Notable & Newsworthy

July 2020
ETRI Develops Eco-Friendly Color Thin-Film Solar Cells

The eco-friendly color CIGS thin film solar cells developed by ETRI researchers.

Research on solar cells to secure renewable energy sources are ongoing around the world. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in South Korea succeeded in developing eco-friendly color Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin-film solar cells. CIGS thin-film solar cells are used to convert sunlight
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Date:
07/31/2020
Quantum Machines Learn
Skoltech scientists have shown that quantum enhanced machine learning can be used on quantum (as opposed to classical) data, overcoming a significant slowdown common to these applications and opening a "fertile ground to develop computational insights into quantum systems". The paper was published in
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Date:
07/31/2020
Multi-Group Team Awarded $60M for Solar Fuels Research

Scientists at the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis create new materials by spraying combinations of elements onto thin plates.

The quest for renewable fuels harvested from the sun continues, as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced two new major awards focused on advancing artificial photosynthesis technologies for the production of fuels from sunlight. As part of this effort, DOE has awarded $60 million to a new solar fuels in
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Date:
07/31/2020
01005 Inch MLCC Delivers 1.0μF Capacitance Value
Murata Electronics announced the development of the world’s first multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) with a capacitance value of 1.0µF in the 01005 inch size. Measuring just 0.4 × 0.2mm, the GRM022R60G105M has a rated voltage of 4Vdc. Mass production of its 6.3Vdc counterpart, the GRM022R60J105M, wi
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Date:
07/30/2020
First Time and Frequency Instrument w/ GPS M-Code Receiver
Threats from intentional jamming and spoofing of U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, as well as cybersecurity risks to critical infrastructure, demonstrate the need for powerful and secure time and frequency systems that ensure continuing operability and performance. Microchip Technology Inc. announced th
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Date:
07/30/2020
Precision Op Amp Features Ultra-Low Input Offset Voltage
Diodes Incorporated announced its first precision operational amplifier. The AS2333 uses chopper stabilization to achieve ultra-low input offset voltage of 8µV (typical) and near-zero drift (0.02µV/degree C, typical) over time and temperature. The chopper stabilization also addresses low frequency 1/f noise and
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Date:
07/30/2020
Expanded Lineup of N-channel MOSFETs for General Purposes
Torex Semiconductor Ltd. has launched six new products of XP23x Series (30 Withstand Voltage) /XP26x Series (60 Withstand Voltage) MOSEFETs. The products are general-purpose N-channel MOSFETs with low on-resistance and high-speed switching. It can be used for various applications such as relay circuits and switching cir
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Date:
07/30/2020
Resistors Approved for ADI's new AD74413R IC Solution
VPG Foil Resistors announced that Analog Devices has approved Alpha Electronics RWB100R0AL and RWB2K000AL Bulk Metal Foil technology resistors for use with their new AD74413R integrated circuit solution. The AD74413R is a quad-channel software configurable input/output solution for building and process control ap
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Date:
07/29/2020
Natural Spectrum LEDs Adopted for Children’s Room Lighting
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. announced that its SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs have been adopted by KOIZUMI Lighting Technology Corp. (“Koizumi”), a traditional Japanese lighting company, for use in lights for children’s rooms and living rooms. SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs are optimized to
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Date:
07/29/2020
High Performance Optical, Data Communications for Outdoor 5G
SiTime Corporation introduced the SiT9501 differential MEMS oscillator. Based on SiTime’s newly launched third generation MEMS technology, the device delivers uncompromising performance for 100G - 800G optical modules. With the device’s smaller size, customers get up to 50% space savings to integrate more fe
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Date:
07/29/2020
IR HiRel Marks Milestone with NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is planning to send the Rover Perseverance on a journey to Mars. The launch is scheduled for 7:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday, with the landing on the Red Planet targeted for February 2021. IR HiRel, an Infineon Technologies AG company, supplied thousands of mission-critical ra
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Date:
07/29/2020
Environmental Lights Enters Low-Voltage Downlighting Space
Environmental Lights has entered into a strategic development agreement with Evolve Technologies and WOW Media to accelerate adoption of a new comprehensive low voltage downlighting product line to the A/V industry. Environmental Lights’ new low voltage product line is designed specifically for A/V integra
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Date:
07/29/2020
Highest Accuracy Optically Isolated Delta-Sigma Modulator
Renesas Electronics Corporation announced the RV1S9353A optically isolated delta-sigma (ΔΣ) modulator. The RV1S9353A delivers the industry’s highest accuracy compared to other 10MHz clock output optically isolated devices. It includes a precision analog-to-digital converter with ENOB of 13.8 bits (typ) for c
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Date:
07/29/2020
Single-pair Ethernet PHY w/ Leading TC10 Sleep Current
A ubiquitous Ethernet architecture simplifies the design, configuration, and control of many different applications. This is especially true for connected mobility that requires more high-speed data delivery than ever before. Automotive networks rely heavily on partial networking in which some segments are hibernated an
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Date:
07/28/2020
TE Connectivity's Small Spring Fingers Shipping from Sager
Sager Electronics is now stocking TE Connectivity’s new Ultra Small Spring Fingers.   With one of the smallest footprints on the market, TE’s Ultra Small Spring Fingers save valuable PCB space, allowing for use in a variety of applications with space constraints. Its closed-loop contact design ensures r
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Date:
07/28/2020
Advanced  Strain Gages Enable Easy, No-Solder Installation
Micro-Measurements announced the expansion of its C4A Series stress analysis strain gage sensors in Advanced Sensors Technology.  The C4A series enables for improved simulation and analysis for structure design verification, real-time condition monitoring of critical structures, such as bridges, dams, ships, an
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Date:
07/28/2020
EnergyMark Announces Approval for PJM Electric Grid Service
EnergyMark has announced their approval for service in the PJM Electric Grid, which serves 65 million energy users and is the nation's largest regional power transmission system. PJM is a regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of 13 stat
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Date:
07/28/2020
C2 Energy Capital Works to Guide School Solar Project
C2 Energy Capital LLC announced the completion of a one-megawatt solar power project for the Otsego Local School District located near Bowling Green, Ohio. The company financed, owns, and operates the project. The first clean energy project of its kind with the local Tontogany utility, C2 Energy Capital supported re
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Date:
07/28/2020
12V Class D Audio Amplifier Reference Designs

