Automotive & Transportation

March 2020
GaN and 48 V – Where are We and Where are We Going?

Figure 1: Si MOSFET-based architecture for providing AC power to the CPU or GPU

Three years ago, the cost of making medium voltage eGaN FETs fell below the cost of equivalently rated power MOSFETs.  At that time EPC decided to use the performance and cost advantages of eGaN FETs to aggressively pursue applications with input, or output, voltage around 48 V. Specifically, automotive an
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Date:
03/31/2020
SiC Semiconductors Towards an Energy Efficient Auto Industry

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Figure 1. The above graph shows the strong growth opportunity at hand as emission standards drive a significant shift to battery electric vehicles. (Source: Yole and Cree estimates)

It’s no secret that the automotive industry is striving for "zero emissions" transportation, which means manufacturers are rapidly ramping up their electrification programs. Most OEMs target 2025 for significant sales volumes of battery and hybrid electric vehicles (BEV and HEV). To meet customer ex
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Date:
03/30/2020
Step-Down Regulators for Automotive, Industrial Applications

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Figure 1. Ultralow EMI emission LT8609S 12 V to 5 V synchronous step-down converter

This device family is optimized for applications requiring low EMI, high efficiency, and a small solution size—suitable for demanding automotive, industrial, computing, and communications applications. All regulators in this series have the same 2 A continuous, 3 A transient (<1 second) load current capability. Th
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Date:
03/30/2020
The APEC That Could've Been
The worst collateral damage of COVID-19 is the decimation of global commerce, and trade shows have been hit especially hard – tough to practice “social distancing” with a few thousand people (or more) clustered together. And one of the most unfortunate victims of this new, quarantined reality was the 2020 Ap
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Date:
03/30/2020
Wire-to-Wire Connector w/ High Vibration and Heat Resistance
Hirose has developed a low-profile waterproof wire-to-wire connector for demanding automotive, agricultural and construction vehicles. Rated to IP67 / IP69K, the 2.2 mm pitch ZE064W Series is resistant to temperatures up to 125°C. A double-layer spring, three-point contact design ensures highly reliable con
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Date:
03/30/2020
Cree's 650V MOSFETs Offer Industry-leading Efficiency
Cree announced the expansion of its product portfolio with the release of the Wolfspeed 650V silicon carbide MOSFETs, delivering a wider range of industrial applications and enabling the next generation of Electric Vehicle (EV) onboard charging, data centers, and other renewable systems with industry-leading po
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Date:
03/30/2020
EPC Launches Update of Popular Video Podcast Series on GaN
Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) Corporation has posted an update to its popular “How to GaN” video podcast series, These updated videos are based on the recently published third edition textbook, GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion.This 14-part educational video podcast series is designed to provi
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Date:
03/30/2020
Automotive-Grade E-Shield Inductors Lower Costs, Save Space
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. expanded its IHLE series of low profile, high-current inductors featuring integrated e-shields for the reduction of EMI with new commercial and Automotive Grade devices in the 5050 case size. The Vishay Dale IHLE-5050FH-51 and IHLE-5050FH-5A lower costs and save board space by eliminating th
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Date:
03/30/2020
Lightweight Glass for Efficient Cars, Wind Turbines
A new machine-learning algorithm for exploring lightweight, very stiff glass compositions can help design next-gen materials for more efficient vehicles and wind turbines. Glasses can reinforce polymers to generate composite materials that provide similar strengths as metals but with less weight. Liang Qi, a pro
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Date:
03/27/2020
Automotive Load Dump TVS Devices Offer Best-in-Class Specs
Taiwan Semiconductor announces the introduction of the TLD5S/6S/8S Series of AEC-Q101 qualified high power unidirectional transient voltage surge suppressors (TVS). The devices, offered with ratings of 3.6 KW, 4.6 KW and 6.6 KW, are ideally suited for critical load dump applications designed to protect onboard e
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Date:
03/26/2020
Proximity Sensors Feature World's Longest Sensing Range
Manufacturers in the automotive industry are striving to make the most of the current trend towards electric vehicles and low fuel consumption by building lighter-weight vehicles and favoring aluminum over iron. As the prevalence of mixed production lines containing both iron and aluminum increases, the demand fo
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Date:
03/25/2020
Design Kits for a Tech that Reduces Power Consumption
Tower Semiconductor announced the release of design kits for a novel 0.18um high-performance power management technology which offers over 35% power efficiency improvement and/or equivalent amount of die-area directly contributing to the die’s price competitiveness. This new offering enables scalable IC operation of
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Date:
03/23/2020
OptiMOS™ IPOL voltage regulators with COT engine
      This product family is designed for today’s server, base station and telecom (operating at 85˚C ambient temperature) and storage applications requiring both high efficiency and high density. The IR3887M is the smallest 30 A device on the market. Fusing Infineon’s latest FET gene
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Date:
03/19/2020
KEMET Introduces Automotive Metal Composite Power Inductors
The MPXV product offering enhances the company’s METCOM range and is AEC-Q200 qualified for use in the automotive sector.   The new power inductors provide efficient power conversion while minimizing Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and are ideal for use in DC to DC switching power supplies for t
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Date:
03/19/2020
Microchip Expands SiC Family of Power Electronics
Together with its broad portfolio of microcontrollers (MCUs) and analog products, Microchip serves the needs of high power system control, drive and power stage – supporting customers with total system solutions.   Microchip’s SiC family includes commercially qualified Schottky Barrier Diode (SBD)-based pow
