Motor Drives, Robotics & Controls

April 2021
CISSOID expands its SiC Intelligent Power Modules Platform
The new modules are intended for use in e-mobility tailored for lower switching losses or for higher power. The company is also introducing a module based on a lightweight AlSiC flat baseplate that meets the demand for natural convection or forced cooling in aerospace and in dedicated industrial applications
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Date:
04/27/2021
Würth Elektronik publishes Web Application Guide
The easy-to-use tool offers the most common switching regulator and interface topologies - for example buck converters, CAN or Ethernet interfaces - and an overview of which components are required for them. From here, there is a direct link to ordering free component samples. With the help of clear and delibera
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Date:
04/27/2021
650 V GaN FETs enable 80 PLUS Titanium-class power supplies
The new family offers significant performance advantages over previous technologies and competitive devices. With RDS(on) performance down to 35 mΩ (typical), the new power GaN FETs target single phase AC/DC and DC/DC industrial switched mode power supplies (SMPS), ranging from 2 kW to 10 kW, especially server and
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Date:
04/27/2021
RS Components extends global franchise agreement with STMicroelectronics
This new phase in the relationship between the two companies will result in a substantial increase in the breadth and volume of ST products stocked by RS. ST will also feature regularly on the award-winning DesignSpark online engineering hub. “RS has been very successful in building up a vibrant internatio
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Date:
04/27/2021
Mouser Electronics Adds 31 New Manufacturers in Q1
Mouser continues to focus on the breadth of its product offering, with new manufacturers in product categories such as embedded, connectors, optoelectronics, semiconductors, and hardware. Among the new manufacturers, over half are in the embedded space, as Mouser continues to expand its Internet of Things (IoT)
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Date:
04/27/2021
Multi-Directional Spring Contacts
These new surface mount components are capable of supporting both horizontal and vertical connection orientations, but come in smaller size formats than were previously available. The S1961-46R has a 3.55mm height, while the S1971-46R has a height of 4.55mm. Although there are a multitude of vertical-only spri
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Date:
04/27/2021
AEC-Q200-compliant inductors with broadband impedance
These are the world’s smallest inductors with broadband impedance for in-vehicle power-over-coax (PoC) circuit of SerDes-based interfacing. The LQW21FT_0H series is compliant to AEC-Q200 and delivers a combination of both broadband impedance and high-current performance. Thanks to state of the art technologies for both
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Date:
04/27/2021
Flexible gate driver families now with reinforced isolation
Both families now offer variants with superior reinforced isolation for higher application safety and long operating life. The new family members are VDE 0884-11 certified. With 8 mm wide-body packages, both families are suitable for applications with demanding isolation requirements including industrial drives, solar
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Date:
04/27/2021
Reference boards efficiently control fridge compressor drives
Both boards are turnkey solutions for low power compressors that can be easily copied by customers to build final mass-production application boards. Since the design of the reference boards is system tested developers can drastically reduce their own system development time. The REF_Fridge_D11T_MOS is a ready-to-
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Date:
04/27/2021
RS Components extends its range of RS PRO sensors
RS Components has announced the expansion of its popular RS PRO sensors range to give customers a comprehensive choice of sensors for use in factory automation applications. The range consists of high-quality sensors and accessories that deliver excellent reliability and great value. Ultrasonic proximity senso
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Date:
04/27/2021
ESD protection devices for automotive interfaces
The devices are especially targetted at the in-vehicle networks (IVN) associated with infotainment and vehicle communications. As data rates increase and vehicles feature more electric content, the need for EMC protection becomes more critical and providing the correct type of protection is a challenge for desig
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Date:
04/27/2021
Pre-Switch publishes highest efficiency figures for 200kW inverter
The inverter used only three discrete, low cost 35 mΩ SiC MOSFETs per switch location. This is expected to revolutionize EV and renewable energy designs. Comments Bruce Renouard, Pre-Switch CEO: “We are shipping the CleanWave200 evaluation systems to initial customers around the world, and the efficienc
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Date:
04/27/2021
Bulgin Updates Data Connectivity Product Offering
This ensures that they remain aligned with the latest standards and protocols. This means that customers have access to industry-leading solutions that support elevated data transfer rates and deliver superior levels of signal integrity. Bulgin’s data connectivity suite includes the following key products:
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Date:
04/27/2021
Regenerative Power Supplies and Loads for Battery Recycling
E-mobility is booming. But with increasing operating time, the lithium-ion batteries used become less effective and need to be replaced in the vehicle. The old batteries then begin a second life or are finally recycled and completely discharged. EA offers a wide ranging product line for initial battery production, rech
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Date:
04/27/2021
AEC-Q103 qualified high-performance XENSIV MEMS microphone
This new device combines the Company’s expertise in the automotive industry with its technical leadership in high-end MEMS microphones to address the need for high performance, low-noise MEMS microphones for automotive applications. The XENSIV IM67D130A is the first microphone in the market to be qualified f
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Date:
04/27/2021
Power Delivery Software Enables USB System Differentiation
By merging their proprietary code with Microchip’s fully functionable PD stack, designers have the ultimate flexibility for creating differentiated product offerings while choosing from a wide variety of Microchip SmartHubs, microcontrollers (MCUs) and standalone PD solutions for their USB systems. Microchi
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Date:
04/27/2021
Mascot further extends Blueline power supply line-up
The 3920 is medically certified in accordance with EN 60601-1 edition 3.1 (safety) and EN 60601-1-2 edition 4 (EMC) and has been designed to meet global power conversion requirements. Working with universal AC line voltages from 90V to 264V, the high-efficiency 3920 offers continuous output power up to 180W
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Date:
04/27/2021
DC-DC buck converters deliver 750W in a small footprint
The output voltage of these 24V nominal input step-down converters can be adjusted from 3.3V to 18V with a maximum current of 45A. The i7A models can be used to derive additional high-power outputs from a 24Vdc power supply, at a lower cost and higher efficiency than isolated DC-DC converters. These very
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Date:
04/27/2021
Fast Bi-Directional Dual Supply Autosensing Level Shifter IC
This advanced level shifting technology, featuring high degrees of flexibility, is proving vital to modern automobile design. It addresses the challenge of lower voltage microprocessors and microcontrollers incorporated into automotive systems, which are required to drive external devices operating at different
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Date:
04/27/2021
Digital DC/DC converter delivers 1300 W in half-brick package
With telecoms infrastructure shifting to 5G, the RFPA is becoming increasingly power-hungry, and RF Power Amplifier designers are moving from LDMOS to Gallium Nitride (GaN) Transistors. Overall, there’s a demand for highly efficient DC/DC converters, that can deliver the power required in a compact package. The BMR6
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Date:
04/27/2021
Updates on IQD’s IQRB-3 rubidium oscillator available
Following the recent releases of new products in this portfolio, the ICPT-1 and the IQRB-4, and an extensive update on the IQRB-1, IQD is now able to share new data on the IQRB-3. The IQRB-3 can be synchronised to a 1 PPS signal as well as used as a 1 PPS source. Additionally, it offers superb phase noise perfo
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Date:
04/27/2021
16-Channel, Mixed-Signal Front-End Digitizer
These applications include phased array radars, electronic warfare, and ground-based SATCOM (satellite communications). The new digitizer includes four AD9081 or four AD9082 software-defined, direct RF sampling transceivers. It is designed to accelerate customer development by providing reference RF signal cha
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Date:
04/27/2021
R-TOOLS MAXX, the Next Generation Heat Sink Calculator
R-TOOLS MAXX is a no charge, on-line simulation software that allows users to model the optimum air-cooled heat sink solution tailored to their project requirements. It is completely interactive and available online 24/7. Users can enter the boundary conditions, heat source details, and choice of flow boundaries f
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Date:
04/27/2021
Compact, conduction cooled 75W AC-DC power supply module
The new supplies require no external circuitry for operation or EMC compliance. Models in the new ASB75 series offer compact, fanless power with baseplate cooling for applications such as information technology equipment (ITE), Internet of things (IoT), general industrial and harsh or rugged applications. The comple
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Date:
04/27/2021
The First Smaller Profile Circuit Protection TVS Components
ProTek Devices has introduced a series of high-powered surface mount TVS components for circuit protection from electromagnetic field, lightning, and other electrical fast transients in high power applications. These new devices for motors and relays are provided in that industry’s lowest-profile packaging co
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Date:
04/26/2021
High Density, Modular Power Delivery Networks Optimize Mobile Robot Performance

