Automotive & Transportation

August 2020
Silent Switcher 2 Regulator for SoC, Microprocessor Apps

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Figure 1. VIN = 14 V, VOUT = 1 V, 20 A. fSW = 400 kHz.

Power budgets continually rise for advanced SoC (system on chip) solutions used in industrial and automotive systems. Each successive SoC generation adds power hungry devices and increases data processing speed. These devices require reliable power, including 0.8 V for cores, 1.2 V, and 1.1 V for DDR3 and LPDDR4, an
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Date:
08/31/2020
The Future of Automotive Sophistication

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Figure 1. Position sensor usage in automotive applications

In the past few years, Electric Vehicles (EV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) have started to become a reality. Figures from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) confirm this; whereas in 2010 the worldwide EV market was negligible, by 2015 over 500,000 electric cars had been sold - and sa
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Date:
08/31/2020
Powering Next-Gen Systems with Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors
Global electrical energy demand is forecast to peak at 30 petawatts in 2020, and beyond that it’s set to increase further. The source might be fossil fuels or renewables–but regardless, the efficiency of power-conversion equipment is critical to minimize costs and energy lost to the environment. Industry consumes
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Date:
08/31/2020
Connecting the Future of HEV/EV Powertrains

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Figure 1. The floating contact system like the one found in Hirose’s FX26 Series board-to-board connector increases reliability by reducing the stress on solder joints caused by misaligned connectors. The floating design also enhances durability by preventing solder cracking.

The popularity of  hybrid vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV) continues to rapidly grow. This can be attributed to consumer demand for eco-friendly vehicles combined with increased confidence in the technology. Almost every automotive manufacturer has HEV and/or EV vehicles in future manufacturing pla
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Date:
08/31/2020
Silicon Carbide's Impact on Electrification

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Figure 1. Cree employees in the lab

The upcoming shift from silicon to silicon carbide in numerous power systems is the biggest transition in the power semiconductor industry since the move from bipolar to IGBTs in the 1980s. While that shift is occurring, many of the industries impacted are experiencing unusually transformative periods across th
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Date:
08/31/2020
Hybrid and Electrical Vehicle Powertrain Testing

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Figure 1. A Hybrid Vehicle Component Stand

Over the past decade, most transportation markets, from automotive, to military, aircraft, and even space systems have seen a tremendous surge of interest in hybrid and electric vehicle technology. To gain the promised efficiency benefits and green profile of these vehicles, it is important to conduct driveline an
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Date:
08/31/2020
Level 2 EV Charger for Commercial & Residential Applications
Phihong has released its new Level 2 AW Series 32A EV AC Charger. Featuring an input voltage range of 200VAC–240VAC, and a built-in rotary switch for selecting maximum output current, the new compact, thin-profile AW Series AC charger is ergonomically designed with IP55-rated weatherproof casing to provide an
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Date:
08/28/2020
Tantalum Capacitors Optimized for Automotive Applications
AVX Corporation released a new series of high-CV resin-molded, surface-mount tantalum chip capacitors with a miniature and low-profile facedown design optimized for automotive electronics applications. The new F98-AJ6 Series capacitors are currently available in miniature 0603 and 0805 chip sizes with maximum he
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Date:
08/27/2020
Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors Increase Design Flexibility
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced two new series of miniature axial aluminum electrolytic capacitors. Offered in 10 compact case sizes ranging from 6.5 mm by 18 mm to 21 mm by 38 mm, the Vishay BCcomponents 125 ALS and 126 ALX series combine operating temperatures up to +125 °C with useful life up to 10
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Date:
08/26/2020
Microchip's Highest-Density EEPROM w/ 4 Mbit Serial EEPROM
Portable consumer and medical devices including fitness trackers, hearing aids and glucose monitors as well as industrial, automotive and other systems often use customer-specific data sets to optimize the consumer experience. These nonvolatile data sets – including calibration constants, background conditions, us
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Date:
08/25/2020
Fuel Cells for Hydrogen Vehicles are Becoming Longer Lasting

The new electrocatalyst for hydrogen fuel cells consists of a thin platinum-cobalt alloy network and, unlike the catalysts commonly used today, does not require a carbon carrier.

Fuel cells are gaining in importance as an alternative to battery-operated electromobility in heavy traffic, especially since hydrogen is a CO2-neutral energy carrier if it is obtained from renewable sources. For efficient operation, fuel cells need an electrocatalyst that improves the electrochemical reaction in
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Date:
08/25/2020
Dual Inductor Reduces Board Space Requirements, Components
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced a new Automotive Grade low profile, high current dual inductor in the 2525 case size. Designed to replace the two inductors required in an automotive Class D audio amplifier with a single device, the Vishay Dale IHLD-2525GG-5A reduces board space requirements and component co
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Date:
08/24/2020
Bourns AEC-Q101 400W Series TVS Diodes in Stock at TTI
TTI, Inc., has stock for immediate shipment of Bourns AEC-Q101 400W SMAJ-Q Series TVS Diodes. The SMAJ Automotive qualified series is offered in the compact DO-214AC (SMA) size format. Working peak reverse voltage is available from 5V up to 220V and typical response times are less than 1.0 picosecond from 0V to
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Date:
08/24/2020
 UnitedSiC Signs Distribution Agreement with Macnica - Japan

