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 […]
FAQ
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 […]
Battery chemistries that excel in inaccessible applications
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 […]
Harnessing Power-over-Ethernet efficiently
A few simple techniques can boost the efficiency of modern PoE designs. Charlie Ice, Imre Droppa • Silicon Labs The latest Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology delivers enough power to meet the needs of today’s WiFi6 routers, IoT gateways, and 5G small cells. PoE now delivers up to 71 W of power over standard Ethernet […]
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 […]
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 […]
Liquid cooling for precise temperature control
Electronics that generate a lot of heat in a small volume often benefit from swapping a cooling fan for a system based on a liquid coolant. Greg Ducharme • Laird Thermal Systems The specific heat of water is higher than the specific heat of air—about 4,200 J/kg°C vs. 1,005 J/kg°C. This is another way of […]
Formula E powertrains, fast charging and regen – Virtual Roundtable (part 2 of 2)
Moderated by Jeff Shepard Moderated by Jeff Shepard, EE World has organized this “virtual roundtable” bringing together experts in Formula E racing technology to share with you their experience and insights into powertrains, fast charging, regenerative braking, and potential technology crossovers between Formula E and conventional electric vehicles. Joining us for this virtual roundtable are: […]
Formula E batteries, software and technology transfer – Virtual Roundtable (part 1 of 2)
Moderated by Jeff Shepard EE World has organized this “virtual roundtable” bringing together experts in Formula E racing technology to share with you their experience and insights into batteries, software, and potential technology crossovers between Formula E and conventional electric vehicles. Joining us for this virtual roundtable are: Masayasu Yoshida (MY), Vice President, Automotive Systems […]
Coming: New safety ratings for power adapters
Prepare yourself for the updated standards about to take hold in power equipment that includes external adapters. Ron Stull • CUI Inc. A power adapter is a barrier between lethal ac mains voltage and the dc power line for end equipment. Different environments, however, demand different adapter construction to meet safety levels. For example, domestic, […]
