Notable & Newsworthy

June 2020
Indicator Buzzers Feature Tight Frequency Tolerances
CUI Devices’ Audio Group announced the introduction of new magnetic and piezo indicator buzzers with tight frequency tolerances of ±100 Hz. 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 to
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Date:
06/30/2020
Richardson Electronics Offers 1700V StarPower IGBT Modules
Richardson Electronics, Ltd. announced the availability of StarPower’s new X-Series 1700V IGBT modules. The new X-Series features ultra-low conduction losses as well as short circuit ruggedness, strengthening StarPower’s offerings as a leading and independent manufacturer of power modules. This new
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Date:
06/30/2020
Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor has Capacitance Value of 1 μF
Murata announces the development of what is believed to be the world’s smallest, laminated multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) with a capacitance value of 1.0 μF in the 01005 inch size (0402M) measuring just 0.4 x 0.2mm x 0.2mm. The GRM022R60G105ME01 with a rated voltage of 4 Vdc is already in mass produc
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Date:
06/30/2020
3W Current Sense Chip Resistor with Improved TCR to 50
Current sensing resistors that operate at high power can experience significant self-heating. This self-heating can cause error in measurement if the sense resistor has high TCR. Stackpole's CSM2512 current sense resistor offers a metal element with TCR now improved to 50 ppm. This ensures high accuracy measurem
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Date:
06/30/2020
Han-Modular Flexbox: Modular connectors for energy chains
The interface has been developed so longer, moving cable runs for machines and machine modules are easier to install and maintain. The Han-Modular Flexbox makes it possible to sub-divide energy chains into flexibly manageable and easily replaceable segments. The modular housing concept replaces the previou
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Date:
06/30/2020
Raspberry Pi HAT board with MERUS class D multilevel amplifier
It offers high definition audio at boom box power levels in a small form factor. The Infineon proprietary multilevel technology ensures minimum size and consumption, state of the art power efficiency, and HD audio quality for Raspberry Pi users and makers. Target field of use are active speakers with wireless m
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Date:
06/30/2020
Modular evaluation platform for discrete CoolSiC MOSFETs
Its centre comprises a motherboard with interchangeable drive cards.  The drive options include a Miller clamp and a bipolar supply card; additional variants will be launched in the near future. In shortening time-to market for a variety of applications, this portfolio will help paving the way for silicon car
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Date:
06/30/2020
ROHM adds Ultra-Compact LED Driver for automotive LED lamps
In response to the growing demand for higher levels of reliability, safety, and increased flexibility for the LED’s thermal management in combination with an ultra-compact design, ROHM developed the industry-leading Automotive LED Driver BD18336NUF-M. “ROHM is embracing the market trend towards miniaturization with its new
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Date:
06/30/2020
Test instruments with 1.35 mm E-band coaxial connector
The connector covers frequencies up to 90 GHz and shall be included in the next releases of both IEEE and IEC relevant standards. Rohde & Schwarz has been a partner in the 1.35 mm E connector development project since its beginning in 2017. An expert group with collective knowledge of microwave signal transmission
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Date:
06/30/2020
Würth Elektronik introduces its WE-LHMD high-current inductor
Thanks to their iron powder cores, the high-current inductors for audio applications (available in 1008 and 1213 packages) display stable behaviour at high peak currents. The WE-LHMD features the 2-in-1 design from non-coupled inductors and is therefore suitable for compact BTL (Bridge-Tied Load) applications.
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Date:
06/30/2020
Würth Elektronik introduces its WE-HIDA high-current inductor
The high current inductor is characterized by low core losses, very low DC resistances from 2.5 mΩ to 14.8 mΩ and high saturation currents.  WE-HIDA is not only available as a single inductor, but also in 2-in-1 designs (package sizes 1415 and 1521) for compact BTL (Bridge-Tied-Load) applications.
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Date:
06/30/2020
Chip-set enables higher performance AI
A driver, MCD4609, and a pair of MCM4609 current multiplier modules supply up to 650A continuous and 1,200A peak. Owing to their small footprint and low profile (45.7mm x 8.6mm x 3.2mm), current multipliers are placed close to the processor enabling reduced power distribution network (PDN) losses and higher pow
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Date:
06/30/2020
MOSFET Gate Driver Switch Intelligent Power Devices
The TPD7106F and TPD7107F can be used to control the conduction and shut-off of currents being supplied to automotive electronic control units (ECUs), including junction boxes and body control modules. They are also suited to use in power distribution modules and semiconductor relays. When combined with
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Date:
06/30/2020
Hybrid HVDC breaker reaches new levels
Full-scale, third party tests on ABB Power Grids’ Hybrid high-voltage direct current (HVDC) breaker, carried out in the KEMA Laboratories (Netherlands) in front of attending European TSOs and grid developers, successfully proved the maturity of the technology. This development is significant in shaping the future
