Consumer

May 2020
MIPI 2:1 Switch Supports Multi-Camera Devices
Diodes Incorporated announced the introduction of the PI3WVR626, a MIPI D-PHY/C-PHY 2:1 switch that enables a single host device to interface with two MIPI compliant modules, helping engineers optimize the design of multi-camera cell phones and other personal computing devices. Many consumer devices now fea
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Date:
05/27/2020
Lighting Transformer Series for Low-Voltage Lighting Systems
Signal Transformer announces their latest product offering for the lighting industry, the Lighting Transformer (LT) Series. The compact LT Transformer components offer Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) outputs designed for industries and OEM installations of landscape, track, recessed and LED lighting, as well as secu
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Date:
05/19/2020
Generator Source Brings Backup Power to Residential Space
Generator Source announced the launch of its new platform to help residential customers plan and purchase backup power equipment. Generator Mart will assist consumers and small businesses find the right generators and accessories to provide reliable power 24/7/365. Generator Mart offers a curated selection o
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Date:
05/18/2020
Amplifier Evaluation Kit for Class-D Audio Systems
GaN Systems announced the debut and availability of a new amplifier evaluation kit for high sound quality Class-D audio systems. The evaluation kit includes a 2 channel, 200W per channel (8 ohm) Class-D audio amplifier and companion 400W, continuous power audio-grade SMPS. This solution highlights an easy plug an
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Date:
05/14/2020
Chassis and Board Mount Line Expansion Features Power Boost
CUI Inc. announced the addition of nine power supply series to its ac-dc product family. The PSK-S12B, PSK-S25B, PSK-S60B, VOF-S12B, VOF-S25B, VOF-S60B, VOF-S12C, VOF-S25C and VOF-S60C offer 12 to 60 W of continuous power in chassis and board mount packages. These ac-dc power supplies have been designed for a
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Date:
05/12/2020
Renesas Extends Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity to 32-Bit MCUs
Renesas Electronics Corporation introduced the first RA microcontroller (MCU) with an integrated Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy radio. The single-chip RA4W1 MCU includes a 48 MHz, 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4 core and Bluetooth 5.0 core delivered in a 56-pin QFN package. Together, the RA4W1 MCU and easy-to-use Flexible Software Pa
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Date:
05/11/2020
Could Hotel Robots Help Hospitality Industry After COVID-19?
Lead author Dr Tracy Xu, Lecturer in Hospitality at The University of Surrey's world-renowned School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, has had her paper published in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. The research behind the paper involved speaking to 19 hotel HR experts to i
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Date:
05/06/2020
Bluetooth Device Detects Fermentation Process Over Days

Block diagram of the multichannel potentiostat with six 3-electrode biosensors producing data that flows through a printed circuit board and transmits wirelessly to a LabVIEW interface using Bluetooth.

Electrochemical reactions that occur in processes like ethanolic fermentation include the transformation of sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Similar processes occur when the human body breaks down food, drugs or other compounds. Monitoring these metabolic processes helps in testing, studying and comba
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Date:
05/05/2020
Power Is in the Air

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Figure 1 – CISPR 25 Class 5 Initial Testing 100 KHz to 30 MHz

Recently, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC or "Qi") technology won the technology battle and is now the low power standard for handsets. This fact was further cemented with implementation of the Qi technology by all leading worldwide handset makers. Car models, with wireless charging available, is now at
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Date:
05/04/2020
USB Type C Power Delivery and Protection

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Figure 1. USB-C Enables Compact, Slim Industrial Designs while Supporting Various
Power and Connectivity Standards

USB Type C adoption in notebooks, tablets, and smartphones continues to increase due to the features it offers. It is an upgrade to existing USB standards like USB 2.0 and 3.1 while also serving as a replacement for standards like Thunderbolt and Displaypor
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Date:
05/04/2020
Can We Attain Better Audio Amplification? Yes, We GaN!

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Figure 1: Basic block diagram of a Class D amplifier design

Audio is a complex application space, especially when operating in the realms of the audiophile. The highest-end audio equipment comes with a hefty price tag and audio amplifiers of differing types attract followings of users who believe their choice best reproduces a true interpretation of the original recording being played. While the merits and weaknesses of v
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Date:
05/04/2020
Accentuate the Positive
Last month, PSD sent an e-newsletter touting the "Good Stuff" - a collection of good news in our industry. And I thought I'd share some of those positive vibes. Because we could all use a pick-me-up. One of the very first feel-good stories in our new, quarantined reality came via the automotive space. COV
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Date:
05/04/2020
Monolithic 65 V, 8 A Step-Down Regulators with Fast Transient Response

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Figure 1. 12 V, 8 A application using LT8645S at 400 kHz

The LT8645S and LT8646S are 65 V synchronous step-down monolithic regulators capable of supporting 8 A outputs. Their Silent Switcher 2 architecture enables exceptional EMI performance regardless of layout. The LT8646S features RC external compensation to optimize transient responses. Wide In
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Date:
05/03/2020
5 Home IoT Devices that would Benefit from e-Paper Displays

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E-paper brings several benefits to home IoT systems, enabling them to display information to the user that can be seen in ambient light using minimal power.  What's more, the technology can display in color (yellow and red), enabling the delivery of eye-catching alerts. Here we look at five of the be
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Date:
05/03/2020
Solar Inverter Design

Figure 1: Replacing a SJ with a SiC MOSFET, switching loss decreases significantly

Due to the ever-increasing demand for a clean and renewable source of energy, installing solar systems has accelerated significantly in the last decade. Contemporary solar applications require very highly efficient, power-dense and lightweight grid-tied inverters. Traditionally, IGBT has been the device of
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Date:
05/03/2020
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