Notable & Newsworthy

June 2019
Bear Begins Producing Second-Gen Custom Medical Power Supply
Phelps, NY – Bear Power Supplies has begun production of a second-generation dual-output medical AC-DC converter that it designed for a leading global producer of medical instruments. Bear Power Supplies’ US-based contract electronics design team developed the second-generation power supply to increase e
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Date:
06/28/2019
PSDcast - Building out the 5G Infrastructure

Paul Hart, Senior Vice President and General Manager – Radio Frequency, at NXP Semiconductors

In this episode of the PSDcast, we're discussing 5G and what it'll take to build out the infrastructure. It's no exaggeration to say that 5G will transform telecommunications as we know it and further enable the Internet of Things, but a lot of work remains ...
Date:
06/28/2019
Cross Reference Tool Includes over 20,000 Mersen Crosses
NEWBURYPORT, MA - Mersen Electrical Power is excited to announce that a new enhanced cross reference tool is now available on ep.mersen.com. This robust cross reference was created using reference data from Mersen Technical Services and includes over 20,000 Mersen crosses. This easy-to-use tool can be accessed via the Se
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Date:
06/28/2019
10 Watt DC/DC Converter in Ultra-Compact DIP-16 Package
San Jose, Calif. - TRACO POWER has announced the release of their TEL10 series of 10 watt DC/DC converters in the DIP-16 package measuring 0.94 x 0.54 x 0.31", the series sets the new standard for 10 watt power density with 3.83 W/cm3. Approved to UL62368-1 & UL60950, the TEL10 are economical solutions for
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Date:
06/28/2019
700V and 600V Super Junction MOSFETs in 300mm Fab
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (AOS) announced the release of700V and 600V αMOS5 Super Junction MOSFET families in 300mm technologies. αMOS5 is AOS’ latest generation of high voltage MOSFET, designed to meet the high efficiency and high-density needs for Quick Charger, Adapter, P
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Date:
06/28/2019
New Material Shows High Potential for Quantum Computing

Peng Wei is a condensed-matter physicist at UC Riverside, studying quantum states of electrons in new materials.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- A joint team of scientists at the University of California, Riverside, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is getting closer to confirming the existence of an exotic quantum particle called Majorana fermion, crucial for fault-tolerant quantum computing -- the kind of quantum computing th
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Date:
06/28/2019
A Breakthrough in Superconductor Science

Graphic showing van der Waals BSCCO device. (a) Optical image of Hall bar device, (b) Cross-sectional view of a typical device in scanning TEM. Columns of atoms are visible as dark spots; black arrows point to bismuth oxide layers (darkest spots), while gray arrows show their extrapolated positions. (c) Resistivity as a function of temperature for devices of a different thickness.

Phase transitions occur when a substance changes from a solid, liquid or gaseous state to a different state -- like ice melting or vapor condensing. During these phase transitions, there is a point at which the system can display properties of both states of matter simultaneously. A similar effect occurs when no
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Date:
06/28/2019
New Grant Supports Promising Research in Solar Energy

Ujjwal Das, an associate scientist at the University of Delaware's Institute of Energy Conversion, examines a silicon wafer after a thin layer of sulfur - less than 5 nanometers thick - was deposited on the surface. In the background, doctoral students Robert Theisen and Isaac Lam watch a silicon wafer emerge from the atmospheric pressure vapor treatment reactor, where it was treated with hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen selenide gases. The reactor was developed at IEC.

In their quest to improve our ability to capture and distribute the Earth's greatest potential source of power--the sun--scientists are exploring every square nanometer of solar cells, looking for new ways to improve their voltage and efficiency, while reducing costs. The University of Delaware has a distinct
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Date:
06/28/2019
Drone Transmits Uncompressed 4K Video in Real Time

SECOM and Tokyo Tech jointly developed a millimeter wave wireless communication system that enables long distance communication, and succeeded in transmitting 4K uncompressed video in real time from a drone.