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Date:
06/30/2020
Danfoss secures capacities for electro-mobility chips at Infineon
Infineon will supply chipsets of IGBTs and diodes to the Danfoss Silicon Power business unit. The chips are mainly used in power modules for inverters that control the motors in electric vehicles.  “The market for electro-mobility is picking up noticeably, and the supply industry is getting ready for
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Date:
06/30/2020
4th Generation SiC MOSFETs Feature Lowest ON Resistance
In recent years, the proliferation of next-generation electric vehicles (xEVs) has been accelerating the development of smaller, lighter, and more efficient electrical systems. In particular, improving efficiency while decreasing the size of the main inverter that plays a central role in the drive system remains a
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Date:
06/30/2020
€10.3M project for the most energy-efficient GaN power modules
CGD leads the European funded GANEXT project under the PENTA Programme, targeting the design and development on highly efficient, highly compact prototypes of next generation Gallium Nitride power modules, for low and high power applications. The GaNext Penta project is undertaken by a powerful consortium with co
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Date:
06/30/2020
Advanced, secured NOR Flash memory
Based on Semper NOR Flash’s field-proven and robust smart memory architecture, Semper Secure NOR Flash is the first memory solution to combine security and functional safety in a single NOR flash device to deliver the security, safety, and reliability required for the most advanced connected automotive, industri
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Date:
06/30/2020
Autonomous 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 au
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Date:
06/30/2020
Wide Selection of High-Frequency Connectors
In 174 pages, the "Coax Connectors" English language catalog presents nine product groups. The new product families of SMB and SMP connectors is the highlight. The following product families are featured in the coaxial catalog available today: SMA and Reverse Polarity SMA, MCX and MMCX, SMP and SMB Mor
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Date:
06/30/2020
SiGe rectifiers offer high efficiency and thermal stability
The rectifiers combine the high efficiency of their Schottky counterparts with the thermal stability of fast recovery diodes. Targeting automotive, communications infrastructure and server markets, the new 1-3 A SiGe rectifiers are of particular benefit in high-temperature applications like LED lighting, engine co
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Date:
06/30/2020
Compact intelligent Toshiba power device with 600V rating
With its rated power supply voltage (VBB) of 600V, the TPD4162F can be used for any applications with input signals in the range 200 to 220VAC. The new IC contains a PWM circuit, 3-phase decoder, level shifting high-side driver and low side driver with embedded IGBTs and FRDs. This allows direct drive of brushle
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Date:
06/30/2020
Würth Elektronik Wireless Power Transfer Coil WE-WPCC WPT/NFC
The new device anables the combination of a charging station for smartphones with identification and payment functions. Other new additions to the world's largest range of wireless power transfer coils include a high power coil (WE-WPCC 760308101311) with 400 W output and a "flat" version, two coils whose respective heigh
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Date:
06/30/2020
Software Configurable I/O for Industrial Automation
The new device allows manufacturers and industrial operators to achieve greater control system flexibility while reducing their own product complexities. Traditional control systems require costly and labour-intensive manual configuration, with a complex array of channel modules, analogue and digital signal converte
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Date:
06/30/2020
300W non-isolated, buck-boost DC-DC converters output 9.6V to 48V
The output voltage of these step-up and step-down converters can be adjusted from 9.6 to 48V and accept a wide range input voltage of 9 to 53V. The converters seamlessly transition from buck to boost mode operation without disruption in performance. The i7C 8A series can be used to derive additional high-power outputs
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Date:
06/30/2020
Low Dropout Regulator Offers High PSRR
The device meets the need for voltage regulation in noise-sensitive, battery-operated devices such as wearables, portables, and connected sensors. The AP7353 is available in X1-WLB0707-4 (Type A1) and X2-DFN1010-4 (Type B) packages, each measuring less than 1mm on each side. These dimensions result in a sma
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Date:
06/30/2020
CoolSiC MOSFET 1700 V SMD offers best efficiency
Having added 650 V to the portfolio earlier this year, the company is now launching the 1700 V class with its proprietary trench semiconductor technology. Maximizing the strong physical characteristics of silicon carbide (SiC), this ensures that the new 1700 V surface-mounted devices (SMD) offer superior reliabi
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Date:
06/30/2020
Reliable, Durable, Decentralised Power Supplies
Decentralisation of system components has proven to be an important factor in modern system planning as it simplifies installation, enables expansion and reformatting of systems, and simplifies maintenance. In addition, conventional control cabinets can be replaced by smaller versions or even removed completel
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Date:
06/30/2020
 Electric Vehicle Power Electronics Push Test Equipment Performance Limits