GaN-based Class-D provides the ultimate in audio quality in many 12V applications.

GaN Systems published the company’s latest technical manual titled, “12V High-Efficiency Audio Reference Designs using GaN Power Transistors.” The technical manual was developed in response to the well-received launch of GaN Systems Class-D audio amplifier evaluation kit in May 2020 and from growing custo
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Date:
07/28/2020
LED Driver Offers Single Solution for Automotive Apps
Taiwan Semiconductor announces the introduction of the TS19501 single channel, dimmable LED driver targeting high-brightness automotive applications. Due to the device’s highly integrated design, this single IC is well suited for virtually every automotive LED application: high and low beam headlights; daytime ru
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Date:
07/28/2020
60 Watt Industrial/Railway Converter w/ 4:1 Input Range
TRACO POWER’s new 60 Watt TEN 60WIR family of high-performance DC/DC converters offer an ultra-wide 4:1 input range in a 1 x 2” footprint. Standard models come pre-packaged with a heatsink extending the footprint to 1.60 x 2.00 x 1.00” for improved thermal performance. The TEN 60WIR family consists of 24 mode
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Date:
07/28/2020
TVS Array Thwarts Malicious, Accidental USB Killer Attacks
ProTek Devices has introduced a TVS array capable of guarding against malicious or unsuspecting USB Killer attacks that are proven highly costly to organizations in equipment and data loss. The new component offers circuit protection against positive ESD, fast surge voltage transients, and high negative voltage tr
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Date:
07/27/2020
Buck/Boost Controllers Bring Bidirectional Regulation
Mouser Electronics, Inc., is now stocking the LT8228 and LTC7871 bidirectional buck/boost controllers from Analog Devices, Inc. Offering bidirectional voltage or current regulation and bidirectional reverse current protection, the LT8228 and LTC7871 controllers provide a simple, reliable power solution for dual-battery aut
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Date:
07/27/2020
The Solar Cell you can Print

PhD student Nasim Zarrabi from the Sustainable Advanced Materials Programme (Sêr?SAM) at Swansea University using the sealed "glovebox" which ensures ultra-clean conditions for the high-tech manufacturing process for next-generation solar modules.

A £6 million award will drive next-generation solar technology into new applications. The grant brings together three world-renowned research groups from Swansea University, Imperial College London and Oxford University to advance organic and perovskite solar cells into applications that current solar tec
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Date:
07/27/2020
RigidCSP Technology Serves Battery Management Applications
Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (AOS) announced the release of RigidCSP for battery management. Alpha and Omega Semiconductor has developed a RigidCSP technology where you can decrease the on-resistance while increasing the mechanical strength to reduce breakage during assembly and stress during the lifetime of
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Date:
07/24/2020
DOE Unveils Blueprint for Quantum Internet

Nationwide effort to build quantum networks and usher in new era of communications.