SECOM and Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) jointly developed a millimeter wave wireless communication system that enables long distance communication, and succeeded in transmitting 4K uncompressed video in real time from a drone. SECOM is focusing on services for securing wide area facilities by using
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Date:
06/28/2019
Providing Clues to Fracture in Solid-State Batteries
Solid-state batteries - a new battery design that uses all solid components - have gained attention in recent years because of their potential to hold much more energy while simultaneously avoiding the safety challenges of their liquid-based counterparts. But building a long-lasting solid-state battery is easier
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Date:
06/28/2019
Birth of a Discipline: Low-Energy Visible Light IoT Systems
New ENLIGHT'EM project, coordinated by IMDEA Networks Institute, is set to use Visible Light Communications (VLC) technology to bring connectivity and sustainable ubiquitous communication networks to every LED bulb. IMDEA Networks Institute launched this month in Madrid (Spain) a new Marie Curie European Training N
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Date:
06/28/2019
AC-DC Cassette Converters for Rugged Industrial Applications
Santa Clara, CA - Bel Power Solutions announced their Melcher LR Series 300 W AC-DC cassette converters, which are designed for railway and rugged industrial applications. These new LR Series products are an enhancement to Bel Power Solutions’ existing broad range of 19" cassette power supplies, ideal for
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Date:
06/27/2019
SMD Bridge Rectifier Helps Save Manufacturing Assembly Costs
Taiwan Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (TSC) has announced the introduction of SMD bridge rectifier – TBS series. SMD bridge rectifier – TBS series (TBS406, TBS408, TBS410, TBS606, TBS608, TBS610) is designed to optimize higher power application and prevents arcing problems through increased creepage distance wi
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Date:
06/27/2019
Gate-Driver System for IGBT & SiC Dual Power Modules
San Jose, Calif. – Power Integrations announced the SCALE-iFlex gate-driver system for IGBT, hybrid and silicon-carbide (SiC) MOSFET  power modules with blocking voltages from 1.7 kV to 4.5 kV. The system consists of a central Isolated Master Control (IMC) and one to four Module-Adapted Gate Drivers (MAGs)
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Date:
06/27/2019
Digital Power Analyzer Simplifies Power Measurements
Irvine, CA – Adaptive Power Systems Inc. (APS) is introducing a new, single channel digital power analyzer aimed at AC and DC power measurements. These new power analyzer address a wide range of product development and test needs for single phase powered consumer and industrial products as well as DC powered eq
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Date:
06/27/2019
Adaptive Power Systems' Screen-Operated Power Analyzer
Irvine, CA – Adaptive Power Systems Inc. (APS) is introducing a new, multi-channel digital power analyzer aimed at single and multi-phase AC or DC power measurements.  These new power analyzers address a wide range of product development and test needs for a wide range of consumer and industrial products as
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Date:
06/27/2019
Touchscreen Controllers Increase Signal-to-Noise Ratio
CHANDLER, Ariz. — To address electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) challenges faced by developers of automotive touchscreens, three new maXTouch touchscreen controllers and optimization services are now available from Microchip Technology Inc. . The TD family of
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Date:
06/27/2019
Generating more Electricity from Waste Heat

(Left) Schematic of the layered crystal structure of SnSe. (Right) Pressure dependence of thermoelectric power factor at 150 K and 300 K for SnSe. Inset shows the schematic illustration of the corresponding change in valley topology in SnSe.

Osaka, Japan - Researchers at Osaka University have been able to enhance the power factor of a promising thermoelectric material by more than 100% by varying the pressure, paving the way for new materials with improved thermoelectric properties. Thermoelectric materials have the unique ability to generate electricity fr
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Date:
06/27/2019
LIDAR Offerings to Accelerate Future of Autonomous Driving
NORWOOD, Mass. -- Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) announced a collaboration with First Sensor AG to develop products aimed at speeding the launch of autonomous sensing technology serving unmanned automotive, aerial and underwater vehicles in transportation, smart agriculture, industrial manufacturing and other industries. As
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Date:
06/26/2019
Component Enhances 5G/LTE Smartphone Battery Life
SEOUL, South Korea and SAN JOSE, Calif.-- MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation announced a new low-Rss(on)* LV (Low Voltage) MOSFET with reduced chip size for smartphone battery PCMs (Protection Circuit Modules). Extended life and increased protection for batteries in high-end LTE and 5G smartphones are bec
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Date:
06/26/2019
Mouser Electronics Further Expands Headquarters
Mouser Electronics, Inc., is greatly expanding its large global headquarters and distribution center to meet the needs of its flourishing business well into the next decade. Construction is under way to add more than 125,000 square feet to the distribution center, as well as a new 50,000 square-foot office buil
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Date:
06/26/2019
Varistors Offer Ultra-High Surge Capability to 13 kA
MALVERN, Pa. — Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced a new series of VDR metal oxide varistors (MOV) certified for operation up to +125 °C in accordance with UL 1449 edition 4, VDE/IEC 61051-1/2. Designed to provide overvoltage and transient voltage protection in consumer goods and industrial applications, the
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Date:
06/26/2019
Molex Adds New Mid-Power MultiCat Power Connector Versions
LISLE, IL – Molex introduces 8- and 20-circuit mid-power versions to the MultiCat Power Connector System with Precision-Machined Contacts. This system provides superior durability and can be mated quickly and ensures proper connection via connector position assurance, making it effective in multiple industry c
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Date:
06/26/2019
Trapping Light Particles to Develop Quantum Computers
NEW YORK -- Quantum computers, which use light particles (photons) instead of electrons to transmit and process data, hold the promise of a new era of research in which the time needed to realize lifesaving drugs and new technologies will be significantly shortened. Photons are promising candidates for quantum co
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Date:
06/25/2019
Multi-Junction Solar Cells from Off-the-Shelf Components
Multi-junction solar cells are both the most efficient type of solar cell on the market today and the most expensive type of solar cell to produce. In a proof-of-concept paper, researchers from North Carolina State University detail a new approach for creating multi-junction solar cells using off-the-shelf components, re
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Date:
06/25/2019
Explaining Visible Light from 2D Lead Halide Perovskites

Jiming Bao, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Houston, led an international group of researchers investigating how a two-dimensional perovskite composed of cesium, lead and bromine was able to emit a strong green light.

