by Koji Ikeda, Sanken Electric Co. and K.C. Nishio, Allegro Micro Systems Over-temperature can be a problem in high-performance switching supplies. New power rectifier diodes build in safeguards to head off heat build-up. Pulse-width-modulated converter and amplifier designs tend to spend much of their time handling significant levels of electrical current. High currents tend to […]
Power Components
Fear of Magnetics
by Leland Teschler, Executive Editor, @DW_LeeTeschler Does it really take a voodoo practitioner to design a switching power supply? You might think so judging by the “black art” label that’s often applied to this aspect of power electronics. The reputation for witchcraft here comes in large part from the role magnetic materials play in getting […]
Teardown: What’s inside a Phillips Sonicare electric toothbrush
by Leland Teschler, Executive Editor A novel ac rectification and coil-driving scheme may characterize the electronics found in this widely used oral hygiene instrument. The Philips Sonicare Elite series toothbrush is billed as generating over 31,000 brush strokes per minute thanks to “sonic motion” driving its brush. A teardown reveals what Philips is talking about […]
Switching thyristors withstand 1.2 kV spikes
Littelfuse, Inc. has introduced the company’s first discrete thyristor devices capable of withstanding voltage spikes higher than 1,200V. The Littelfuse Teccor brand SK225xD/SK255KD/SK625xD/SK655KD Series SCR Switching Thyristors are unidirectional switches designed to handle voltage spikes and power surges in incoming AC power mains. These SCRs can take up to 1,300V (SK225xD and SK255KD Series) or […]
Device modeling software covers GaN and GaAs HEMTs
Keysight Technologies, Inc. has announced the newest release of its industry-leading device modeling and characterization software suite: Integrated Circuits Characterization and Analysis Program (IC-CAP) 2016, Model Builder Program (MBP) 2016, and Model Quality Assurance (MQA) 2016. The software release provides designers characterizing and modeling semiconductor devices with further advances in modeling and characterization efficiency. Keysight’s […]
Varistors give intrinsically safe overvoltage protection
TDK Corporation presents the new T series of EPCOS ThermoFuse varistors for intrinsically safe overvoltage protection. These components are based on disk varistors with diameters of 14 mm (T14 series) and 20 mm (T20 series) that are connected in series with a thermally coupled fuse. The T14 series (B72214T*) covers the voltage range from 130 VRMS […]
AC surge protector devices with type 1 and type 2 meet the latest UL 1449 standard
Bourns, Inc. has announced the expansion of the company’s AC surge protective device (SPD) line with two new heavy duty models that meet the latest Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) 1449 safety and performance standard. Designated Bourns Model 1251 and Model 1252, the two series are high-performance hybrid SPDs. Model 1251 is a Type 1 SPD designed […]
IC photocouplers for intelligent power module drives
Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC) has announced the introduction of two new IC photocouplers: the TLP2745 and TLP2748. The new photocouplers are well-suited to applications including Intelligent Power Module (IPM) drives, communication interfaces (such as RS232, RS422 and RS485), industrial applications, and in data transmission between circuits with different voltages. The new TLP2745 and […]
DIN-rail mounted single-phase supplies target industrial cabinets
New from Electrotech Sales Group, This series of DIN rail mounted single phase switching power supplies target use in electrical control panels and feature 25W to 500W wattages. The power supply outputs are 5, 12, 24, and 48VDC and have short circuit and overload protection. A digital status display shows the output voltage. These power […]
Universal DIN-Rail Mounting Kit for power supplies
Excelsys Technologies, a leader in high-efficiency power supply design, announces the introduction of a DIN-Rail Mounting Accessory for their innovative, high-power-density, single-output and user-configurable modular power supplies. The new accessory facilitates mounting of Excelsys power supplies to a standard 35mm DIN rail and is compatible with the company’s very successful Xgen, UltiMod and Xsolo product […]