Motor Drives, Robotics & Controls

May 2016
Linear's 150V low IQ inverting synchronous DC/DC controller uses a single inductor

LTC3896, a high-voltage inverting switching regulator controller

Linear Technology introduced the LTC3896, a high-voltage inverting switching regulator controller that drives an all N-channel synchronous power MOSFET stage. Most low to medium power inverting DC/DC converters utilize a coupled inductor or transformer. However, the LTC3896 uses only a single inductor and converts a 4
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Date:
05/25/2016
Panasonic sponsors TUM's TUfast Racing Team for Formula SAE/Formula Student

Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems is sponsoring the TUfast Racing Team from Technical University Munich (TU Munich) for the Formula SAE / Formula Student racing competition

Panasonic Automotive & Industrial Systems is sponsoring the TUfast Racing Team from Technical University Munich (TU Munich) for the Formula SAE / Formula Student racing competition. The team uses Panasonic’s Pyrolytic Highly Oriented Graphite Sheet (PGS), the thinnest thermal solution in the world, as wel
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Date:
05/24/2016
TI's latest SWIFT converter claims industry’s highest power density

TPS54A20 SWIFT synchronous DC/DC converter functional block diagram

Texas Instruments introduced the industry’s first 12-V, 10-A, 10-MHz series-capacitor buck converter that achieves more than 50 A/cm3 in current density, which is four times higher than any other 12 V power management component or solution available today. The unique topology of the TPS54A20 SWIFT synchronous DC/D
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Date:
05/23/2016
Allegro launches quad DMOS full bridge PWM motor driver IC

A5988 Quad DMOS full-bridge driver IC

Allegro MicroSystems announced a new quad DMOS full-bridge driver IC capable of driving up to two stepper motors or four DC motors. Each full-bridge output is rated up to 1.6 A and 40 V. The A5988 includes fixed off-time pulse-width modulation (PWM) current regulators, along with 2- bit nonlinear DACs (digital-to-analog co
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Date:
05/23/2016
Toshiba’s 2nd-gen SiC Schottky diodes significantly improve current density and surge current ratings

SiC Schottky barrier diode

Toshiba Electronics Europe has unveiled Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) based on the company’s second-generation silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor technology. These SBDs deliver current densities up to 50% higher than first generation devices and can handle significantly higher forward surge currents. Use of SiC se
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Date:
05/19/2016
MicroPower Direct's latest converters target space-constrained apps

MI1000ERU series 10W DC/DC converter

The MI1000ERU series, a family of 10W DC/DC converters, is now available from MicroPower Direct. These high performance power converters are designed to provide the model selection, long field reliability, economy and high performance features required for a wide variety space critical applications. Twenty models ope
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Date:
05/18/2016
Analog Devices' AD7768 8-Channel, 24-Bit, simultaneous sampling ADC now at Mouser

AD7768 8-Channel, 24-Bit, Simultaneous Sampling ADC

Mouser Electronics, is now stocking the AD7768 24-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) from Analog Devices. The 8-channel, simultaneous sampling ADC features a sigma-delta modulator and digital filter per channel, enabling the device to perform synchronized sampling of both AC and DC signals and allowing it to
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Date:
05/18/2016
Toshiba increases current capability of their high-voltage intelligent power devices

TPD4207F HV-IPD

Toshiba Electronics Europe has expanded its HV-IPD (high-voltage intelligent power device) line-up with a 600V, 5.0A part for PWM control of BLDC motors. The TPD4207F will simplify the implementation of high-efficiency BLDC applications ranging from home appliances to industrial pumps and fans. The TPD4207F
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Date:
05/17/2016
PSDcast - Ranbir Singh of GeneSIC on their latest Silicon Carbide tech

Ranbir Singh of GeneSIC

In this PSDcast Dr. Ranbir Singh, founder of GeneSiC, talks to Alix Paultre of Power Systems Design about their position and products in the wide-bandgap semiconductor space. GeneSiC is a pioneer and little-known IP leader in Silicon Carbide technology, and their Silicon Carbide Junction Transistor (SJT) de
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Date:
05/16/2016
Fifty-seven teams from 15 Colorado middle schools gathered at Dakota Ridge High School in Littleton today for the 26th Annual Junior Solar Sprint and Lithium-Ion Battery car competitions. The day's event drew nearly 200 students ready to compete and race the solar- and lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles they des
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Date:
05/16/2016
XP Power's latest encapsulated converters offer chassis or DIN-rail mounting