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Date:
03/19/2020
Metal Composite Power Inductors for Automotive Applications
KEMET Corporation has launched a new family of metal composite power inductors to address the stringent demands of the automotive market. The MPXV product offering enhances the company’s METCOM range and is AEC-Q200 qualified for use in the automotive sector. The new power inductors provide efficient power con
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Date:
03/18/2020
ASIL-Grade Protector IC Ensures Reliability of Safety Apps
Designers can now achieve ASIL compliance for automotive camera modules safely and cost-effectively with the MAX20087 dual/quad camera protector IC from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: MXIM). This is the industry’s only ASIL B- to ASIL D-compliant camera protector IC with integrated I2C-based
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Date:
03/18/2020
SCALE-iDriver for SiC MOSFETs Achieves AEC-Q100
Power Integrations announced that its SIC118xKQ SCALE-iDriver, a high-efficiency, single-channel gate driver for silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs, is now certified to AEC-Q100 for automotive use. Devices can be configured to support gate-drive voltage requirements of commonly used SiC MOSFETs and feature sophisticated sa
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Date:
03/17/2020
900 V and 1200 V SiC MOSFETs for Demanding Applications
ON Semiconductor has expanded their range of wide bandgap (WBG) devices with the introduction of two additional families of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET. Intended for use in a variety of demanding high-growth applications including solar power inverters, on-board charging for electric vehicles (EV), uninterruptible po
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Date:
03/17/2020
SiC Family Provides System Level Improvements in Efficiency
Demand continues to rapidly grow for Silicon Carbide (SiC)-based systems to maximize efficiency and reduce size and weight, allowing engineers to create innovative power solutions. Applications leveraging SiC technology range from electric vehicles and charging stations to smart power grids and industrial and ai
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Date:
03/16/2020
UnitedSiC Announces Distribution Partnership with Digi-Key
UnitedSiC announced a distribution agreement with Digi-Key Electronics. The new partnership will provide Digi-Key customers with worldwide, 24-hour availability of UnitedSiC’s Silicon Carbide product portfolio - including the only standard gate drive SiC devices currently in the market. Yalcin Bulut, VP of G
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Date:
03/16/2020
6W Automotive-standard DCDC Converter ——CVRC1215JD-6WR3
The device provides 82% efficiency and has a sustainable short-circuit protection (self-recovery), and EMI that meets the automotive standards EN55025/ CISPR25 level 4. It also meets the AEC-Q100 automotive standards, which can better meet the requirements of the automotive industry for high reliability and smal
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Date:
03/13/2020
30W High Power Density DC/DC Converter Series URB_YMD-30WR3
This new series URB_YMD-30WR3 comes in 1x1 inch standard package and its power density increased by 50.4% compared to 2x1 inch package products with the same output power. Besides, this URB_YMD-30WR3 series features 18-75V ultra wide input voltage range and operating temperature range of -40℃ to +85℃. Protectio
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Date:
03/13/2020
PCIM Europe 2020 Postponed till July
COVID-19 has claimed another victim – on Friday, PCIM Europe 2020 was officially postponed. The good news is that PCIM will be delayed (until July 28-30) instead of cancelled. And the decision was almost entirely out of the show organizers’ hands. German Health Minister Jens Spahn recently called for
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Date:
03/13/2020
RS Components adds STMicroelectronics’ surge suppression range
Designed to handle 8/20µs and 10/1000µs voltage transients and protect circuits and equipment from power surges, the ST portfolio of Electrical Over-Stress (EOS) TVS Flat devices includes industrial and automotive grade devices. Delivering a lower cost per watt ratio, the portfolio of TVS Flat package variants ar
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Date:
03/12/2020
XP Power launches 20W & 40W PCB mount AC-DC power supplies
Complementing the previously released 3W, 5W and 10W models, the VCE20 and VCE40 series provide 20 and 40 Watts of power respectively and offer an encapsulated version as well as a lower cost open frame version, both of which are suited to PCB mounting. The compact (VCE20 – 63.5mm x 30.5mm x 21.8mm / VCE40 - 85.0mm
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Date:
03/12/2020
Flex adds telecom version to BMR480 DC-DC converters
The converter, called the BMR480 0113/034, provides an extended input voltage range below 40Vin, as required for telecom power conversion applications. It is optimized for a wider input voltage range of 36Vin to 60Vin, compared to the standard converters in the BMR480 series. The new version also has an output volt
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Date:
03/12/2020
Schaffner EMC products available on the EPLAN Data Portal
EPLAN is a powerful information source for global design engineering. The data portal offers customers shared by Schaffner and EPLAN benefits from the integration of device data and CAD which can be used digitally and efficiently in design engineering. EPLAN is a powerful planning tool that is used as a worldwide standa
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Date:
03/12/2020
600 V CoolMOS PFD7 series provides ultra-high power-density
The devices are suitable for ultrahigh power-density designs such as chargers and adapters as well as for low-power drives and specific lighting applications. Robustness and reliability gains together with increased efficiency, minimized switching losses and improved thermal behavior make this product fami
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Date:
03/12/2020
IEC 63171-6 published: Standard industrial interface for SPE set
On January 23, 2020 the international standard for Single Pair Ethernet interfaces in industrial applications was published with IEC 63171-6. The editor is the IEC committee SC 48B copper connectors. The mating face standard IEC 63171-6 T1 Industrial Style was the first standard submitted by HARTING to SC 48B for
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Date:
03/12/2020
RS Components adds Isabellenhütte precision power resistors