Researchers drew attention three years ago when they reported that a two-dimensional perovskite - a material with a specific crystal structure - composed of cesium, lead and bromine emitted a strong green light. Crystals that produce light on the green spectrum are desirable because green light, while valuable in
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Date:
06/25/2019
SiC MOSFET Gate Drivers Feature Advanced Active Clamping
Power Integrations SIC1182K SCALE-iDriver SiC MOSFET Gate Drivers are single channel drivers with advanced active clamping. These MOSFET drivers feature up to ±8A peak gate output current and integrated FluxLink technology that provides up to 1200V reinforced isolation. The SIC1182K drivers are suitable fo
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Date:
06/25/2019
Non-Silicone-Based TIM for Burn-in and Test
Indium Corporation has added to its line of thermal interface materials (TIMs) with the introduction of HSMF-OS, a non-silicone based metal/polymer material designed for burn-in and test applications. HSMF-OS is designed for high insertion capability. Its high tensile strength and soft compliant polymer backing al
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Date:
06/25/2019
Data Aggregation Platform for Automotive Industry
Fremont, California – Excelfore announces the eDatX platform for big-data-driven AI (Artificial Intelligence) learning in fields of error detection, predictive analytics, and advanced algorithm development. The eDatX platform seamlessly integrate with eSync Compliant automotive OTA and data gathering pip
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Date:
06/25/2019
Diode Intended for CAN Bus and Automotive Circuit Protection
ProTek Devices has introduced a new circuit protection diode to shield CAN Bus and other automotive subsystem designs from electrostatic discharge and other electrical fast transient damage. The ESD protection level is rated at > 25 kilovolts. The PESD2402 is designed to protect two signal data lines fro
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Date:
06/25/2019
Variable Drive Series for Roughness and Contour Measurements
PROVIDENCE, RI –  Mahr Inc. announced the addition of the variable-drive MarSurf VD series, which enables roughness and contour measurements to be performed on the same machine. The operator can easily and quickly change between a high-precision roughness probe system or a highly dynamic contour probe sy
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Date:
06/25/2019
Negative Linear Regulator Features 0.8 µV RMS Noise
Low dropout (LDO) linear regulators have been widely used in noise-sensitive applications for decades. Nevertheless, noise requirements have become tougher to meet as the latest precision sensors, high speed and high resolution data converters (ADCs and DACs), and frequency synthesizers (PLLs/VCOs) challenge conve
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Date:
06/25/2019
Boost Converter Powers High Current LEDs

A 32 V, 2 A LT3762 boost LED driver.

    High power LEDs continue to proliferate in modern lighting systems, spanning automotive headlights, industrial/commercial signage, architectural lighting, and a variety of consumer electronics applications. The industry’s transition toward LED technology is driven by the distinct adv
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Date:
06/25/2019
μModule Regulator with Programmable Compensation
FPGA boards, as well as prototype, testing, and measurement applications demand versatile and high density power solutions. The LTM4678 is a dual 25 A or single 50 A µModule regulator with digital power system management (PSM) in a small 16 mm × 16 mm footprint. It features: Dual digitally adjustable
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Date:
06/25/2019
PSDcast - Application Trends in SiC

UnitedSiC's President and CEO, Chris Dries

In this episode of the PSDcast, we're chatting silicon carbide with UnitedSiC (that's United Ess-Eye-See - no one on this podcast is "sick," pronunciations notwithstanding ).  Wide bandgap semiconductors, including SiC, just might be the most ubiquitous topic in the industry, and there's a good reason for tha
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Date:
06/25/2019
The First Clock Buffers to Meet DB2000Q/QL Standards
CHANDLER, Ariz. — As data centers migrate to greater bandwidth and faster infrastructure, the need for higher performance timing devices becomes critical. Four new 20-output differential clock buffers that exceed PCIe Gen 5 jitter standards for next-generation data center applications are now available from
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Date:
06/25/2019
Ultra-Compact Earthquake Detection Sensor Module
Kyoto and Santa Clara, Calif. –  ROHM announced the availability of an ultra-compact high accuracy seismic detection sensor module, BP3901, which is ideal for applications requiring reliable earthquake detection, such as automatic doors, unmanned transport vehicles, and smart meters. Functions for accur
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Date:
06/25/2019
12A Buck Converter Designed for Ultra-Compact PCB Layout
Silanna Semiconductor announced its highly integrated SZPL8216A family of synchronous point-of-load (PoL) buck converters. These DC/DC buck converters integrate the functions of the DC/DC constant-on-time (COT) controller, output gate drivers and output power blocks all in one compact 3mmx4mm QFN package to deli
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Date:
06/25/2019
Transphorm Strengthens 900 V GaN Portfolio with Second FET
GOLETA, Calif.— Transphorm Inc. introduced its second 900 V FET, the Gen III TP90H050WS, enhancing the industry’s only 900 V GaN product line. These devices now enable three-phase industrial systems and higher voltage automotive electronics to leverage GaN’s speed, efficiency and power density. Further, t
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Date:
06/25/2019
A New 'Golden' Age for Electronics?