Table 1. LV123 Operational status vs. operating voltage ranges

Power Electronics in New Vehicle Systems Automotive electronics are changing in dramatic ways. While it is true that “traditional” internal combustion engine vehicles still dominate the market, the automotive world is racing into a disruptive future. The market demand for reduction in the use of fossil fuels
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Date:
06/30/2020
Smallest Automotive Controllers for Smart Surfaces
To help enhance and ease today’s driving experience, automotive manufacturers are implementing additional touch displays beyond the center infotainment display (CID). Supporting the application of these secondary displays with advanced features, Microchip Technology Inc. announced the extension of its market-leading ma
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Date:
06/29/2020
Buck-Boost Battery Chargers with 50% Greater Power Density
  Texas Instruments (TI) introduced the industry’s smallest buck-boost battery charger integrated circuits, which integrate power-path management for maximum power density and universal and fast charging at up to 97% efficiency. The BQ25790 and BQ25792 support efficient charging and 10 times lower quiescen
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Date:
06/29/2020
Toshiba Brushless Motor Pre-Driver Available from TTI
The Toshiba TC78B009FTG 3-phase pre-driver for brushless motor control is available from TTI, Inc., a leading specialty distributor of electronic components. The TC78B009FTG drives an external MOSFET and does not require Hall sensors. In addition, a closed loop speed control regulates and maintains the motor ro
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Date:
06/29/2020
Software Accelerates System Development for FPGA Designs
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation announced availability of the latest version of its popular software design tool for FPGAs, Lattice Radiant 2.1. The version includes support for the company’s new general-purpose Lattice Certus-NX FPGAs, the second family introduced within six months using Lattice Nexus FPGA de
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Date:
06/29/2020
High-Speed Protectors Designed for Interface Applications
Bourns, Inc., introduced its high-speed Model TBU-RSxxx-300-WH series protectors for use in RS-485 communication interface applications and AISG (Antenna Interface Standards Group) modem protection. Offering a dual-channel solution, the two models (TBU-RS055-300-WH and TBU-RS085-300-WH) in the series are capable of
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Date:
06/29/2020
Inductive Position Sensor Features High Accuracy and Speed
  Renesas Electronics Corporation introduced the magnet-free IPS2200 inductive position sensor. Featuring high accuracy and speed, total stray field immunity, and efficient motor integration in a thin and lightweight form factor, the IPS2200 is ideal for use as an absolute position sensor in a wide rang
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Date:
06/29/2020
PSDcast – Wireless Charging for Electric Vehicles

Ivana Ivanovska, Application Design Engineer at KEMET

Two of the hottest topics that we’ve been covering rather extensively on the PSDcast are wireless charging and electric vehicles. Not coincidentally, the two topics often intersect ...  
Date:
06/26/2020
Virgin Galactic Second Glide Test at Spaceport America
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo vehicle, VSS Unity, has completed its second glide flight held at the Spaceport America facility in Southern New Mexico. New Mexico Spaceport Authority’s Director of Aerospace Operations, Dr. Bill Gutman, said “Virgin Galactic continues to work steadily towards their goa
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Date:
06/26/2020
Rugged and High Performance 100V Half-Bridge MOSFET Drivers
Renesas Electronics Corporation introduced the HIP2211 and HIP2210, a new pair of 100V half-bridge MOSFET drivers. The HIP2211 is a next-generation pin-compatible upgrade to Renesas’ popular ISL2111 bridge driver, while the new HIP2210 offers a tri-level PWM input to simplify power supply and motor drive design. Th
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Date:
06/25/2020
Power Supply Technology Significantly Reduces Capacitance
ROHM announces the development of Nano Cap power supply technology that ensures stable control of power supply circuits in the automotive and industrial fields – even with ultra-small capacitances in the magnitude of nF (Nano: 10-9 ). The growing awareness for sustainable energy consumption has led to gr
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Date:
06/25/2020
PSDcast – Recharging Drones Wirelessly and Autonomously

WiBotic CEO and co-founder, Ben Waters.

As drones become more prevalent, they’re going to need more elegant charging solutions. And since many drones are made to function with minimal human interaction, the best way to charge them is autonomously and wirelessly ...  
Date:
06/24/2020
Richardson Electronics, DAPU Telecom Distribution Agreement
Richardson Electronics, Ltd. announced a new distribution agreement with DAPU Telecom. The agreement aligns with both companies’ commitment to providing the highest reliability and quality products into various applications including RF and microwave communications, industrial, wired and wireless transmission, ra
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Date:
06/23/2020
NTC Thermistors Robust Temperature Sensor for E-Mobility
TDK Corporation presents the new B58703M1103A* temperature sensor − specifically developed for demanding e-mobility applications, which call for significant long-term stability. The NTC sensor is designed for a temperature range of -40°C to +150°C, whereby a temporary load of up to 200°C is permitted. At 25
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Date:
06/23/2020
Catalyzing a Green Future

In the MOF scaffold, the organic linker (grey) acts as photon antenna; an electron from the linker is transferred to the metal chain (pink) and used for the production of H2 from water.

A metal organic framework (MOF)-based water splitting photocatalyst, developed at KAUST, has brought researchers a step closer to generating clean hydrogen fuel using sunlight. "Using solar energy to efficiently make green fuels is the ultimate goal for many catalysis researchers," says Jorge Gas
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Date:
06/23/2020
Increased Power from Solar Panels Thanks to Cleaner Air
During the COVID-19 pandemic, one unexpected outcome in cities around the world has been a reduction in air pollution, as people stay home to avoid contracting the coronavirus. Based on data collected in Delhi, India, researchers report that this cleaner air has led to more sunlight reaching solar panels, resulting in
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Date:
06/23/2020
Future Space Travelers may Follow Cosmic Lighthouses

An image of NICER on the exterior of the space station with one of the station's solar panels in the background.