Produced using two different proprietary manufacturing technologies known as ISA-Plan and ISA-Weld, Isabellenhütte’s current-sense resistors meet stringent criteria with regard to thermoelectric voltage, long-term stability and inductance that allow electronics designers to optimise power use on PCBs more e
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Date:
03/12/2020
100 V Rated Voltage for 1005-Size Automotive Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors
The capacitor comes in a 1.0 x 0.5 x 0.5 mm package and features a rated voltage of 100 V and a capacitance of 0.01 μF.   We have sophisticated the materials and process technologies nurtured by us to improve rated voltage to 100 V compared to our conventional product UMR105 B7103KV (1.0 x 0.5 x
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Date:
03/12/2020
TAIYO YUDEN Creates 105°C Capable Lithium Ion Capacitor
The new capacitor has an increased operating temperature limit of 105°C Example applications for this newcapacitor include peak assistance and backup power supply in servers, drive recorders, and smart meters. When the product is used at 3.5 V, the upper limit of the operating temperature can reach +105°C,
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Date:
03/12/2020
OptiMOS Source-Down 25 V power MOSFET in PQFN package
The Source Down is the new industry standard packaging concept. The first wave of power MOSFETs launched in this new package is the OptiMOS TM 25 V in a PQFN 3.3x3.3 mm. The device sets a new industry benchmark in MOSFET performance, reducing on-state resistance (R DS(on)) and offering superior thermal management c
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Date:
03/12/2020
MOSFET Driver for Synchronous Rectification
The driver is designed for AC-DC rectification circuits in general consumer applications, notebooks, and USB adapters. The APR348 is capable of driving the external MOSFET in both high-side and low-side secondary-side synchronous-rectifier configurations. This flexible and efficient device supports secondar
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Date:
03/12/2020
ADI and Jungo Cooperate to Improve Vehicle Safety
The combination of ADI’s ToF technology with Jungo’s Co-driver software is expected to enable the monitoring of vehicle occupants for levels of drowsiness and distraction by observing head and body position as well as eye gaze. The solution is also expected to enable smart vehicle interaction based on face,
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Date:
03/12/2020
Intelligent Power Devices enable Standalone System Protection
The IPDs are optimized for automotive ECUs in transmission control, engine control, and other vehicle systems. IPDs are semiconductor devices that protect electronic circuits from breakdown (i.e. due to overcurrent during abnormalities). Unlike conventional fuses, IPD as semiconductor fuses can protect circ
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Date:
03/12/2020
Pre-Switch Demonstrates Efficacy of AI-based Soft Switching
Pre-Switch, Inc., has released first data from its Cleanwave 200kW inverter reference. Double pulse test data demonstrates that the Pre-Switch soft-switching platform – comprising the Pre-Drive 3 controller board powered by the Pre-Flex FPGA, and RPG gate driver board – reduces total system switching losses by
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Date:
03/12/2020
Automotive Phototransistor Optocoupler Saves Energy, Space
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced a new Automotive-Grade phototransistor optocoupler that combines a high current transfer ratio (CTR) range from 50 % to 600 % with a low forward current of 1 mA in the compact SOP-4 mini-flat package. Offering 80 % lower forward current than the previous-generation solution,
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Date:
03/11/2020
SiC MOSFET Devices Enable Better Performance, Efficiency
ON Semiconductor has expanded their range of wide bandgap (WBG) devices with the introduction of two additional families of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET. Intended for use in a variety of demanding high-growth applications including solar power inverters, on-board charging for electric vehicles (EV), uninterruptible po
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Date:
03/11/2020
Common Mode Toroidal Chokes for Noise Reduction
Signal Transformer, a Bel group company, announces their new HCTC Series of Common Mode Toroidal Chokes for design engineers and manufacturers who specify power supplies accommodating Common Mode noise reduction and line filtering. The HCTC Series features a solid carrier base for stable vertical PCB mount
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Date:
03/11/2020
APEC 2020 Cancelled over Coronavirus Concerns
For the first time in 35 years, the show won’t go on for the Applied Power Electronics Conference. On Tuesday, show organizers and sponsors decided to cancel APEC 2020. We all know why – the COVID-19 coronavirus has already claimed South by Southwest (SXSW),
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Date:
03/10/2020
The Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe
550+ top suppliers, 10,000+ industry peers, 3 days. Source the latest powertrain technology in the e-mobility industry at the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe. Get your free trade fair pass today: https://bit.ly/2vTpfOp
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Date:
03/09/2020
Improving the Vision of Self-Driving Vehicles
There may be a better way for autonomous vehicles to learn how to drive themselves: by watching humans. With the help of an improved sight-correcting system, self-driving cars could learn just by observing human operators complete the same task. Researchers from Deakin University in Australia published their res
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Date:
03/06/2020
Ultra-Precision Thin-Film Resistors Available in 0402 Case
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. announced that the company has extended its TNPU e3 series of Automotive Grade ultra precision thin film flat chip resistors with a new space-saving component in the compact 0402 case size. Offering excellent long term stability — for example, permitted maximum resistance change
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Date:
03/03/2020
MLCCs Withstand Demands of Automotive and Medical Equipment
Taiyo Yuden Automotive-Grade Products consist of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and inductors that withstand the demands of automotive electronic components, industrial equipment, and medical equipment. Taiyo Yuden uses its own raw materials and advanced technologies for greater control and flexibility on
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Date:
03/03/2020
Isolated, Nonisolated ±12 V Outputs from 30 V to 400 V Input