Yalcin Bulut, VP of Global Sales and Marketing at UnitedSiC

UnitedSiC has announced it has entered into a distribution agreement with Macnica, Inc. Macnica will partner with UnitedSiC to distribute its product portfolio to Japanese customers in high-growth applications such as electric vehicles, battery charging, IT infrastructure, renewable energy and circuit protection.
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Date:
08/19/2020
TTI Stocks Molex 2.00mm Dual-Row Wire-to-Board Connectors
TTI, Inc., announces the availability of Molex iGrid 2.00mm Dual-Row Wire-to-Board Connectors with Positive Lock, Right-Angle Headers and Gold Terminals from stock at TTI. Molex iGrid Wire-to-Board Dual-Row Connectors offer a compact design and anti-tangle internal lock for applications requiring good mating re
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Date:
08/18/2020
Mouser Offers Texas Instruments' 12-bit SAR ADCs
Mouser Electronics, Inc., is now stocking the ADS7028 and ADS7138 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) from Texas Instruments (TI). The 8-channel, multiplexed, successive approximation register (SAR) ADCs provide reliable performance for applications, such as rack servers, AC drive power stage modules, au
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Date:
08/12/2020
Failsafe Chip Varistors for Automotive Battery Lines
TDK Corporation presents a new range of Open Mode chip varistors for electronic automotive assemblies that are directly connected to the battery. The new chip varistors offer reliable protection against transient surge voltages according to ISO 7637-2 and meet the failsafe requirements according to the VW standard VW
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Date:
08/06/2020
40 and 60 W railway-approved DC/DC converters
The ultra wide input allows the converter to act as an all-in-one solution if different voltage ranges have to be covered in the same application, resolving the issue of having multiple different converters installed. An internal circuit implemented in these modules helps to extend the hold-up time with ease as it
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Date:
08/05/2020
£1.68M UK government grant for Bizen transistor technology
The transistor process technology will be the foundation for the success of British and worldwide industries in all sectors. The grant has been made by the ‘Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge’ program, part of UKRI’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. The aim of the initiative is to position the UK
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Date:
08/05/2020
Vitesco Technologies and ROHM cooperate on SiC solutions
Vitesco Technologies, the powertrain business area of Continental, will use SiC components to further increase the efficiency of its power electronics for electric vehicles (EV). Through their higher efficiency SiC semiconductors make better use of the electric energy stored in a vehicle battery. Thus, an EV has a l
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Date:
08/05/2020
eTruck reduces CO₂ emissions at Infineon's Regensburg site
Just in time for the World Environment Day, an electric truck was commissioned at the Regensburg site after two weeks of testing. The vehicle of the logistics partner Kühne+Nagel will drive the distance between the factory premises and an external warehouse in the east of the city four times per working day. Thu
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Date:
08/05/2020
WiBotic Wireless Charging Solutions Increase Uptime
As robotic fleets reshape logistic, delivery and inspection industries, the demand for more efficient and flexible charging solutions is increasing while the feasibility for these fleets to be managed manually and recharged ad hoc by a 24/7 rotation of personnel is decreasing. The next step is toward enhanced a
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Date:
08/05/2020
Robust Connection for Power
The new connectors are available in various blade designs, orientations and dimensions and are intended for current flows up to 16 A and working voltages up to 300 V. Straight or angled contacts in various numbers are available — for the common 6.3 mm blade receptacles but also for the 2.8 mm version. Fo
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Date:
08/05/2020
New Video Shows How a Zero Flux Current Transducer Works
The transducers can be used for applications such as power analysers in EV production, medical equipment such as MRI scanners and power supplies for particle accelerators. The video explains zero flux technology, also called ‘fluxgate’ and how it works, including the use of a closed loop which balances opposi
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Date:
08/05/2020
COVID-19 hits automotive power semiconductor revenue in 2020
Worldwide revenue for power semiconductors used in automotive applications will fall to $9.1 billion in 2020, down from $10.8 billion in 2019, according to Omdia’s Power Semiconductors in Automotive Report – 2020. “The year 2020 had been expected to bring a rebound for the automotive power semiconductor
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Date:
08/05/2020
Integrated Isolated RS485 + Isolated Power Transceivers Cut Design Time
These new parts provide low radiated emissions and enable solutions that meet EMC compliance with fewer board spins and budget overruns. The transceivers’ simplified PCB layout and small SOIC form factor pack more functionality into space constrained applications than the previous generation as well as current
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Date:
08/05/2020
3kW Transient Voltage Suppressor Diode Array Family
The MDA3KP is a 3kW diode family of more than 25 products with different screening levels, polarities and qualification standards. Microchip’s MDA3KP TVS diode array family – the only available technology offering a comprehensive voltage range tested to a high reliability standard and qualified based on the MIL-PRF-1
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Date:
08/05/2020
Performance improved and space gained