In a press conference at the University of Chicago, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled a report that lays out a blueprint strategy for the development of a national quantum internet, bringing the United States to the forefront of the global quantum race and ushering in a new era of communica
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Date:
07/24/2020
New Technology Makes Homes More Energy Independent

Mixed neighborhood used in the researchers' computer simulation. Open circles denote nodes where homes have PINE systems and dark, filled circles are nodes where homes do not have PINE. All homes receive energy from the grid.

In a new study, researchers from Texas A&M University and industry have designed a smart technology that can help utility companies better serve communities affected by blackouts. The researchers said their single device works by improving energy delivery between home solar-power systems and the electrical gr
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Date:
07/24/2020
Optimized PNP Transistors for Automotive Matrix LED Lighting
Diodes Incorporated announced the availability of the automotive-compliant ZXTP56060FDBQ and ZXTP56020FDBQ dual PNP transistors. These new products provide OEMs with a highly efficient solution for controlling matrix LED light clusters. The automotive industry is migrating to adaptive LED headlights and rapidly ad
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Date:
07/23/2020
Wi-Fi 6E Antennas can Enable Extensive Bandwidth Increase
TE Connectivity (TE) is introducing its new antenna product portfolio for Wi-Fi 6E that supports triple bands, including the new 6 GHz band. TE's antenna solutions and integration expertise unleash the power of the extensive additional spectrum from Wi-Fi 6E, enabling new applications and services, greater network fle
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Date:
07/23/2020
Mouser Electronics Site on Resistor-Based Current Sensing
Mouser Electronics, Inc., is pleased to offer customers a new resource site dedicated to Current Sensing Solutions from Microchip Technology and Vishay Intertechnology. Current sensing is a key requirement for the development of smart motor controls and high-efficiency power supplies. The new site features a ra
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Date:
07/23/2020
PSDcast – The H-1B Visa Restriction (Good for the Industry?)

Chris Dries, the President and CEO of UnitedSiC

You’ve probably heard that President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security took actions with mammoth ramifications for our industry. To whit, Trump restricted H-1B visas for engineers, computer programmers and other technical workers through 2020. Is this a boon for domestic employment or a shackle fo
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Date:
07/23/2020
Fibre Optic Transmitter LED Delivers 4x More Launch Power
OMC announces its new FDE870HE industrial fibre optic transmitter LED that can deliver up to four times more launch power into multimode fibre for the same current versus existing transmitter devices. This ultra-efficient transmitter contains a high-performance 870nm chip and features an array of micro-optic el
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Date:
07/22/2020
3D CAD Modelling Software with new Features & Functionality
RS Components (RS), a trading brand of Electrocomponents plc, has unveiled the latest version of DesignSpark Mechanical, its free 3D CAD modelling software. Based on direct user feedback, DesignSpark Mechanical Version 5.0 offers new features, enhancements and customization options that have been developed following fe
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Date:
07/22/2020
New Material Generates Hydrogen from Salt and Polluted Water
Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University jointly with teams from the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague and Jan Evangelista Purkyn University in Ústí nad Labem have developed a new 2D material to produce hydrogen, which is the basis of alternative energy. The material efficiently generates hydrogen mo
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Date:
07/22/2020
Lithium Ion Battery Waste Used in Biodiesel Production

The two-phase system containing biodiesel (upper phase) and glycerol (lower phase)

The production of biodiesel from vegetable oil has been around for more than 150 years, and the approach significantly reduces several pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels. Vegetable oils, however, can be notoriously difficult to use in an engine, providing low power output and release of unique toxic by
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Date:
07/22/2020
Diamonds Shine a Light on Hidden Currents in Graphene

A picture of an electrical current in graphene (marked by the red outline) showing a fluid-like flow imaged using a diamond-based quantum sensor. The grey portion is where the metal electrical contacts prevented collection of data.

