One of the most common choices for audio communication between a product and a user is a buzzer. Piezo transducer buzzers are one such technology used for audible identification or alert, but unlike their indicator counterparts, transducer buzzers require an external driver circuit to produce a desired tone or sound. So, how does an engineer […]
Killing Covid-19 with UV-C LEDs
Yes, light in the UV-C part of the spectrum will destroy the virus. Here are the basics and a few myths surrounding these light emissions. For those of us still working, it can be a bit unsettling to ponder whether the surfaces we touch harbor a few virions left over from someone infected with Covid-19. […]
Hot topic: Electric vehicle components get more sophisticated thermal models
The high electrical currents of fast charging are forcing designers to invent standard techniques for predictably modeling heat and cooling. Dr. Michael Ludwig, T&C Core Technologies, TE Connectivity The only way electric vehicles (EVs) will ever catch on is if consumers can charge them up quickly. Consequently, manufacturers are developing high-power charging (HPC) schemes which […]
Myth busted: No, LEDs don’t get 50% dimmer after a year
A one-year burn-in test helps refute a small piece of fake news about LED bulbs. We’ve torn down a number of LED bulbs over the years to analyze their content and design strategies. But when we published some of our findings a little over a year ago, we got this missive in the comment section: […]
Thermal propagation triggering and mitigation in medium- and large-format battery modules
by Iris Su, Project Engineer II, Inventus Power A recent change in Li-ion battery pack safety is the shift from a focus on just prevention to one that emphasizes prevention and mitigation. Battery pack designers who were once focused on preventing thermal runaway (TR) are now taking increasing measures on preventing single cell failures within […]
Heat shrink tubing, Part 2: Extensions
Although we take it for granted, versatile and widely used heat shrink tubing is the result of advanced material science, and is available in a broad range of varieties and options. Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the basics of HST and its history. This part looks at the many variations and standard options […]
The basics of heat shrink tubing, Part 1
Although we take it for granted, versatile and widely used heat shrink tubing is the result of advanced material science, and is available in a broad range of varieties and options. Along with duct tape ad nylon cable ties, heat shrink tubing is an essential element in the engineer’s toolkit as well as manufacturing, production, […]
How to select PPTC resettable current-limiting fuses
Circuit protection is a wise choice for anything subject to surges such as over-current, short circuits, dirty power, and overloads. Most of us have already seen a fuse since they can be found in cars, appliances, and thermostats. But did you know that there are current-limiting fuses in your smartphone, smartwatch, ebook readers, laptop, and […]
Applying large banks of supercapacitors
It pays to know techniques for mitigating leakage current and over- voltages in uses where several supercapacitors work in parallel. Michele Kinman Advanced Linear Devices Inc. In applications requiring rapid charge/discharge cycles or short-term energy storage, you’ll often find supercapacitors connected in series or parallel. However, there’s a potential problem when supercaps are wired together […]
How wide bandgap technologies stack up
Cutting-edge power device technologies all have a niche. Here’s a rundown on the applications in which each one likely fits. Dr. Gerald Deboy, Dr. Peter Friedrichs Infineon Technologies The process of converting electrical power to different ac and dc levels and to mechanical motion has changed dramatically over the years. The development of “switched-mode” techniques […]
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