DTE series fully-encapsulated single-output DC-DC converters

XP Power announced the DTE series of fully-encapsulated single-output DC/DC converters. The series comprises three ultra wide input voltage range models offering 20 (DTE20), 40 (DTE40) and 60 Watts (DTE60) output power. The units are available in either a chassis mount or a DIN rail format, offering flexibility to
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Date:
05/16/2016
Acopian's 288W narrow-profile DC/DC regulated supply series now UL, CE and RoHS compliant

Narrow Profile Series of DC-DC Regulated Power Supplies

Acopian Power Supplies, a leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of standard, modified-standard and custom power supplies, announced that their Narrow Profile DC-DC Regulated Power Supply Series is certified to UL 60950 (Information Technology Equipment) and UL 508 (Industrial Control Equipment) Sa
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Date:
05/14/2016
PSDcast - Robert DeRobertis of Vicor describes their enhanced online design tool

Robert DeRobertis of Vicor

In this PSDcast, Robert DeRobertis of Vicor talks to Alix Paultre of Power Systems Design about the latestest updates to their online design tool at PCIM 2016. Enabling engineers to select components and simulate them online, the new additions to Vicor's PowerBench online design center include an interactive too
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Date:
05/13/2016
Tech Power Electronics extends nanocrystalline current-sense transformer range

Nanocrystalline current-sense transformers

Tech Power Electronics announces the release of three new nanocrystalline current sense transformers SCTN20, SCTN30, SCTN70. They are designed for power electronic applications which require a highly-accurate current measurement.  In comparison with other soft magnetic materials, nanocrystalline alloys is
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Date:
05/09/2016
Now more than ever, the blooming of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been putting emphasis on the longevity of battery life. Every IoT node demands a battery to operate. A household of two people can have anywhere from 20 to 60 batteries in use at any time, and consumers can’t be burdened with the need to ch
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Date:
05/07/2016
Isolated power supply systems are prevalent in server systems, industrial applications, and telecommunication and networking equipment. In this bandwidth-hungry age of the Internet of Things (IoT), a growing number of these systems need to be efficiently powered, driving up the need for power-efficient, cost-effective so
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Date:
05/07/2016
Part 1 of this article provided an overview of TT Electronics’ AEC Q200 qualified and certified transformers, which are optimized for use with a gate drive optocoupler to improve and simplify the design of isolated power supplies. This introduction looked at the theory of operation and how this impacts on ke
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Date:
05/07/2016
Overvoltages and the associated high surge currents can damage, or even destroy electrical and electronic devices. Reliable overvoltage protection is therefore essential. On the basis of a new ceramic material, TDK has now developed a high-surge series of multilayer varistors that combine compact dimensions wi
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Date:
05/07/2016
Micropower Direct unveils compact, 8W, isolated MiniDIP DC/DC converters

MG800xRW series

Available immediately from MicroPower Direct, the MG800xRW series provides 8W of output power in a space saving MiniDIP package. They are specifically designed to provide the compact size, high power density, I/O isolation and model selection required by a wide range of space-critical board-level applications. Twenty one models
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Date:
05/06/2016
Infineon to launch iMotion modular application design kit at PCIM

iMotion Modular Application Design Kit

At PCIM, Infineon Technologies will launch its iMotion Modular Application Design Kit (MADK). The compact and flexible evaluation system provides a scalable design platform for 3-phase motor drives in the range from 20W to 300W. It includes controller and power boards – sensor-less or optionally with sensors. Using the kit,
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Date:
05/05/2016
Pohang University researchers create advanced miniaturized fuel cell

Prof. Choi and his Ph.D. student Kun Joong Kim

Drones are used for various applications such as aero picturing, disaster recovery, and delivering. Despite attracting attention as a new growth area, the biggest problem of drones is its small battery capacity and limited flight time of less than an hour. A fuel cell developed by Pohang University's Prof. Gyeong Man
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Date:
05/04/2016
Wuerth Elektronik eiSos expands its family of FPC connectors

WR-FPC back-lock dual-contact ZIF plug-in connector

There are many interesting applications for flexible printed circuits and flat-flex cables, but there’s one problem they all have in common: FFCs and FPCs need a reliable connector base. Wuerth Elektronik eiSos has now extended its family of WR-FPC products by a back-lock dual-contact ZIF plug-in connector. The simple-to
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Date:
05/04/2016
TI’s 65-V micro-power buck converters claim industry’s lowest quiescent current