For safe use in industrial applications, Würth Elektronik has now published a circuit layout with transformers as galvanic isolation. The solution has an isolation of 1.5 kV/60 s and is therefore fully suitable for industrial applications, unlike previous circuits that use two 50 V capacitors as galvanic isolation. Wü
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Date:
08/05/2020
Ultracapacitors for IoT devices
NAWA Technologies’ NAWACap ultracapacitors are based on carbon and use a material that is abundant, recyclable and environmentally friendly. The NAWACaps can be packaged into small, flat cells and withstand extremes of temperature and the harshest environments, through deep sea to deep space. They also match i
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Date:
08/05/2020
Wide range of AEC-Q101 discretes in leadless DFN packages
The AEC-Q101 range of devices available cuts across all Nexperia’s product groups and includes switching, Schottky, Zener and protection diodes, bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), N- and P-channel MOSFETs, resistor-equipped transistors and LED drivers. Automotive qualified discrete leadless packages offer
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Date:
08/05/2020
Inexpensive and easy to assemble LIF connector
Small and flexible flat-ribbon cables are widely used in LCD screens, board-to-board connections for medical equipment, test and measurement devices, industrial applications, entertainment electronics, and the broadest conceivable range of other types of devices. In many of these applications, it’s not important
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Date:
08/05/2020
QPL-qualified SupIR-SMD package for rad hard MOSFETs
SupIR-SMD is key to higher performing space power systems such as satellite bus power distribution systems, payload power supplies, space-grade DC-DC converters, and other high-switching designs.   Capable of attaching directly to the PCB, the SupIR-SMD design is optimized for surface mount attach and pr
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Date:
08/05/2020
Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors work up to 150°C
This product lineup is compatible with AEC-Q200, a reliability test qualification standard for automotive passive components. We have sophisticated various types of elemental technologies nurtured by us to improve the temperature characteristics of X7R (operating temperature range: -55 to 125°C) in our  onv
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Date:
08/05/2020
New Indicator Buzzers Feature Tight Frequency Tolerances
Thanks to their narrow frequency range, these audio indicators offer added frequency stability that is not affected by temperature or voltage, while providing more consistent tones and sounds in an end application. This makes them a highly reliable solution for medical, smart home, and security applications that req
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Date:
08/05/2020
Asymmetrical Output, Isolated Dc-Dc Converters
The PRQ3W-S, PQD10W-D, PQF20W-D, and PRF30W-D are 3 to 30 W, dual regulated, dc-dc converters in SIP & DIP packages. These converters additionally offer wide input ranges, robust operating temperatures, and EN 62368-1 certification. The PRQ3W-S series offers up to 3 W of continuous power, an ultra-wide 4:1 i
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Date:
08/05/2020
Renesas introduces High-Accuracy Inductive Position Sensing
The sensor comes in a thin and lightweight form factor, the IPS2200 is ideal for use as an absolute position sensor in a wide range of industrial, medical, and robot applications. The sensor allows customers to cost effectively tailor sensor design for their applications and maximize the performance of the sensor’s accuracy. “Inductive position sen
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Date:
08/05/2020
650V devices added to super junction N-Channel MOSFET series
The DTMOSVI series has already gained a lot of market traction thanks to an excellent ratio of on-resistance and support for elevated switching speeds. The 650V-rated TK110N65Z, TK110Z65Z, TK110A65Z, TK125V65Z, TK155A65Z, TK170V65Z, TK190A65Z and TK210V65Z devices all possess highly appealing performance parameters. These MOSFETs present en
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Date:
08/05/2020
Nano Cap Power Supply Technology Reduces Capacitances
The technology works even with ultra-small capacitances in the magnitude of nF. The growing awareness for sustainable energy consumption has led to greater electrification in a variety of applications. Especially in the automotive field, the number of electrical components continues to increase due to technological innovations spurred by advances in EVs an
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Date:
08/05/2020
USU Launches Research Center for Electrified Transport
The National Science Foundation has awarded Utah State University a five-year, $26 million grant, renewable to 10-year, $50.6 million, to develop an international research center dedicated to advancing sustainable, electrified transportation. The center is expected to raise more than $200 million over the next decade in government and industry support. The grant establishes an Engineering Research Center focused on developing new infrastructure that facilitates widespread adoption of electric vehicles. The center is named ASPIRE — Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification. “ASPIRE represents the very best of what a research university brings to the state and community,” said USU President Noelle E. Cockett. “The center will provide unprecedented opportuniti
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Date:
08/04/2020
Returning to Normal with the Trusty Auto

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

Even the Twilight Zone couldn’t have predicted this – a global pandemic that turned bustling metropolises into ghost towns, caused whole populations to self-quarantine, and left a grim butcher bill with numbers eclipsing half-a-million worldwide. Luckily, our industry appears to be one of the lucky one
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Date:
08/01/2020
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