For centuries, lighthouses helped sailors navigate safely into harbor. Their lights swept across the water, cutting through fog and darkness, guiding mariners around dangerous obstacles and keeping them on the right path. In the future, space explorers may receive similar guidance from the steady signals created by
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Date:
06/22/2020
Wind Turbines Help Defend National Grid from Power Cuts
A ‘smart’ system that controls the storage and release of energy from wind turbines will reduce the risk of power cuts and support the increase of wind energy use world-wide, say researchers at the University of Birmingham.   The system uses the variable speed of the rotors in wind turbine systems to more closely regula
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Date:
06/19/2020
Nexperia 0.62mm x 0.62mm MOSFET in Stock at TTI
TTI, Inc., has stock for immediate shipment of the ultra-small footprint Nexperia PMH1200UPEH MOSFET.  The PMH series is only 0.62mm x 0.62mm, is in the leadless DFN0606-3 (SOT8001) package and is available in both P-channel and N-channel.  Available in 20, 30, and 60V versions, the PMH Series delivers th
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Date:
06/19/2020
KEMET Advances Environmental Industrial Sensor Solutions
KEMET continues to strengthen its solutions for industrial applications with its range of environmental PIR sensors. By utilizing the pyroelectric effect, these thin-film PZT sensors have both high sensitivity and fast response times to ensure rapid and accurate detection of gas, flame, motion, food and organic co
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Date:
06/19/2020
KORE Power Ships Pre-Production Mark 1 Modules
KORE Power, Inc., announced that its initial shipment of pre-production Mark 1 modules are now in transit to customers for integration testing in their stationary energy storage applications. Additional Mark 1 modules are being shipped to an independent lab for confirmatory testing for prospective customers. KORE Power’s
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Date:
06/19/2020
InvenSense and Arrow Electronics Sign Distribution Agreement
TDK Corporation announced that InvenSense Inc., a TDK Group Company, and Arrow Electronics, Inc. have extended their global distribution agreement to supply InvenSense products. Under the new agreement, Arrow extends its distribution of InvenSense’s complete portfolio of micro-electrical mechanical system (M
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Date:
06/18/2020
Chiller Platform Efficiently Cools 3D Printing Systems
The Nextreme Recirculating Chiller Platform from Laird Thermal Systems offers reliable and precise temperature control of 3D printing systems used in additive manufacturing applications in a wide range of industries. The Nextreme Recirculating Chiller Platform is able to efficiently control the temperature of al
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Date:
06/18/2020
4th-Gen SiC MOSFETs Feature Industry's Lowest ON Resistance
ROHM announces the cutting-edge 4th Generation 1200V SiC MOSFETs optimized for automotive powertrain systems, including the main drive inverter, as well as power supplies for industrial equipment. In recent years, the proliferation of next-generation electric vehicles (xEVs) has been accelerating the devel
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Date:
06/17/2020
Vicinity Energy Acquires Central Energy Plant
Vicinity Energy announced that it has acquired the district energy system serving the historic Watergate Complex in Washington D.C. and taken over operations as of February 1st 2020.  The acquisition is the first for the company under its new ownership, making Washington D.C. the eleventh major city se
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Date:
06/17/2020
18V Input 1.25MHz Regulators for Noise-Sensitive Apps
Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (AOS) introduced AOZ676xDI series of high switching frequency and simple-to-use synchronous buck regulators. AOZ6762DI and AOZ6763DI are capable of delivering 2A and 3A, respectively, and up to 15W output power. The new devices offer a low on-resistance power stage and are pa
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Date:
06/17/2020
Current Sense Chip Resistors Offer Resistance to 10 ohm
Power supplies and current sensing circuits have requirements that are as wide ranging as the end products they serve. For applications that require low TCR sense resistors, yet don’t need extremely low resistance values for high current handling, this can be difficult. Low resistance values typically offer low T
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Date:
06/17/2020
Stabilizing Efforts to Bring Fusion Power to Earth

Physicist Florian Laggner before the DIII-D tokamak with a figure from his paper.

All efforts to replicate in tokamak fusion facilities the fusion energy that powers the sun and stars must cope with a constant problem -- transient heat bursts that can halt fusion reactions and damage the doughnut-shaped tokamaks. These bursts, called edge localized modes (ELMs), occur at the edge of hot, ch
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Date:
06/17/2020
Energy Storage Using Oxygen to Boost Battery Performance

Schematic of the formation process of EG-water complexes and illustration of the penetration process of an isolated water molecule.