It sounds like pure sorcery: using diamonds to observe invisible power swirling and flowing through carefully crafted channels. But these diamonds are a reality. JQI Fellow Ronald Walsworth and Quantum Technology Center (QTC) Postdoctoral Associate Mark Ku, along with colleagues from several other institutions, in
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Date:
07/22/2020
MEMS Sensor for Safety-Critical Automotive Applications
Murata Electronics announced a new Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Six Degrees of Freedom (6DoF) inertial sensor that delivers high performance for safety-critical automotive applications. The SCHA600 combines a XYZ-axis gyroscope and XYZ-axis accelerometer with Di
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Date:
07/21/2020
New EU Project to Boost Battery Development

Systematic automation as well as the use of AI in the planning and evaluation of test series will accelerate the development of new batteries.

The BIG-MAP project, which is funded by the European Union (EU), aims to significantly shorten the time it takes to develop new types of batteries - with a special focus on sustainability. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Ulm University are participating in the project via the CELEST research pl
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Date:
07/21/2020
Thin Film Chip Resistors Available in 0201 Size
Power supplies and power controls have a wide range of sensing requirements. For applications that require high sensing precision, the element TCR is more important than low resistance values. Stackpole’s CSRT thin film current sense chip resistors provide resistance values from 10 milliohm to 10 ohm with T
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Date:
07/21/2020
Extended RF Portfolio w/ Vector Network Analysis Capability
RIGOL Technologies announces the new RSA3000N and RSA5000N Spectrum Analyzer which extends the flexibility and capability of the UltraReal platform with a new Vector Network Analyzer measurement mode. The RSA5000N and the RSA3000N deliver the same performance specifications and feature set as the current R
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Date:
07/21/2020
Fast-Blow Fuses Designed for Handling Excessive Current
Bel Fuse-Circuit Protection announces their 0ABA Series of small 0402 surface mount fast-acting chip fuses. These fast blow fuses are designed for handling excessive current and set the industry standard for performance, reliability and quality. Bel’s 0ABA Series feature a 32V DC voltage rating of 200mA
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Date:
07/21/2020
Bluetooth Module Enables Cloud-Centric IoT Device
The industrial IoT, also known as Industry 4.0, has been grappling with the challenge of dramatically improving productivity. In the post COVID-19 world more than ever, cloud-based remote and secure control over industrial IoT without the need for a highly trained workforce has become a must. However, the need fo
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Date:
07/20/2020
Which Way to the Fridge? Common Sense Helps Robots Navigate
A robot travelling from point A to point B is more efficient if it understands that point A is the living room couch and point B is a refrigerator, even if it's in an unfamiliar place. That's the common sense idea behind a "semantic" navigation system developed by Carnegie Mellon University and Facebook AI R
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Date:
07/20/2020
SiC Power Modules to Support Solar PV Inverters
ON Semiconductor has introduced a full SiC power module for solar inverter applications, which has been selected Delta to support its M70A three-phase PV string inverter portfolio. The NXH40B120MNQ family of full SiC power modules integrate a 1200 V, 40mΩ SiC MOSFET and 1200 V, 40 A SiC boost diode with dua
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Date:
07/20/2020
Regenerative AC & DC Programmable AC Power for E-Mobility
  Pacific Power Source has introduced a new range of full regenerative high power programmable AC and DC power sources for a wide range of AC and DC power test applications.  The new AZX Series consists of five different models ranging in power from 30kVA/kW to 200kVA/kW.  The AZX Series uses advanc
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Date:
07/19/2020
Metal Catalysts to Optimize Zinc-Air Batteries
In a report published in NANO, a team of researchers from Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, China have developed N-doped carbon encapsulated transition metal catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) to optimize performance of zinc-air batteries. Three-dimensional porous gr
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Date:
07/19/2020
Learning Algorithm Should Expand Possible AI Applications

TU Graz computer scientists Robert Legenstein and Wolfgang Maass (from left) are working on energy-efficient AI systems and are inspired by the functioning of the human brain.