Samarium sulfide doped with various rare earth elements shrinks as the temperature increases from about minus 175°C to about 40-60°C. Shown here is the relative linear shrinkage compared to the length at about 120°C. For the Cerium (Ce) dopant, the percentage volume decrease is about 2.6%. These samples were produced by an industrially scalable process, paving the way for practical applications of this class of sulfides as thermal-expansion compensators.

One way that heat damages electronic equipment is it makes components expand at different rates, resulting in forces that cause micro-cracking and distortion. Plastic components and circuit boards are particularly prone to damage due to changes in volume during heating and cooling cycles. But if a material could be
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Date:
06/25/2019
Biochip Advances for Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies

Biochips are driving next-generation DNA sequencing technologies, and this powerful combination is capable of solving unique and important biological problems, such as single-cell, rare-cell or rare-molecule analysis, which next-generation sequencing can't do on its own. In APL Bioengineering, researchers from Seoul National University explore the role advancements in biochip technology are playing in driving groundbreaking scientific discoveries and breakthroughs in medicine via next-generation sequencing, aka high-throughput sequencing. This image shows perspectives on potential biochips used for next generation sequencing for promising applications in biotechnology.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Biochips are essentially tiny laboratories designed to function inside living organisms, and they are driving next-generation DNA sequencing technologies. This powerful combination is capable of solving unique and important biological problems, such as single-cell, rare-cell or rare-molecule an
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Date:
06/25/2019
A Further Step Towards Reliable Quantum Computation
Quantum computation has been drawing the attention of many scientists because of its potential to outperform the capabilities of standard computers for certain tasks. For the realization of a quantum computer, one of the most essential features is quantum entanglement. This describes an effect in which several qu
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Date:
06/25/2019
Tantalum Nitride Chips Offer Robust Humidity Withstanding
RALEIGH, NC – The RTAN Series from Stackpole withstands biased humidity testing at 85 degree C, 85% relative humidity, 10% rated power with very little resistance shift. In addition, the RTAN anti-sulfur materials and design is such that it will pass the rigorous ANSI / EIA-977 (method A) standard sulfur test,
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Date:
06/24/2019
Sager Electronics to Acquire Technical Power Systems
MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. – Sager Electronics announced it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire Technical Power Systems (TPS), a specialist in the production of custom battery assemblies headquartered in Lisle, Illinois. Sager Electronics President Frank Flynn, stated, “Sager, through our specialized gr
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Date:
06/24/2019
Wearable Vibration Sensor for Accurate Voice Recognition
A voice-recognition feature can be easily found on mobile phones these days. Often times, we experience an incident where a speech recognition application is activated in the middle of a meeting or a conversation in the office. Sometimes, it is not activated at all regardless of numbers of times we call out th
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Date:
06/24/2019
Phones and Wearables Combine to Assess Worker Performance

Smartphones, fitness bracelets and a custom app form a mobile-sensing system that judges employee performance.

HANOVER, N.H. - Using smartphones, fitness bracelets and a custom app, researchers have created a mobile-sensing system that judges employee performance. The system works by monitoring the physical, emotional and behavioral well-being of workers to classify high and low performers. The new mobile-sensi
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Date:
06/24/2019
Novel Chinese Nanogenerator Takes cue from Electric Eels

Underwater wireless multi-site human motion monitoring system based on BSNG.

Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a bionic stretchable nanogenerator (BSNG) that takes inspiration from electric eels. The scientists hope the new technology will meet the tough demands of wearable equipment
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Date:
06/24/2019
Laird Thermal Systems Expands SuperCool Series
Laird Thermal Systems has expanded its SuperCool Series product offering with the development of three high performance ultra-compact Peltier Cooler assemblies. The space-saving SuperCool Series is designed for applications that require high cooling capacities in tight space constraints such as chambers in medica
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Date:
06/24/2019
DC-AC Inverters Deliver 800VA Pure Sine Wave Output Voltage
ABSOPULSE Electronics’ CTPH 800-F7W series of high input voltage DC-AC inverters deliver up to 800VA 3-phase pure sine wave output voltage. The inverters operate from a 700Vdc nominal input, 500-900Vdc operating range, 1100Vdc peak, with a maximum start-up current of 2A.  The 800VA units deliver a 3-ph
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Date:
06/21/2019
Analog-to-Digital Converters with Data Rates of 153.6 kSPS
CHANDLER, Ariz. — The rapidly growing market of high precision applications require Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) with faster programmable data rates, higher accuracy and more integrated features to maximize system performance. To meet these needs, Microchip Technology Inc. introduced a family of compact AD
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Date:
06/21/2019
UnitedSiC Adds 4-lead Kelvin Device to UF3C FET Series
Princeton, New Jersey: UnitedSiC has further expanded its UF3C FAST series product offering by introducing an additional 1200V high-performance SiC FET device in a TO-247-4L 4-leaded Kelvin Sense discrete package option. The UF3C120150K4S (https://unitedsic.com/datasheets/DS_UF3C120150K4S.pdf) offers a typical on-resistance (RDS(on)) of 1
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Date:
06/20/2019
Power Supply Monitoring IC with Self-Diagnostic Function
Kyoto and Santa Clara, Calif. –  ROHM announced the availability of a power supply monitoring IC, the BD39040MUF-C, with BIST (Built-In Self Test) that supports functional safety. This IC is ideal for automotive application power supply systems requiring fail-safe measures such as electric power st
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Date:
06/20/2019
DIN Rail Power Supplies Certified for Hazardous Locations
San Jose, Calif. - TRACO POWER has announced the release of their TIB 480-EX Family of 480 Watt DIN rail power supplies that are designed for harsh environments & hazardous locations with certifications for ATEX II3G and UL HazLoc Class I / Div 2 standards. These products bring a new performance level to i
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Date:
06/20/2019
Accelerate Time-to-Market for High-Power Designs w/ new SMU
The demand for more efficient high voltage semiconductors in 5G, automotive, alternative energy and other applications is leading researchers toward new materials including SiC (Silicon Carbide) and GaN (Gallium Nitride). These wide bandgap semiconductors pose increasingly complex test challenges in research an
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Date:
06/20/2019
KIST Gets Robot to Trap Ball Without Coding

This research outcome shows that robots can be intuitively taught to be flexible by humans, as it was not accomplished through numerical calculation or programming of the robot's movements.

Dr. Kee-hoon Kim's team at the Center for Intelligent & Interactive Robotics of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Byung-gwon Lee) developed a way of teaching "impedance-controlled robots" through human demonstrations using surface electromyograms (sEMG)* of muscles and
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Date:
06/20/2019
A Sound Idea: A Step Towards Quantum Computing

Laser pulses.

Tsukuba, Japan - A team at the University of Tsukuba studied a novel process for creating coherent lattice waves inside silicon crystals using ultrashort laser pulses. Using theoretical calculations combined with experimental results that were obtained at the University of Pittsburgh, they were able to show th
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Date:
06/19/2019
A new Manufacturing Process for Aluminum Alloys

PNNL's ShAPE process combined with a unique aluminum alloy produced high-strength, high-ductility rods in one single process.

RICHLAND, WASHINGTON - An advanced manufacturing process to produce nano structured rods and tubes directly from high-performance aluminum alloy powder -- in a single step -- was recently demonstrated by researchers from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Using a novel Solid Phase Processing approach,
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Date:
06/19/2019
Expanding the Temperature Range of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Electric cars struggle with extreme temperatures, mainly because of impacts on the electrolyte solutions in their lithium-ion batteries. Now, researchers have developed new electrolytes containing multiple additives that work better over a wide temperature range. They report their results in ACS Applied Materials &
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Date:
06/19/2019
TMR-Based Sensor for High-Current Coreless Applications
TDK Corporation is expanding its Micronas magnetic sensor portfolio with the CUR 423x sensors developed for current measurements in automotive and industrial applications. The new sensors, marketed under the trademark curSENS, are the first Micronas branded products based on the TDK TMR technology. This technology ha
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Date:
06/18/2019
Commercial FLA Series Dimming Receptacles
Amphenol Commercial Products FLA Series Dimming Receptacles are designed with power and dimming/signal contacts to provide a connection between dimmable photocell and the luminaire for commercial and utility lighting. The locking type receptacles are compliant with ANSI C136-10 and can be used for lighting applications ins
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Date:
06/18/2019
Emerging Device by the Fusion of IGZO and Ferroelectric-HfO2

(a) Cross-sectional TEM image of a TiN/HfZrO2/IGZO capacitor. Each layer was uniformly formed. HfZrO2 layer is uniformly crystallized having ferroelectric phase. (b) Measured polarization charge versus voltage of a TiN/HfZrO2/IGZO capacitor. Clear ferroelectricity was confirmed.