65-V, 150-mA synchronous DC/DC buck converters

Texas Instruments introduced two 65-V, 150-mA synchronous DC/DC buck converters with the industry’s lowest 10.5-uA quiescent current (IQ) for powering factory automation and automotive sensor applications requiring high efficiency. The industrial-grade LM5165 and automotive-grade LM5165-Q1 micro-power step-down reg
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Date:
05/04/2016
Tools move into the big leagues when they start moving. Even systems we consider basic, like the wheel and axle, lever, and inclined plane are made up of interacting parts. Every tool we have pretty much beyond the hammer and chisel comes from interacting systems composed of various configurations of the six si
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Date:
05/04/2016
Wuerth's REDline Power Boxes offer custom configuration in a standard housing

Wuerth's REDline Power Boxes offer custom configuration in a standard housing

A novel approach to enabling power distribution, signal transmission, and function management in commercial vehicles, the REDline Power Box family is the name of the new system solution from Wuerth Elektronik ICS. With this series, the leading development partner and supplier of circuit-board-based central electrical sy
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Date:
05/04/2016
Robotics growth impacts drives and controls

Kevin Parmenter, PSD Contributor

Robotics has seemed to reach a tipping, or inflection, point.  Traditionally we think of robotics as being used in the automotive industry. But we’re about to see big changes as embedded applications rapidly expand. A March 2016 report, “The Reign of Robotics Is Here: How Robotics Is Shaping the Futur
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Date:
05/04/2016
Initially regarded as toys, multicopters are now serious business. From simple surveying to future delivery solutions, entire businesses are emerging around the design, supply and use of multicopters. With increased adoption comes increased regulation and the multicopter itself needs to be capable of being piloted in
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Date:
05/04/2016
The Internet-of-Things (IoT) is simply the concept of connecting any device with a sensor or controller to the Internet (and/or to each other). This includes everything from cell phones, appliances, cars machines, components of machines, wearable devices and anything else you can think of.  But the principle of
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Date:
05/04/2016
The term “hot swap” refers to the practice of inserting or removing modules from a powered system. Hot-swap controllers are sometimes categorized together with power distribution switches; however, there are key differences that must be understood for proper system design. A hot-swap controller uses an external se
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Date:
05/04/2016
Being a Sci-Fi geek, I am a fan of the late 1950’s Hollywood “cheesy” low budget Ed Wood movies typical of this genre. One of my favorite films is “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” in which aliens come to Earth to stop humanity from building a doomsday weapon that could destroy the entire universe. However, th
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Date:
05/04/2016
Allegro launches 1MHz bandwidth Hall-based current sensor IC

ACS730 Hall-effect current sensor IC

Allegro MicroSystems Europe announced its first-ever 1MHz bandwidth Hall-effect current sensor IC with a lightning fast 210 ns response time. The ACS730 provides an economical and precise solution for AC or DC current sensing. Allegro’s ACS730 is targeted at industrial, commercial, and communications systems. Ty
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Date:
05/03/2016
Powerbox acquires Eplax, strengthening custom power offerings

From left to right:
Andreas Mielke – Eplax – Co-Managing Director
Martin Sjöstrand – Powerbox C.E.O.
Wolfgang Pape – Eplax – Co-Managing Director
Henrik Flygar – Alder / Powerbox – Board Member

Powerbox, one of Europe’s largest power supply companies and a leading force in optimizing power solutions for demanding applications, announced that it has acquired the privately-held German power supply manufacturer Eplax. The acquisition strengthens Powerbox custom-power capabilities, addressing its four ma
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Date:
05/03/2016
Artesyn's cost-effective, long-life DIN Rail supplies suit industrial apps

ADNB DIN rail power supply family

Artesyn Embedded Technologies announced the ADNB series, a cost-effective addition to its DIN rail power supply family, that offers high efficiency, reliability and long life for a wide range of industrial applications. With power ratings of 40, 60 and 96 W, the new ADNB series is ideal for applications such as
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Date:
05/03/2016
Rogers will be exhibiting at the upcoming Del Mar show May 4th and 5th at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Representatives from Rogers will be exhibiting at Booth #622, with information and insight on the use of their circuit materials, including 92ML laminates & prepregs, ULTRALAM 3850HT, CLTE-XT, an
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Date:
05/03/2016
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