The high energy consumption of artificial neural networks' learning activities is one of the biggest hurdles for the broad use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially in mobile applications. One approach to solving this problem can be gleaned from knowledge about the human brain. Although it has the computing pow
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Date:
07/19/2020
Industry's First ESA-Certified D-Sub Backshell and Haloring
C&K is now blazing a trail into the space market by being the first manufacturer to seek out and obtain certification from the European Space Agency (ESA) for a Backshell with Haloring, answering the call for a stamp of approval previously unrealized by similar products. The D-Sub Lightweight Backshell is a
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Date:
07/17/2020
Validating Designs for Hydraulic Variable Timing Cam Systems
SAKOR Technologies Inc. announces that it recently provided a performance test stand for validating designs for new hydraulic variable timing cam phaser systems for a major international provider of powertrain components. Powerful and flexible, the cam phaser test stand will be used for research and development on
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Date:
07/17/2020
ABB Adds DC-Input Version to Power Supply Family
Providing additional input options for customers, ABB is expanding its line of compact, energy-efficient MPR power supplies with a new DC-input version. Both the AC-input and DC-input power supplies feature 9-by-2.15-by-1.57-inch form factors, offering one of the most compact options available today, when it co
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Date:
07/17/2020
Wireless Charging Coils for General, Automotive Applications
Signal Transformer announces their new Wireless Charging Transmission Coils (WCC) in both Single and Multiple Windings for smart car applications, consumer products, controllers, wearable devices, robotic cleaners and drones. Signal’s WCC’s feature pin cooling technology and tight pin tolerance control w
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Date:
07/17/2020
New Unmanned Aircraft Systems Solution for Energy Industry
AiRXOS announced a comprehensive Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) solution for Energy organizations to plan, schedule, operate and monitor all facets of their UAS operations from a single platform. AiRXOS’ new Enterprise Energy Solution provides digital compliance, full Situational Awareness of airspace and asset
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Date:
07/17/2020
Power Inductors Designed for Optimal Performance w/ MPS ICs
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. (MPS) announced the worldwide release of a new line of highly efficient power inductors. Offered in a wide range of sizes, molded and semi-shielded, these inductors have been designed and matched for optimal performance with MPS ICs, and when paired together, provide an easy,
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Date:
07/17/2020
Lignin-Bio-Aviation Fuels for Reducing Greenhouse Gas

The team, led by Dr. Jeong-Myeong Ha of the Clean Energy Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology(KIST), has developed a technology that can be used to mass-produce aviation-grade fuels from wood wastes. The ability to produce aviation-grade fuel from wood waste is expected to help international aviation companies comply with the new strong emissions regulations, which are scheduled to go into effect in 2027.

A Korean research team has developed a key technology for the mass-production of bio-aviation fuels. The team, led by Dr. Jeong-Myeong Ha of the Clean Energy Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), has announced its successful development of a technology that can be used to mass-
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Date:
07/17/2020
Flyback Switcher IC for Automotive BEV and PHEV Applications
Power Integrations announced the production release of the InnoSwitch 3-AQ, an AEC-Q100-qualified flyback switcher with integrated 750 V MOSFET and secondary-side sensing. The newly qualified device family targets automotive EV applications, such as traction inverter, OBC (on-board charger), EMS (energy management DC
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Date:
07/16/2020
Single Port and Eight Port ICMs Available for Distribution
Bel Magnetic Solutions announces a single port and eight-port 2.5GBASE-T MagJack ICM. These ICMs offer a cost-effective solution for upgrading end-product performance to multi-rate, NBASE-T Ethernet standards. These reliable, cost-competitive ICMs are compatible with all new multi-rate Ethernet PHYs and are s
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Date:
07/16/2020
Solar FlexRack Supplies Trackers for Primergy Solar Projects
Solar FlexRack announced that the company has supplied Primergy Solar with its TDP and TDP 2.0 Solar Trackers for 14 projects, all of which will supply energy to schools in Illinois. Located in the north and central sections of Illinois, the projects together total over 8 megawatts (MW). "Primergy Solar has
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Date:
07/15/2020
Contactless-Touch Holo Products for Germ-free Interaction
Convergence Promotions has developed a line of contactless-touch holographic products that allow users to interface with keypads, touch-screens, displays and other interactive devices in mid-air. The Contactless-touch Holographic products will be released in North America and Europe under the brand Holo Indust
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Date:
07/15/2020
UNIPOWER Announces Highly Efficient Modular Inverter Systems
UNIPOWER LLC announces its new family of Bravo inverters that provide customers with a highly efficient and modular AC or DC power solution. The Bravo inverters offer a modular and fully scalable solution using hot-swap inverter modules at 2.5kVA 120VAC or 3kVA 230VAC. The Bravo ECI and TSI models are compa
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Date:
07/15/2020
40, 60 Watt DC/DC Converters w/ Ultra-Wide 12:1 Input Range
TRACO Power’s new 40 Watt TEP 40UIR and 60 Watt TEP 60UIR families of high-performance DC/DC converters offer an ultra-wide 12:1 input range in the industry standard quarter brick package. These robust DC/DC converters were designed for railway, transportation and industrial markets providing a diverse set of f
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Date:
07/15/2020
Blue-Green Chip LEDs for Color Universal Design Applications
ROHM recently announced the1608-size high accuracy blue-green chip LEDs, SMLD12E2N1W and SMLD12E3N1W. These products support the adoption of Color Universal Design (CUD) in a variety of applications, such as fire alarm system indicator lights, industrial equipment warning lamps and public tr
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Date:
07/15/2020
Intelligent Multi-Sensor IoT Module Available Worldwide
TDK Corporation announces worldwide availability of the InvenSense SmartBug, a compact, wireless multi-sensor solution designed for a plethora of commercial and consumer IoT applications. The out-of-the-box solution enables quick and easy access to reliable and smart sensor data without the need for programming, so
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Date:
07/15/2020
Diodes Incorporated announced the AP64350Q/AP64351Q/AP64352Q series of automotive-compliant, 3.5A, synchronous buck converters for point of load (POL) applications. The AP6435xQ combines a low quiescent current with a wide input voltage range of 3.8V to 40V. The devices have been developed for use in automotive appl
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Date:
07/14/2020
Perovskite Solar Cells Record Highest Power Conversion