As a part of JST PRESTO program, Associate professor Masaharu Kobayashi, Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo, has developed a ferroelectric FET (FeFET) with ferroelectric-HfO2 and ultrathin IGZO channel. Nearly ideal subthreshold swing (SS) and mobility higher than poly-silicon channel have be
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Date:
06/18/2019
PSDcast - GaN FETs for Satellite Applications

Josh Broline from Renesas

In this episode of the PSDcast, we're chatting with Renesas about GaN FETs for satellites. Wide-bandgap semiconductors have enabled a host of applications, or boosted their efficiency, and for gallium nitride field-effect transistors, one of the more interesting applications is literally out of this world.
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Date:
06/18/2019
'Hot Spots' Increase Efficiency of Solar Desalination

Rice University researchers (from left) Pratiksha Dongare, Alessandro Alabastri and Oara Neumann showed that Rice's 'nanophotonics-enabled solar membrane distillation' (NESMD) system was more efficient when the size of the device was scaled up and light was concentrated in 'hot spots.'

HOUSTON -- Rice University's solar-powered approach for purifying salt water with sunlight and nanoparticles is even more efficient than its creators first believed. Researchers in Rice's Laboratory for Nanophotonics (LANP) this week showed they could boost the efficiency of their solar-powered desalination system by m
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Date:
06/18/2019
Clean Energy Through Photocatalyst Optimization

(a) Product of microwave photoconductivity intensity and its lifetime of oxyhalide photocatalyt 2 vs calcination temperature. The microwave measurements suggest the optimal temperature of 600 ? that is 100 ? lower than the reported one. (b) O2-evolution rate of oxyhalide photocatalyt 2 prepared by different calcination temperature.

Osaka, Japan - Photocatalysts that harness light energy and use it to split water into hydrogen and oxygen attract significant scholarly attention, owing to the appeal of hydrogen as a potential clean energy source. However, the optimization of photocatalyst candidate materials usually requires a considerable ti
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Date:
06/18/2019
800V Bus Converter Module Features 97% Peak Efficiency
The 800V BCM4414 is a 1.6kW, isolated, 1/16 fixed-ratio, bus converter module (BCM), that can operate from a 500V to 800V input voltage, to deliver SELV output voltages with 97% peak efficiency. The new 800V module complements the existing Vicor 700V BCM4414, to create a family of products with reinforced isolation (4,
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Date:
06/18/2019
Augmented Switching Accelerated Development Kits
Philadelphia, PA — AgileSwitch, LLC introduces the ASDAK (Augmented Switching Accelerated Development Kit) for power electronics engineers working with new SiC MOSFET modules.  Applications for the kit including heavy-duty traction vehicles, auxiliary power units in trains, buses and trolleys, EV char
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Date:
06/17/2019
Frontera Named 5th Fastest Supercomputer in the World

Over 50 miles of network interconnect cabling enable Frontera's compute nodes to communicate to each other and to the network servers.

The Frontera supercomputer at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) earned the #5 spot on the twice-annual Top500 list , which ranks the world's most powerful non-distributed computer systems. Located at The University of Texas at Austin, the National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported Frontera is the fastest
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Date:
06/17/2019
Cell Transplantation with Scaffold Microrobots

Professor Hongsoo Choi in the DGIST Department of Robotics Engineering (left), first author and Ph.D. student Seong Woong Jeon (right), senior Researcher Jin-young Kim at DGIST-ETH Microrobot Research Center (middle)

DGIST research team succeeded in developing stem cell delivery of scaffold1 microrobot that can precisely deliver cells to a target body tissue. This research achievement is expected to enhance the treatment safety and efficiency of degenerative neural disorders as it can precisely transplant the exact amount
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Date:
06/17/2019
A new 2D Magnet Draws Future Devices Closer
We are all familiar with the image of electrons zipping around an atom's nucleus and forming chemical bonds in molecules and materials. But what is less known is that electrons have an additional unique property: spin. It is difficult to make an analogy, but one could crudely describe electron spin as a spinning-top rot
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Date:
06/17/2019
Drones for Early Detection of Forest Fires
The UC3M's researchers coordinating the scientific part of the project, Fernando García y Abdulla al-Kaff, from the Department of Systems Engineering and Automation, have developed the complete automatic flight system, as well as the interface with which the emergency service can access information about what is
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Date:
06/17/2019
New Technique uses Sensory Nanoparticles to Detect Disease

Transmission electron microscopy image showing the formation of biomolecular corona around the surface of nanoparticles.

Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital are taking advantage of a unique phenomenon of nanoparticles to develop a test for early detection of different types of diseases, including cancer. Through previous investigations, Morteza Mahmoudi, PhD, now a biomedical investigator in the Department of Anesthesiology, Per
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Date:
06/17/2019
'Self-Healing' Polymer for the Perovskite Solar Tech Market
A protective layer of epoxy resin helps prevent the leakage of pollutants from perovskite solar cells (PSCs), report scientists from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). Adding a "self-healing" polymer to the top of a PSC can radically reduce how much lead it di
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Date:
06/17/2019
Sub-Miniature Tact Switches for Home Automation and IoT
WALTHAM, Mass. – C&K introduces two new sub-miniature tact switches aimed at design engineers developing home automation and Internet of Things (IoT) electronic devices: the PTS636 and PTS526. With printed circuit board (PCB) space at a premium within consumer electronics devices, these ultra-compact C&K sw
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Date:
06/17/2019
Constant Intensity Indicator Series for Rugged Applications
Dialight announced the launch of its new 556 Series Constant Intensity Panel Mount Indicators, the company's first constant intensity product designed for rugged, outdoor applications. Combining InGaN and AlInGaP technologies, the 556 Series delivers maximum light output in a highly durable package designed for
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Date:
06/17/2019
Expanded High-Voltage, Low-RDSON Power Platform
MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel – TowerJazz announced the release of its leading edge 140V low Rdson power platform, providing significant high power efficiency at high voltages. This advanced offering expands the Company’s 90V technology platform, spe
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Date:
06/17/2019
Fuji Electric 7th Generation IGBT Technology Powers Today’s High Efficiency Energy Conversion Systems