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Figure 1: The two robotics platforms are vastly different sizes, but their power delivery networks have much in common. A modular approach offers flexibility in the initial designs and typically faster delivery of subsequent power systems design

The range, productivity, and flexibility of a mobile robot can be enhanced by the optimal design of its power delivery network (PDN). There are complex power system design and architecture considerations in such PDNs due to the variation in the battery power source voltage plus the broad variety of loads that ma
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Date:
04/26/2021
Floating BtB Connector from Hirose for Automotive Powertrains
Hirose has developed a narrow pitch board-to-board connector ideally suited for internal connection of automotive powertrains including motor controllers. Combining shock and vibration resistance with high heat resistance up to 140, the FX26 Series connector delivers high reliability in harsh environment applicati
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Date:
04/23/2021
HiperPFS-4 PFC IC Delivers 98% Full-Load Efficiency
This combination delivers greater than 98% full-load efficiency in PC, TV, and similar applications between 75 W and 400 W.   Comments Power Integrations’ product marketing manager Edward Ong: “Designs using HiperPFS-4 ICs show very high efficiency across the load range with as little as 36 mW of no-load p
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Date:
04/13/2021
1.5 Amp POL switching regulators in an open frame design
This series comes in a compact SIP-3 open frame package and complements our existing POL portfolio with a series focusing strongly on a cost efficient design while maintaining our quality standards. There are 3 output voltages available: 3.3, 5.0 and 12VDC. The effective design allows full load operation up to +85°C a
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Date:
04/13/2021
Perspectives of Using GaN in Motor Drive Applications

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Figure 1: Adding a simple gate resistance produces variable dV/dt limiting

With industrial, office and home automation all expanding, motors and their drives are increasingly used for a wide range of functions from robotic arm control to the humble domestic clothes washer. Motors have of course been used for over a century, but today they must be ‘smart’ to enable more flexibility in
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Date:
04/01/2021
Efficiency, Performance Prompt Redesign of Industrial Motors

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Figure 1. Typical use cases for general purpose drives, servo drives and high power drives

The substantial use of motors in industrial applications makes even small efficiency improvements significant both in terms of global energy consumption and in the operating budgets of many plants. However, a historical pattern of using overrated motors to deliver bursts of higher current during acceleration ha
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Date:
04/01/2021
APEC 2021 Will Be Online-Only Event Due to Covid-19 Concerns
The Applied Power Electronics Conference announces that APEC 2021 will be presented as a virtual event and will take place June 14-17, 2021, on the virtual event platform, Social27. The virtual format will not only ensure the safety of our community, it will also allow: · More of our global community of power
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Date:
04/01/2021
Taking Advantage of PFM with MicroModules for Space Constrained Applications

Figure 1: Block diagram of a security camera application

Space constrained applications like portable devices require especially designed DC/DC converters with a certain set of characteristics. Tight space, by definition, requires tiny DC/DC converters which have excellent thermal performance. This article digs deeper into the challenges that arise for the power supply of s
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Date:
04/01/2021
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