Thyristors or silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs) and TRIACs are simple bipolar devices which probably get forgotten in this high-tech, CMOS, MOSFET, digital world. A thyristor is a PNPN bipolar device, compared to a normal bipolar transistor which will be PNP or NPN. A common way of explaining their operation is to visualize the thyristor as […]
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ECCE 2017 session to focus on power electronics workforce development
The Power Electronics Industry Collaborative (PEIC) will organize a panel discussion to present challenges and opportunities facing the power electronics industry as it seeks to identify, attract, and nurture new engineering talent in the business, academic, and government sectors that comprise and support the U.S. power electronics industry. The panel will be presented as part […]
Passive cooling options and considerations (part 2)
Part 1 looked at the basics of passive cooling. Part 2 explores the specifics of passive cooling in more detail. Q: What is a most common physical arrangement used for passive cooling? Most designs use a combination of conduction and convection cooling, and perhaps some radiation. Conduction is used to draw the heat away from […]
Your cell phone battery may someday have an MXene electrode — and recharge super fast
MXenes are what are dubbed “two-dimensional” inorganic compounds. They consist of few atoms-thick layers of transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides. MXenes have only been around since 2011. The interesting thing about MXenes is that they have demonstrated a high capacity for reversible charge storage. So some MXenes have been investigated experimentally for use in […]
Button and coin-cell batteries: Mitigating the big risks of tiny objects
Keith Rhoades, Intertek Group PLC Worldwide, more than 5 billion button and coin-cell batteries are produced every year. In addition to containing a lot of power in a small package, these batteries also introduce potential hazards, particularly to children and the elderly. More than 3,500 incidents of button and coin cell battery ingestion are reported […]
APEC 2018 issues call for technical program paper submissions
APEC 2018, to be held in San Antonio, TX, from March 4-8, 2018, is now accepting submissions for the first of its 2018 speaker deadlines, the Technical Program Papers. These are peer-reviewed papers. Interested authors wishing to present a Technical Program Paper must submit a digest for consideration by July 19, 2017. A complete list […]
Top power electronics threads on EDAboard.com – June
(editor’s note: Intrigued by these power electronics problems? Have a question or another solution? Then click the “Read more” link and follow the conversation on EDAboard.com or log in to EDAboard and participate in the power electronics forum threads.) Full details on creating good sound – I haven’t even been able to find a simple VU […]
Passive cooling options and considerations (Part 1)
Keeping components and systems cool enough and within their safe temperature zone is a concern for many, though not all, designers and projects. Excessive heat as measured by temperature can cause erratic behavior, inaccuracy and drift due to temperature coefficient-induced shifts, shortened component lifetime, and even outright failure. Q: What are the cooling options? The […]
Reverse polarity protection: how can you provide it?
The reverse connection of a circuit to its DC power source, whether it’s a battery or power supply, can damage and even destroy the electronics. For this reason, many connectors are “keyed” to ensure correct connection. But there are many connections which are directly hard-wired using wires inserted into screw terminals, or ring or spade […]
Basics of power-supply self-protection
AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies usually are relatively rugged in regular operation. Nonetheless, some protection features are built into most of these units to ensure that they do not “self-destruct” or damage associated circuitry – primarily their loads – in the event of a failure or out-of-spec operational mode. (note: in strict terms, a power […]