In Part 1 of this FAQ, we looked at the basic DC load line for a simple, basic common-emitter transistor configuration. Part 2 looks at how this graph is used to maintain the linear AC performance of the amplifier configuration. Note that the term “quiescent mode” or “quiescent state” is also used with ICs and […]
FAQ
Why the industrial IoT needs industrial lithium batteries
Advanced lithium battery technology delivers long-life power and high pulses to expand remote wireless connectivity throughout the Industrial Internet of Things. Sol Jacobs | Tadiran Batteries The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is largely influenced by advanced wireless devices and sensors. To a large extent, the rapid expansion of industrial connectivity is being driven by […]
Load lines, Part 1: The basic transistor DC load line
There are concepts and terms in basic analog circuits which may not be familiar to designers who work primarily with digital circuits. Yet digital circuits are really specialized versions of analog ones, so these “old” analog principles play a large although somewhat invisible role. Part 1 of this FAQ discusses DC load-line basics, while Part […]
Why isolated digital inputs are replacing optocouplers in up to 300V systems
by Anant Kamath, Texas Instruments Isolation is a means of preventing DC and unwanted AC currents between two parts of a system while allowing signal and power transfer between those two parts. Isolated voltage detection is used in many industrial applications, including protection relays, power station automation, high-voltage battery management, telecom power supplies, home automation, […]
DC power rails, Part 2: Single-rail and multi-rail management
Part 1 of this FAQ discussed development and designation of basic DC power rails. Part 2 looks at key specifications of these rails, and management of single- and multi-rail systems. Q: What’s an important point to remember whenever discussing voltage? A: The tendency is to say “this voltage rail is at such-and-such voltage” or “the […]
DC power rails, Part 1: Basics and designations
Most circuits and systems now run on DC-voltage power rails. That simple statement glosses over the wide range of voltages, issues of tolerance and ripple, designations of these rails, and management of both single and multiple rails. This FAQ will explore those uses. Q: Why are DC rails so important? A: They are the pathways […]
Measuring current with shunt resistors
Here are a few tips for selecting resistors that will accurately gauge current. Bert Weiss, Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH Today, practically every control and monitoring circuit uses shunt-based current measurements as an alternative to sensors. To make these measurements accurately, it is useful to understand how shunts work. Because the method is categorized as a […]
Designing with bricks – baseplate-cooled converter modules
Power converter modules can simplify equipment design, but engineers may still need to look at EMC emissions and input-surge filtering. Gary Bocock, XP Power Baseplate cooled power converter modules, also known as bricks, provide building-blocks for integrating power conversion into end equipment. These high-density power modules find use in outdoor sealed enclosures, transportation and defense […]
Bearing trade-offs for cooling fans
The life of most fans is set by the shaft bearings. Simple comparisons show why different bearing technologies can exhibit widely varying MTBF figures. Jeff Smoot, CUI Inc. Cooling fans are critical to many of the devices we rely on every day. A key criterion that affects fan life is the shaft bearing. This crucial […]
Tough terminology: Why working voltage matters in safety approvals
Organizations that test power circuits for safety have specific definitions of working voltage and other parameters that bear heavily on how products get safety certifications permitting their sale. Dylan Howes, MINMAX Power, Inc. Safety approval agencies have been evaluating both industrial and consumer products for well over a century. The need for approval by such […]