Researchers have presented a novel electrode material for advanced energy storage device that is directly charged with oxygen from the air. Professor Jeung Ku Kang's team synthesized and preserved the sub-nanometric particles of atomic cluster sizes at high mass loadings within metal-organic frameworks (MOF) by
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Date:
06/17/2020
TDK Announces World's Lowest-Power PDM Microphone
TDK Corporation introduces the InvenSense T3902, the world’s lowest power Pulse Density Modulation (PDM) microphone for mobile, IoT and other consumer devices. The T3902 is an ultra-low power, low noise, multi-mode bottom-port MEMS microphone, enhancing voice-based services which are now commonplace in many de
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Date:
06/16/2020
PSDcast – GaN in Space

EPC Space CEO, Bel Lazar

Efficient Power Conversion Corporation has teamed up with VPT, Inc. to form “EPC Space,” and according to early PR, its mission is “designing and manufacturing radiation-hardened GaN-on silicon transistors and ICs packaged, tested, and qualified for satellite and high-reliability applications.”
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Date:
06/16/2020
2000W Portable Power Station Goes on Sale on Indiegogo
BLUETTI now is crowdfunding on Indiegogo with its 2000W portable power station, the AC200. The most powerful power station yet, that can output enough wattage that can power refrigerators, tool appliances such as drills, CPAP machines, and even blenders. The BLUETTI AC200 can power up to 17 devices simultane
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Date:
06/16/2020
Expanded High-Transparency Aluminum Nitride Substrate Line
HexaTech, Inc. announced an expansion of its deep-UV transparent 2-inch diameter, single crystal aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate product line, launched earlier this year.  This new product line extension provides significantly higher substrate transparency for dramatically improved optoelectronic device pe
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Date:
06/16/2020
Hybrid Semiconductor for AC Power Circuit Protection
ProTek Devices has introduced a new patent-pending series of hybrid semiconductor components for AC power supply circuit protection in consumer and industrial applications like home appliances, industrial equipment automation controls, instrumentation, and SMART meters. The new semiconductor technology is an id
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Date:
06/15/2020
Next-Gen Air Flow Sensors Designed for Respiratory Care
Posifa Technologies announced its new PMF8300 series of mass air flow sensors for use in respiratory care and other medical and instrumentation applications. Compared to the company's previous-generation solutions, PMF8300 series devices offer improved accuracy, repeatability, and signal-to-noise performance —
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Date:
06/15/2020
A Phase Battery for Quantum Technologies

The first quantum phase battery, consisting of an indium arsenide (InAs) nanowire in contact with aluminum superconducting leads.

Batteries belongs to everyday life. A classical battery, the Volta´s pile, converts chemical energy into a voltage, which can power electronic circuits. In many quantum technologies, circuits or devices are based on superconducting materials. In such materials, currents may flow without the need of an applied vo
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Date:
06/15/2020
$20 Million Grant for Data Analytics Collaboration, Network
A $20 million grant to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission's Division of Science and Technology, in partnership with the University of Arkansas and eight other colleges and universities, will build a high-performance computing network for data analytics and bring together scientists and engineers from acr
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Date:
06/15/2020
Discovery of Graphene Switch
Researchers at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) have successfully measured the current-voltage curve of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) that were suspended between two electrodes. Measurements were performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation. Results revealed that, in
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Date:
06/15/2020
First High-Voltage GreenPAK IC for Motor Drive Applications
Dialog Semiconductor plc announced the SLG47105, its first motor drive CMIC that delivers the unique benefits of both configurable logic and configurable analog with high-voltage outputs, all encapsulated within a tiny 2 x 3 mm QFN package. The SLG47105 joins Dialog’s widely adopted GreenPAK product family an
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Date:
06/12/2020
PSDwebinar Power Panel: Standing out from the Crowd
Standing out from the Crowd! A deeper look into GaN & SiC products Hosted by Power Systems Design, featuring Cree, Power Integrations, United SiC, Analog Devices, and Infineon Now wide bandgap materials are established in the marketplace and being deployed in many applications, manufacturers are looking for ways
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Date:
06/11/2020
Indoor Air Quality Platform Includes Smart Odor Sensing
Renesas Electronics Corporation expanded its popular ZMOD4410 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sensor platform with the power of embedded artificial intelligence (e-AI), enabling smart odor sensing for ventilation systems, bathroom monitoring and controls, and air quality monitors. The enhanced platform combines neural ne
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Date:
06/11/2020
Reinforced Isolated High-Power Modules Takes on Hall Sensors
Riedon is set to redefine the current measurement landscape with the introduction of its SSA Smart Shunt series. These next-generation current sensing modules combine the attributes of conventional passive shunt resistors with those normally associated with considerably more expensive and bulky closed-loop Ha
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Date:
06/10/2020
Studying the Intrinsic Properties of Solid-State Materials

Micro-scale device manufactured of polycrystalline TaGeIr: (a) scanning electron microscopy of synthesized specimen with single-phase regions of TaGeIr (orange rectangles), (b) micro-scale device for resistivity measurement, and (c) resistivity data, revealing semiconducting nature of TaGeIr.

