Digital power is not a monolithic technology, but a common element in almost all digital power converters is a communication bus, usually based on the PMBus protocol. This FAQ delves into the numerous hardware embodiments and variations of digital power. Part 2 will dig into the operation of the PMBus protocol and the associated SMBus […]
FAQ
How to design modular dc-dc systems, Part 4: Safety protection systems
The previous tutorials in this series detailed the practical design considerations of utilizing power modules for designing power delivery networks (PDNs). Once a designer has chosen appropriate DC-DC modules, designed filters for the input and output of the modules, and provided for the overall stability of the system, the next area of concern is safety. […]
Battery life analysis and maximization for wireless IoT sensor nodes and wearables
In addition to proper hardware design and power consumption testing, an accurate estimation of battery life is an important aspect of designing wireless Internet of Things (IoT) sensor nodes and wearables. For some medical or industrial devices, in particular, users’ lives can be at stake if the battery does not live up to expectations. Some […]
Batteries and charging for wireless IoT sensor nodes and wearables
Battery selection for a given wireless Internet of Things (IoT) node or wearables design is complex. Among the important factors are: how long the device is expected to operate with a single battery; the choice between various primary and secondary battery chemistries; the nominal and cut-off voltage of the electronics; the energy/current consumption profile, the […]
Power consumption testing for wireless IoT sensor nodes and wearables, Part 2
Part one of this FAQ series focused on the various types of components available for designing power systems for wireless Internet of Things (IoT) sensor nodes, wearables, and similar applications. This FAQ focuses on measuring and validating the performance of those power systems. There are several instruments and approaches available for measuring and testing the […]
Power conversion considerations for wireless IoT nodes and wearables, Part 1
Power system considerations are an important aspect of all system designs. In the case of wireless Internet of Things (IoT) nodes and wearables, power system design is complex, with the need to balance numerous performance tradeoffs. It is critical to arrive at a successful design that maximizes both battery life and overall functionality. Fortunately, there […]
Fuel cells application challenges and use cases – Virtual Roundtable (part 2 of 2)
In this second part of EEWorld’s “virtual roundtable” discussion on fuel cells, our panelists delve into the impact of the emergence of fuel cells on energy storage compared with conventional rechargeable batteries: What factors determine when fuel cells are more cost-effective than rechargeable batteries? How do the maintenance and monitoring needs of fuel cells compare […]
Fuel cells capabilities and performance – Virtual Roundtable (part 1 of 2)
In this first part of EEWorld’s “virtual roundtable” discussion on fuel cells, our panelists delve into the impact of fuel cells’ emergence compared with conventional rechargeable batteries: What performance advantage do fuel cells have? What is the barrier to large scale deployment? How can fuel cell performance be improved? And how do the environmental or […]
How to design modular dc-dc systems, Part 3: Stability analysis and decoupling
The previous tutorials in this series showed first how a modular design strategy makes building reliable, adaptable, and high-performing power delivery networks (PDNs) possible when speed is a priority, and second how to design appropriate filtering to meet the needs of DC-DC systems based on switching power modules. This third tutorial will address stability issues […]
HVDC transmission system architectures and use cases
High-voltage dc power transmission (HVDC) use is growing across a variety of applications. One of the main growth drivers is renewable energy. HVDC interconnects between geographically dispersed wind and/or solar farms can help mitigate the effects of variable energy generation levels by providing a means for averaging the various changing power outputs. HVDC is already […]