leland teschler, Executive editor According to a company called Joby Aviation, in a few years you’ll be able to summon up an air taxi on your Uber phone app for trips of 25 miles or so. And you won’t have to feel guilty about the environmental impact of your trip because the plane will actually […]
batteries
Thionyl Chloride batteries excel in asset tracking, high-power apps
Ultralife Corporation has extended its ER Generation X family of Lithium Thionyl Chloride (LiSOCl2) batteries for critical applications, with two new products added to the range of rugged, energy-dense batteries. The new additions are the low rate UHE-ER14250-X 1/2AA size bobbin cell for asset tracking and more, plus the high-rate UHR-ER18505-X A size spiral cell for […]
Modules help add wireless charging to small devices
Rohm Semiconductor announced they have developed compact wireless charger modules with an integrated antenna board: the BP3621 (transmitter) and the BP3622 (receiver). These new modules allow designers to add wireless power supply functionality to smaller devices such as smart tags/cards or PC peripherals. Wireless power supplies are increasingly being adopted in smartphones, smart watches, and other compact devices. […]
Low-voltage MOSFETs feature low Rss(on) for smartphone battery PCMs
Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation announced the launch of a new generation Low-Voltage Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (LV MOSFETs) featuring lower Rss(on) for battery Protection Circuit Modules (PCMs) in smartphones. As demand for high-end 5G and LTE smartphones increases, extended battery life and strengthened protection features for batteries are becoming important. 5G phones, in particular, need long-lasting […]
Voltage rail splitters and virtual grounds for batteries and PFCs
Rail splitters are usually associated with battery-powered devices, but that’s not always the case. There are several definitions of a “rail splitter,” sometimes referred to as a “virtual ground” or “pseudo ground.” The most common meaning is creating a new “0V” reference point, usually the mid-point Vin/2 of a single supply voltage such as a […]
Don’t rush to choose rechargeable batteries…at least, not yet
Using energy harvesting and a rechargeable battery to power a remote wireless IoT node seems like an obvious and straightforward solution, but there are some unique aspects to consider. Don’t get me wrong: I really like rechargeable batteries; in fact, I like them a lot. Whether based on lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, lithium-ion, or other chemistry, our […]
Battery charger IC handles low-voltage charging of wearables, compact IoT devices
The BD71631QWZ battery charger IC from Rohm Semiconductor is designed to provide low-voltage charging of wearables (e.g., wireless ear buds) and thin, compact IoT devices (e.g., smart displays) powered by rechargeable batteries. In recent years, the need for safer, higher density rechargeable batteries has led to the development of new battery types. This includes all-solid […]
Lightweight dc/dc converters target fuel cell applications
With its new DCHV320 DC-DC converter, BrightLoop Converters is aiming to provide the best off-the-shelf DC-DC conversion solution to fuel cell vehicles by focusing on extreme power density and versatility. In a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), the fuel cell produces electricity to power the high-voltage batteries needed to run the electric motor. However, fuel […]
Clearing up confusion about tracking multiple current levels
Multichannel power monitors help simplify battery-based systems employing multiple current sensors. Mitch Polonsky • Microchip Technology Inc. Designers of power systems can be forgiven for having some confusion about power monitors. Some of them may even be using a multichannel power monitor without knowing it. That’s because, regrettably, several different phrases are used to refer […]
BMS technology shows 60% increase in battery lifetime, 129% increase in storage capacity
Brill Power, an Oxford University spin-out company, launched “intelligent” battery management systems (BMS) incorporating technology designed to transform the cost and performance of energy storage systems by increasing battery life by up to 60 percent, enhancing storage capacity by up to 129 percent, increasing systems uptime, and driving down the lifetime operating costs for energy […]