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1: IGBT cross sectional structure

Today’s Power Electronic market is driving development of compact, low-loss, and, high-reliability IGBT modules to optimize power conversion systems. In response, Fuji Electric has developed our 7th generation X-Series IGBT technology combining enhanced semiconductor chip characteristics and improved packaging str
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Date:
06/16/2019
PSDcast - Natural Spectrum LEDs at the Grevin Wax Museum

Seoul Semiconductor’s Mark McClear

Most of us intuitively feel that natural sunlight is better than artificial light, whatever the color temperature. And the science backs it up. But today, we're focusing on the aesthetic qualities, and just last month, Seoul Semiconductor  announced that their natural spectrum LEDs had been adopted for use
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Date:
06/14/2019
Single-Layer MOVs Offer Superior Overvoltage Protection
RALEIGH, NC – The RV from Stackpole is a radial-leaded metal oxide varistor available in a wide range of disk sizes and working voltages designed for general-purpose overvoltage protection. The UL 1449 certified RV series offers disk sizes from 5mm to 20mm with peak current ratings up to 18,000 amps and energ
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Date:
06/14/2019
Environmental Lights' Tunable White Backlighting Solution
SAN DIEGO -- Environmental Lights announced the launch of LumenMax Tunable White LED Light Sheets. LumenMax Tunable White LED Light Sheets from Environmental Lights are ideal for backlighting shallow light boxes with tunable white lighting. They feature 18 x 9 cut segments that each contain a tunable w
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Date:
06/14/2019
High Vibration Acceleration-resistant Power Choke Coil
Thanks to the high vibration resistance no anti-vibration reinforcement is needed and therefore streamlines the production process   In an ever growing market for environmentally friendly and energy efficient cars the electrification of the automotive sector is progressing. More and more electric motors and
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Date:
06/13/2019
Mouser Stocking Tiny ams TSL2740 Light and Proximity Sensor
The sensor offers high performance, even at millilux-level intensity, and is ideal for smart home assistants, smartwatches and wearables, display backlight control, tablets, smartphones, and medical diagnostics applications.   The ams TSL2740, available from Mouser Electronics, combines an ambient l
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Date:
06/13/2019
300W and 1000W power supplies with extended communications bus
The addition of the 300W PCA300F and 1000W PCA1000F to the existing 600W PCA600F complements and expands the family of power supplies to cover a much larger range of applications. The PCA series have a built-in extended-UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver –Transmitter) interface supporting up to 83 commands
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Date:
06/13/2019
Small footprint 10 Watt DC/DC converter
The design purpose of these series was to miniaturized low power DC/DC converters to the maximum without sacrificing high efficiency. They set the new standard for power density with 3,83W/cm3.   The TEL 10 & TEL 10WI series offer wide 2:1 or 4:1 input voltage range and feature a high efficiency of up to 8
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Date:
06/13/2019
Renesas and Volkswagen unveil joint automotive laboratory
The SAIC-Volkswagen-Renesas Joint Laboratory will accelerate research and development efforts to support emerging automotive electronics applications, starting with cockpit and vehicle control, for the Chinese automotive market.   The joint laboratory will combine Renesas’ advanced microcontrollers, s
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Date:
06/13/2019
2mm MIL-DTL-83513G DMM connectors with 360° EMC backshells
More, the devices are available on a six-to-eight week leadtime, significantly better than the industry standard 16-20 weeks.   Nicomatic’s highly-reliable DMM connectors comply with MIL-DTL-83513G specifications yet save space when compared to other Micro D connectors and enable a wide choice of con
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Date:
06/13/2019
USB Type-C Port Switch Supports Legacy Data and Audio Signals
As a result of the adoption of USB Type-C ports in mobile phones and tablets, manufacturers are removing other ports such as USB 2.0 and 3.5mm audio sockets. The PI3A6386 port switch enables legacy data and audio signals to be passed through the USB Type-C port, allowing consumers to continue using existing perip
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Date:
06/13/2019
Multi-Channel, Mixed-Signal RF Converter Platform
The MxFE is intendedfor a range of wireless equipment such as 4G LTE and 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) radios. ADI’s new AD9081/2 MxFE platform allows manufacturers to install multiband radios in the same footprint as single-band radios, which as much as triples call capacity available in today’s 4G LTE base
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Date:
06/13/2019
Unleash Micro Speakers’ Potential with DSM Smart Amplifier
The smart amplifier efficiently delivers louder, clearer, richer sound at the lowest quiescent power in the market.   The boosted, digital Class D DSM smart amplifier unleashes a system’s full audio potential by safely driving higher power levels (up to 5.1W) into tiny speakers typically rated f
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Date:
06/13/2019
Ultra-small barometric pressure sensor DPS368 from Infineon
It offers an ultra-high precision of ±2 cm and a low current consumption for precise measurement of altitude, air flow and body movements. This makes the DPS368 ideal for mobile applications and wearable devices offering e.g. activity tracking and navigation. Additionally the sensor can be used in home applianc
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Date:
06/13/2019
CISSOID announces new High Temperature Automotive IC’s
The components are also in excess of AEC-Q100 Grade 0 qualification standard.   CISSOID is introducing the CXT-STA4919, a new high-temperature, high-reliability, 50mA adjustable linear voltage regulator generating any regulated voltage in the range +3.3V to +28V from an input between +4.5V to +35V. The c
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Date:
06/13/2019
Now at Mouser: TE Connectivity’s Intercontec Connectors
TE’s Intercontec connectors deliver a reliable, customized solution for data, power, and signal transmission. The modular, highly versatile connectors are suitable for an extensive range of applications, including robotics, drive systems, medical devices, aerospace, chemical engineering, and transportation.
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Date:
06/13/2019
Essentra Components offer guidance in rotary latch selection
Ubiquitous in the car, truck and specialist vehicle industry, rotary latches make easy work of securing and remotely opening vehicle panels. They’re more typically used in applications involving bonnet, boot lid or storage compartments, e.g. on coaches, emergency vehicles or caravans etc. In these everyday s
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Date:
06/13/2019
Volkswagen relies on Infineon for its electric future
This program stands for close cooperation in key future fields. As the market leader in semiconductors for electro-mobility, Infineon contributes significantly to the move toward electric drivetrains by the world’s largest car maker. Infineon’s power modules control the electric drive in Volkswagen’s modul
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Date:
06/13/2019
Development Kits Unlock Full Potential of SiC MOSFET Modules
Philadelphia, PA — AgileSwitch, LLC, introduces the ASDAK (Augmented Switching Accelerated Development Kit) for power electronics engineers working with new SiC MOSFET modules.  Applications for the kit including heavy-duty traction vehicles, auxiliary power units in trains, buses and trolleys, EV charging an
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Date:
06/13/2019
Wire-to-Board Connector Reduces System Size
DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS — Hirose has developed a versatile wire-to-board connector that enables OEMs to reduce the size of end devices. Part of the SignalBee connector family, the 2.0mm pitch DF51 Series connector has a user-friendly positive lock that provides a clear tactile click and secures a reliable co
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Date:
06/13/2019
Low-Power Technology for Embedded Flash Memory
TOKYO, Japan – Renesas Electronics Corporation announced the development of new low-power technology for use in embedded flash memory based on a 65 nanometer (nm) SOTB (Silicon On Thin Buried Oxide) process. Available with 1.5 MB capacity, it is the world’s first embedded 2T-MONOS (2 Transistors-Metal Oxide Ni
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Date:
06/13/2019
Carbon-Neutral Fuel Made From Sunlight and Air

