Thermoelectric cooling, using a Peltier module, gives designers flexibility to cool objects to a precisely controlled temperature, even below the ambient temperature of the application if required. It is a great choice if forced-air cooling is not possible, and a thermoelectric device is typically smaller, lighter and more energy-efficient than cooling using a compressor and […]
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How new inductor cores meet demands for smaller, quieter, and more reliable power
by Patrik Kalbermatten, KEMET Engineered composite cores have enabled inductor manufacturers to pack high inductance into a small volume. New FlakeComposite technology takes core performance to the next level, and adds extra mechanical resilience to enable new types of low-profile devices. Power inductors are crucial devices for managing the flow of energy in switching converters, […]
Standard amplifier functions in HEV/EV battery management systems
by Sanjeev Manadhar, Texas Instruments Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) are popular because they have low (to zero) emissions and fewer maintenance requirements while offering better efficiency and drive performance. New HEV/EV companies are emerging, while existing automakers are investing more in HEV/EV to compete for market share. The heart of the […]
Advanced circuit protection for connected autonomous vehicles
New protocols for high connectivity need robust protection for reliability and safety. James Colby | Littelfuse, Inc. At the turn of the century, automobiles hosted many electronic systems that were basically independent. Since then, the growth of connectivity and the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning have changed automotive electronics dramatically. Vehicles of all […]
Keeping connected electronics cool with thermoelectric modules
Future connected vehicles are characterized by clusters of densely packed electronics. Thermoelectric modules can keep the temperature of these hot spots at manageable levels. Andrew Dereka | Laird Thermal Systems Advances in automotive electronics tend to come in small packages where dense circuitry squeezed into a pint-sized footprint generates lots of heat and thermal challenges […]
How bidirectional converters speed the design of dual-battery automotive systems
New standards for combined 48-V/12-V vehicles dictate stringent tests for overvoltages and currents that new converter ICs can help meet. Tony Armstrong | Analog Devices Inc. The 48/12-V automotive battery system is just around the corner. Most major automobile manufacturers have been perfecting such systems for past few years, and it is evident that their […]
Want a new perspective on battery management? Buy a plug-in EV.
One facet of EV ownership: Thinking of your daily commute power consumption as equivalent to the sunlight hitting 20 ft2 of your lawn. Rudye McGlothlin, Silicon Labs Earlier this year I took my first step into the EV future by buying a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) – a Chevrolet Volt. A unique car in […]
Varistors ARE viable for surge protection
by Patrik Kalbermatten, KEMET Protecting sensitive electronic equipment against transient voltages in the form of surges that may be either circuit emanating from relays or motors, or significant ESD events such as lightning strikes, is a vital part of equipment design. Several technologies exist to protect sensitive electronic circuitry from voltage surges, including gas discharge […]
Understanding the electromagnetics of real capacitors
by Asem Elshimi, Design Engineer, IoT Wireless Solutions, Silicon Labs Confession: For the longest time, up to my senior year in electrical engineering school, I thought you could find a capacitor on its own. I had such a boundless imagination to think that you could find a circuit element that is purely capacitive in behavior […]
When you don’t fuse the neutral wire
By the Power Guy, TDK-Lambda AC-DC power supplies for the medical market have long been not only safety certified to the IEC 60601-1 medical standard, but also to the industrial IEC 60950-1/IEC 62368-1 standards. Dual certification reduces the number of individual model numbers that must be produced and stocked; this practice improves production efficiency and […]