The physical and chemical properties of intermetallic compounds are governed by the real structure of synthesized materials and are strongly influenced by the structural imperfections, e.g. strain, dislocations, and presence of admixture phases. This leads to inconsistent reports for known and extensively studied ma
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Date:
06/10/2020
Machine Learning Predicts Nanoparticles' Structure, Dynamics

Nanostructures such as these thiol-covered gold nanoparticles can now be studied by using the new machine learning method developed in the University of Jyväskylä. The method can predict the potential energy of a given structure reliably.

Researchers at the Nanoscience Center and at the Faculty of Information Technology at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland have demonstrated that new distance-based machine learning methods, developed in the University of Jyväskylä, are capable of predicting structures and atomic dynamics of nanoparticles re
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Date:
06/10/2020
Renewable Fuel from Carbon Dioxide with Aid of Solar Energy

Researchers at Linköping University work with the growth reactor in which cubic silicon carbide is made.

Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, are attempting to convert carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, to fuel using energy from sunlight. Recent results have shown that it is possible to use their technique to selectively produce methane, carbon monoxide or formic acid from carbon dioxide and water. The st
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Date:
06/10/2020
Precision Chip Resistors for High Moisture Applications
Precision resistors with tolerances of 0.1% or tighter and TCR of 25 ppm or better have become more common due to the wide range of applications and end products requiring such resistors. However, some of these applications require circuit operation in high humidity environments. This can pose a problem for so
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Date:
06/10/2020
Porous Materials for the 'Energy Revolution'
Sustainable energy supply and storage is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, which the group of Stefan Kaskel, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at TU Dresden, also aims to tackle. For many years, they have been successfully researching nanostructured and porous carbon materials for the use in
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Date:
06/10/2020
AC-DC Power Supplies for Medical & Dental Applications
CUI Inc announced the addition of four high-density ac-dc power supply series to its medical product family. The VMS-450B, VMS-450B-CF, VMS-450B-CFS, and VMS-450B-CNF offer 450 W of continuous power from compact chassis mount packages. These ac-dc supplies have been designed for space-constrained medical and de
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Date:
06/09/2020
Power Source is Ideal for Rapid Electric Vehicle Charging
  Single Phase Power Solutions introduces the 1-to-3 Microgrid Power Source, a single-phase solution for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations. Ideal for remote areas without access to three-phase power, the 1-to-3 Power Source uses revolutionary Written-Pole Technology to generate solid and reliable
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Date:
06/09/2020
World's Smallest Ferrite Chip Beads for Automotive Apps
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has introduced the BLM18SP_SH1 series of the world's smallest*1 chip ferrite beads (for noise suppression) for use in automotive power supply applications. The company has started shipping samples, and volume production is scheduled to begin in June 2020. *1 The world's smallest pr
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Date:
06/09/2020
ADLINK Teams with Intel to Realize AI Robotics at the Edge
ADLINK Technology has launched the ROScube-I with Intel, providing a real-time ROS 2 robot controller for advanced robotic applications. The ADLINK ROScube-I Series is a ROS 2-enabled robotic controller based on Intel Xeon E, 9th Gen Intel Core i7/i3 and 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processors, and features exceptional I/O
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Date:
06/09/2020
TTI Offers SSI's P61 Pressure and Temperature Transducer
TTI, Inc., is now offering Amphenol’s SSI Technology P61 Pressure and Temperature Transducer.  The P61 Pressure/Temperature MediaSensor family of bulk micro-machined, absolute, and sealed pressure transducers and transmitters are for both harsh and benign media. They have a superior zero/span error of +/-
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Date:
06/09/2020
3 kW Transient Voltage Suppressors for Circuit Protection
To ensure critical operations, aviation and space systems rely on digital and logic functionality and circuitry in engine control units, environmental controls, instruments and actuators. Data centers, the 5G infrastructure and communication systems also rely on complex circuitry requiring protection. Each system mu
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Date:
06/09/2020
1 Watt DC/DC Converter with 5kVAC Reinforced Isolation
TRACO Power’s new 1 Watt, TRV 1M series of High Isolation DC/DC Converter in a compact SIP-9 package provide 5kVAC I/O isolation with reinforced insulation for both medical and industrial applications. The series consists of 28 models offering a choice of 4.5-5 / 9.6-14.4 / 12-18 / 19.2-28.8 Vin ranges and sin
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Date:
06/08/2020
Los Lunas, New Mexico Unveils Cutting Edge Solar Technology
The Village of Los Lunas turned on its brand new Poly-gen Vertical Solar System that will provide power to the Village’s Recycling Center 24/7. The system utilizes a brand-new technology, and the Village of Los Lunas is the first municipality in the nation to have it. The system was designed and installed by
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Date:
06/08/2020
High-Voltage MLCCs Designed for Surge & Line Protection
Holy Stone’s HVC Series of high-voltage MLCCs is designed for surge & line protection, inverters, isolation, EMI, LED & lighting, and all power and telecom applications. It includes 200 vdc to 10K vdc ratings, NPO and X7R dielectrics, 0603 and 3640 sizes, and is available with flexible termination. In general, Holy St
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Date:
06/07/2020
Cree Announces New Surface-Mount RGB LED
  Cree’s CV94D-FCC LED delivers the industry’s best message sign image quality and readability, with better image contrast and text readability than all existing message sign solutions. It provides matched far field patterns from each LED, makes pictures and text look better over the entire viewing a
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Date:
06/06/2020
The World's First 008004 MLCC with 0.1µF Capacitance
Murata Electronics announced the availability of the GRM011R60J104M, the world’s first multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) that features a maximum capacitance of 0.1µF in a 008004 (0.25×0.125mm) package. The solution also delivers a capacitance tolerance of ±20 percent, usage temperature range of -55°C to
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Date:
06/06/2020
Propelling FPGA-based Processor Design with New IP Ecosystem
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation announced Lattice Propel, a new software solution designed to accelerate development of unique applications based on low power, small form factor Lattice FPGAs.  The design environment will empower developers of any skill level to quickly and easily design Lattice FPGA-based ap
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Date:
06/04/2020
Multi-layer Ceramic Capacitors Serve Automotive Applications
Holy Stone offers a range of Multi-layer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCC) designed and tested to meet High Reliability Automotive Applications. These Products are offered as AEC-Q200 Certified using a Holy Stone product code “AEC” and TS16949 Certified (PPAP Level 3 + AEC-Q200) under Holy Stone product code
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Date:
06/04/2020
MLCCs Fulfill Demands of Various Lighting Circuits
Holy Stone's multilayer ceramic capacitors are well-suited for various lighting circuits. Temperature coefficients include stable Class I, COG/NPO dielectrics, Class II X7R for greater capacitance/voltage density as well as X7T and X7P for capacitance density and improved DC Bias characteristics. X7T and X7P dielectrics a
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Date:
06/04/2020
Discovery Unlocks ‘hot’ Electrons for Efficient Energy use