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Figure 1. A complete ±12 V/50 mA isolated flyback converter for a wide input range, 30 V to 400 V.

Electric vehicles, large-scale battery storage stacks, home automation, industrial, and telecom power all require converting high voltages to ±12 V, where dual polarity rails are required for powering amplifiers, sensors, data converters, and industrial process controllers. One challenge in all of these systems is
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Date:
03/02/2020
How to Improve Thermal Performance of Ignition IGBTs

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Figure 1. Simplified schematic of the Ignition IGBT test circuit and the resulting IGBT gate voltage, collector current, and dissipated power. P1 is the ON-state power loss and P2 is the discharging cycle power loss

As a result of greater pollution and more stringent regulations, electric and hybrid research and development includes developments in more efficient internal combustion engines and alternative fuels. While the all-electric vehicle is considered the leading solution to eliminate pollutants from vehicles, a number of
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Date:
03/02/2020
When Does it Make Sense to Switch Out Si for SiC?

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Figure 1: RDS(on) comparison for a CoolSiC device using various gate drive voltages at different temperatures

Switch mode power supplies (SMPS) have continued to improve in the overall efficiencies that are attainable when using classic silicon (Si) MOSFET technology. This has been achieved by pushing the boundaries with new silicon fabrication processes, design methodologies, and using these devices in innovative new to
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Date:
03/02/2020
Follow the Yellow SiC Road
Growth in electric vehicle adoption is now exponential. According to the International Energy Agency ‘Global EV Outlook 2019’ document, there were over 5 million electric passenger cars on the roads in 2018, up 63% from 2017, with the figure set to reach 250 million in just ten years. This is in the EV30@30 sc
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Date:
03/02/2020
The Industry's Sustainability Efforts
We’ve spilled a ton of digital ink on the consumer world’s green efforts, but sustainability can be found much closer to home. Infineon Technologies just announced plans to go carbon-neutral by 2030, and that inspired me to take a look at our industry’s voluminous environmental efforts. In the past, we’ve co
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Date:
03/02/2020
Gearing Up for APEC
Across the Atlantic this month, all the talk is about APEC, the first real show of the year to focus on the power industry. This year, the event will take place in New Orleans, which should bring a touch of French Quarter sparkle to the event. However, in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center the focus will be
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Date:
03/02/2020
Wide Band-Gap Semiconductors in the Big Easy
It’s that time of year again – no, not the one where weird relatives stink up the joint and some fat guy zips around the world with magical caribou. I’m talking about APEC. The big one. The crown jewel. The World Series of power. And with it comes arguably the hottest topic in our fair industry – wide ba
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Date:
03/02/2020
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