficulty comes in…
Gallery: Solar-powered cars get the green flag in Ohio
Saturday, July 30 marked that start of the 2016 American Solar Challenge. The eight-day 1,975-mile road course passes through seven states starting from Brecksville, Ohio and ending up…
Video teardown: Inside the Fitbit Charge
We recently took a close look at a Fitbit, made possible after our recent acquisition of a PC-based microscope for examining tiny stampings of part numbers on super-small…
Video: What can happen without a surge protector
Nasty events can befall electronics in the event of a voltage surge on the ac power lines. We got a dramatic demo of the consequences at Eaton Corp.’s…
Teardown: What’s Inside a Pinball Machine
It’s not such a mean pinball. Executive Editor Lee Teschler speaks with professional pinball player John Replogle about flippers, pop bumpers, and how to keep score without solid state logic.
Video: Up close and personal with an energy efficiency scam
We took a trip over to Eaton Corp.’s Power Systems Experience Center near Pittsburgh to see a demonstration of a type of gizmo being promoted as able to…