The research plant is located on the roof of the ETH building on Sonneggstrasse.

Carbon-neutral fuels are crucial for making aviation and maritime transport sustainable. ETH researchers have developed a solar plant to produce synthetic liquid fuels that release as much CO2 during their combustion as previously extracted from the air for their production. CO2 and water are extracted directly fr
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Date:
06/13/2019
PSDcast - The World's First Quantum Dot LED

Dr. Juanita Kurtin, Director of Materials Research at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors

At Lightfair 2019, OSRAM showed off the world's first quantum dot LED brought to market. And in this episode of the PSDcast, we're chatting with Dr. Juanita Kurtin, Director of Materials Research at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors about this new development ...  
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Date:
06/13/2019
Laser Trick Produces High-Energy Terahertz Pulses

From the color difference of two slightly delayed laser flashes (left) a non-linear crystal generates an energetic terahertz pulse (right).

A team of scientists from DESY and the University of Hamburg has achieved an important milestone in the quest for a new type of compact particle accelerator. Using ultra-powerful pulses of laser light, they were able to produce particularly high-energy flashes of radiation in the terahertz range having a sharply de
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Date:
06/13/2019
Consortium to Create £9million Offshore Renewables Hub
A national consortium has been awarded additional funding to cement the UK's position as a global leader in offshore renewable energy (ORE) innovation and research. The Supergen ORE hub was created in July 2018 to bring together a network of academic, industrial and policy stakeholders to champion and mainta
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Date:
06/12/2019
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