Researchers developed a technique that uses a scanning tunneling microscope integrated with lasers and other optical components to trap appropriate molecules and measure the energy distribution of hot electrons in a thin gold film. (Illustration by Enrique Sahagún)

Highly energetic, “hot” electrons have the potential to help solar panels more efficiently harvest light energy. But scientists haven’t been able to measure the energies of those electrons, limiting their use. Researchers at Purdue University and the University of Michigan built a way to analyze those ene
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Date:
06/04/2020
PSDcast – Cooking the World's Fastest Pizza

Kanthal, which specializes in industrial heating technology, designed an oven that uses electromagnetic radiation to cook a whole pizza in 37 seconds, a world record.

One of the topics we cover on a regular basis is “thermal management,” and normally that means waste heat or cooling off electromechanical systems, but if we take it to the consumer side, it could refer to this neat story that crossed my desk about the world’s fastest pizza ... 
Date:
06/03/2020
KEMET Extends KC-LINK Range w/ High-Density Packaging Tech
KEMET Corporation continues to strengthen its power conversion solutions by extending its popular KC-LINK range using KONNEKT high-density packaging technology to meet the growing demand for fast-switching wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors, EV/HEV, LLC resonant converters, and wireless charging applications. Thi
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Date:
06/02/2020
Scout Clean Energy Completes 180 MW Heart of Texas Wind Farm
Scout Clean Energy ("Scout") has completed construction and successfully closed tax equity funding for the 180 MW Heart of Texas Wind Farm ("HTX") located in McCulloch County, Texas. "Heart of Texas was completed on time and under budget which is quite an achievement given the wide-
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Date:
06/02/2020
Extended Range of Hybrid-Polymer Electrolytic Capacitors
TDK Corporation has extended its product range of hybrid-polymer aluminum electrolytic capacitors and now offers two series with an axial design. The B40600* / B40700* series is designed for rated voltages of 25 V and 35 V. These cover a capacitance range from 780 µF to 2200 µF. Capacitors in
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Date:
06/02/2020
Bluetooth SIG and DiiA Accelerate IoT Commercial Lighting
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association that oversees Bluetooth technology, and the DiiA, the global DALI alliance of companies from the lighting and sensor industries, announced a collaboration designed to accelerate the adoption of IoT-enabled commercial lighting systems. The colla
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Date:
06/02/2020
Monolithic Power Expands eCommerce Footprint w/ Farnell
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. announced that the company is entering into a distribution agreement with Farnell Electronics, a global, online distributor specializing in high-service distribution of technology products, services, and solutions for electronic systems design. This partnership will give customers ac
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Date:
06/02/2020
A Storage Battery for the Entire World
The lithium-ion batteries currently available for e-mobility are being optimized primarily to increase power density. However, the requirements are different for batteries for stationary energy storage in rural, decentralized electrification. They should be inexpensive, consist of readily available materials, be
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Date:
06/02/2020
Lighting the Way
I’m not sure how the weather has been where you are, but here in Scotland, we’ve had an unusually warm spell and spring has definitely arrived. However, being Scotland, we could have inches of snow before the week is out. The days are definitely getting lighter for longer though, and that always seems to gi
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Date:
06/01/2020
DC-to-DC Converters Reduce Design Time
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) introduced the ADM2867E series of reinforced iCoupler isolated RS485 + integrated isolated dc-to-dc converters. 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 la
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Date:
06/01/2020
Vicon Announces Thermal Body Temperature Measurement Camera
Vicon, a subsidiary of Cemtrex Inc., announced the release of its new Thermal Body Temperature Measurement Camera, the V1100B-THM-TEMP. The camera is designed to help organizations of all types to minimize the risk of reopening their facilities during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Designed to help businesse
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Date:
06/01/2020
How to Stand out in the LED Lighting Market
The electronics industry has made LEDs the standard in most lighting applications, both new and retrofitted. LEDs are replacing 48-inch fluorescent tubes and HID lighting, and they are evolving into ever-higher power applications – from streetlights to high bay lighting. In these COVID-19 times they’re even be
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Date:
06/01/2020
Automotive Exterior Lighting Solutions

