The Power Sources Manufacturers Association (PSMA) has published its ground-breaking Power Supply Software/Firmware Reliability Improvement Report. This report, the result of a year-long project undertaken by PSMA’s Reliability Technical Committee, addresses recommended reliability improvements for power supply digital control software and firmware. This new report attempts to present key findings related to the challenges of […]
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Isolation technology helping solar power connect to grid
by Rudye McGlothlin, Silicon Laboratories Although solar cells were invented some 60 years ago, solar technology is just now becoming a mainstay energy source for utility operators as they move to offload fossil fuels and incorporate more renewable energy sources. Despite a slowdown in 2018 after a reduction in solar feed-in tariffs in several countries, […]
How to design a Peltier module system
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 […]
Power Electronics Top Talks in August 2019 on EDABoard.com
Peer-to-peer, engineer-to-engineer questions and answers from the EDABoard.com engineering community around power electronics. Click the “Read more” link and follow the entire conversation and maybe add your two cents by logging in to EDAboard.com 1 minute vs. 1-second isolation voltage test – Some offline transformers are spec’d for 3750vac for 1second (3mA). Some are spec’d […]
Researchers coat linen thread with nanotubes to make thread-based transistors
In a study published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, researchers from Tufts University say they have devised the first thread-based transistors (TBTs) which can be fashioned into simple, all-thread based logic circuits and integrated circuits. The Tufts devices work in a way that is analogous to an FET. Making a TBT involves coating a […]
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 […]