Supercapacitors now come in a small, thin format that makes them candidates for uses characterized by cramped quarters. Shinji Higuma, TDK Corp. In the next several years, the internet of things (IoT) will include tens of billions of connected devices. Consumer, industrial, medical, and automotive applications will feature connected devices, but not all connected devices […]
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Using simulation to optimize GaN-powered designs
Comparisons of transistor device models and simulation techniques illustrate which approach works best for specific design scenarios. Lei Kou, Lucas Lu, GaN Systems When designing a new system based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) power transistors, simulation provides engineers with a powerful design optimization tool. Through simulation, designers can estimate system efficiency, choose the appropriate device […]
Putting supercapacitors to work
There are a variety of modern applications in which supercapacitors are better candidates than either batteries or ordinary capacitors. George Wundsam, Cornell Dubilier Supercapacitors are not new. First developed in the 1950s, commercial versions were marketed over 40 years ago. At that time, supercapacitors were certainly not on a fast track to practical application. They […]
Protecting fast EV charging stations
Several standards dictate safety measures that fast charging stations must employ. Philippe Di Fulvio, Littelfuse, Inc. An estimated 5.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) were on the road in 2020. By 2025, the expectation is that over 24 million EVs will be in use. A significant limitation to wider EV adoption is the public charging infrastructure […]
Reliable real-time control in automotive HVAC compressor applications for HEVs and EVs
By Osamah Ahmad, product marketing, C2000 real-time MCUs, and Kevin Stauder, system engineer, automotive systems, Texas Instruments After a decade of rapid growth, global hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and electric vehicle (EV) market sales increased a record 43 percent in 2020 over 2019. This much-anticipated global HEV and EV market surge occurs because of region-led […]
Power bricks get an efficiency boost with GaN
The design of an LLC resonant converter illustrates how eGaN FETs can shrink the physical size of modern supply circuitry. Alex Lidow, Efficient Power Conversion Corp. The rapid expansion of computing and telecommunications has brought a migration to a 48 V-based power architecture. Applications for this higher-voltage architecture include artificial intelligence, 5G, big data, and […]
The evolution of smart MOSFET technologies
A review of MOSFET advances helps predict where the technology is likely to head. Ashita Mirchandani, Bastian Lang • Infineon Technologies The past 50 years have seen unprecedented changes enabled by technology. The trend will continue with emerging technologies such as e-mobility, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, connectivity and 5G. At the heart […]
How to keep transients from disrupting low-power circuits
It can be challenging to give a highly dynamic load a stable voltage when the power supply sits several feet away from the device under test. Bill Griffith • Keysight Technologies Today’s integrated circuits put a highly dynamic load on their power supply. This behavior poses a challenge during testing when IC power comes from […]
Improvements in stacked load architectures
Stacked-load schemes have made power conversion more economical in server racks. New developments in this technology promise to provide additional gains in efficiency. Laszlo Lipcsei, Alexandr Ikriannikov, Di Yao — Maxim Integrated, now part of Analog Devices Load currents continue to rise in server applications while rail voltages tend to drop. Consequently, the conduction losses […]
Clearing up confusion about tracking multiple current levels
Multichannel power monitors help simplify battery-based systems employing multiple current sensors. Mitch Polonsky • Microchip Technology Inc. Designers of power systems can be forgiven for having some confusion about power monitors. Some of them may even be using a multichannel power monitor without knowing it. That’s because, regrettably, several different phrases are used to refer […]