Figure 1. Power Consumption Characteristics Comparison

Changing exterior lamps from bulbs to LEDs makes it possible to achieve smaller, thinner light sources, allowing more manufacturers to improve lamp design. To improve design, it is necessary to increase LED output while reducing the power consumption of the LED drive control circuit along with size. At the same ti
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Date:
06/01/2020
Low EMI, Silent Switcher, 1.2 A µModule Regulator in 4 mm × 4 mm × 1.82 mm BGA Package

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Figure 1. The LTM8074 uses Silent Switcher architecture for a complete low noise solution in a tiny package.

Crowded application boards leave little space for high performance DC-to-DC POL converters. Furthermore, electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a significant concern at high component densities, limiting the field of acceptable power solutions. The LTM8074 µModule regulator easily meets these limiting factors. It
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Date:
06/01/2020
How Isolation Technology Enables Energy Sustainability

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Figure 1. Isolators are essential to ensure the safety of both devices (machines and equipment) and human operators

  Isolators are required to ensure our safety when operating equipment and to protect sensitive components within the equipment. They also maintain critical data (signal) integrity by providing immunity against external noise sources in safety-critical process control equipment. Countless devices must be i
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Date:
06/01/2020
Batteries Can Spark Problems, Right Chemistry is the Answer

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Figure 1. Saft's Xcelion battery line uses proprietary materials and design to produce enhanced safety and performance

Poor battery system design can hurt business and consumers. Several high-profile battery failures in recent years caused fires and expensive recalls. Batteries in Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 experienced overheating ultimately linked to a battery defect. The resulting fires and explosions sparked two recalls a
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Date:
06/01/2020
Driving Brushed DC Motors

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Figure 1. Two-Pole Brushed Motor

Recent years have seen growing adoption of brushless DC motors. They are smoother and more efficient than brushed motors and have lower maintenance demands and higher torque-to-power ratios. On the other hand, brushless motors are also more expensive and require more complicated drive circuitry. This article e
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Date:
06/01/2020
2 MHz, Monolithic, Buck-Boost DC/DC Converter and LED Driver

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Figure 1. This LT3942-based demonstration circuit (DC2404A) showcases a high performance, compact DC/DC regulator solution specifically for, in this case, driving LEDs.

  To meet increasingly stringent size requirements for compact electronic devices, IC designers bring external components inside of their devices to minimize the external component count. Of the various circuits required to build any electronic device, DC/DC converters are as challenging to shrink in size as
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Date:
06/01/2020
LED Monitors Power Savings for PoE Security Cameras

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Figure 1. Industrial Security Camera in Action.

  Demand for industrial video surveillance equipment (Figure 1) is rapidly growing. Businesses benefit from using video systems that provide higher security for customers and employees. They help detect theft and monitor employees to make sure they are complying with safety guidelines. A new growth ar
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Date:
06/01/2020
Miniaturization for Current Sensing in Power Conversion

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Figure 1: Evolution of the current sensor’s size over the decades

The traditional way to measure current is to use Open Loop Hall effect sensors. The magnetic field created by a current is captured by a magnetic core and measured by a Hall element. More recently, dedicated ASICs helped to increase the overall accuracy of the system using advanced compensation techniques. LEM first mov
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Date:
06/01/2020
A Market View from Infineon's IPC Division
  The current economic climate has not been kind to manufacturers. Last year was difficult as a dip in demand put a lot of pressure on companies. Just as that disruption was past, we were hit by the coronavirus crisis, which has halted almost all production of products that are not intended for the gl
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Date:
06/01/2020
Where’s the Silver Lining?
Like most sectors, the lighting industry has chafed under the coronavirus. Lightfair was cancelled. Light + Building, Lightovation, and LEDucation were cancelled. Display Week was moved from June to August (where it remains in jeopardy). One of our feel-good stories from earlier in the year is a bummer in hindsi
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Date:
06/01/2020
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