Perovskites can be used to create light-weight flexible and semi-transparent solar cells ideal for applications in buildings and a variety of urban spaces.

A team of researchers at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has created a perovskite solar mini module that has recorded the highest power conversion efficiency of any perovskite-based device larger than 10 cm2. Perovskites are new materials that have emerged as promising alternati
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Date:
07/14/2020
PSDcast – A Wi-Fi System w/ 10x the Normal Range

Valid Manian, COO, Morse Micro

A startup by the name of Morse Micro is developing the smallest Wi-Fi HaLow system-on-chip, which supposedly provides 10 times the range, 100 times the area, and 1000 times the volume of traditional Wi-Fi ...
Date:
07/14/2020
Black, White and Red E-Paper Displays from 0°C to +40°C
Pervasive Displays (PDi) announces a new wide operating temperature range for its Spectra e-paper displays (EPDs). The Spectra range comprises 12 EPD modules with size options from 1.54 to 12.2 inches. These small, low power, active matrix EPDs can now operate from 0°C to +40°C (10°C lower than before) m
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Date:
07/13/2020
Energy Storage Capacitors Available in 7 Smaller Case Sizes
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. announced that its ENYCAP electrical double-layer energy storage capacitors for energy harvesting and power backup applications are now available in seven smaller case sizes ranging from 10 mm by 20 mm to 12.5 mm by 40 mm, with capacitance values from 5 F to 22 F. With their new
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Date:
07/13/2020
Richardson Electronics Offers New LS Mtron Ultracapacitors
Richardson Electronics, Ltd. announced the availability of LS Mtron’s 3.0V 3400F ultracapacitor, one of the highest power density storage cells in the industry. The 3.0V 3400F ultracapacitor stores 4.2Wh of energy in a 390 cm3 package making it an ideal solution for customers who want to take full advantage
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Date:
07/13/2020
New Materials for Extra Thin Computer Chips

Currently, only a small selection of insulators for extremely small transistors exists: SiO2 (right) is amorphous and has an undefined surface, hBN (middle) is crystalline but it is not a good insulator, CaF2 (left) is crystalline, has a clean surface, and is a very good insulator.

Ever smaller and ever more compact - this is the direction in which computer chips are developing, driven by industry. This is why so-called 2D materials are considered to be the great hope: they are as thin as a material can possibly be, in extreme cases they consist of only one single layer of atoms. This ma
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Date:
07/13/2020
Resistors Offer Lower Cost Alternative to Comps, Wirewounds
As electronics evolve, the power and pulse requirements have changed higher efficiency electronics and motors mean lower power, voltage, and current requirements. As a result, designs which have traditionally required a carbon composition or wirewound resistor may now be able to use a lower cost metal oxide. Whi
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Date:
07/10/2020
The Love-Hate Relationship of Halide Perovskites w/ the Sun

The atomic structure of mixed FACsPbI3 perovskite, where it separates into two CsPbI3 (green region) and FAPbI3 clusters under light excitation.

Solar cells made of perovskite are at the center of much recent solar research. The material is cheap, easy to produce and almost as efficient as silicon, the material traditionally used in solar cells. However, perovskite cells have a love-hate-relationship with the sun. The light that they need to generate el
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Date:
07/10/2020
PSDcast – A Major Research Collaboration for Lead Batteries

Alistair Davidson, Director, Consortium for Battery Innovation

With our big automotive electric and hybrid issue right around the corner, we thought it’d informative to revisit one of the most critical topics in that space – energy storage. And we can think of no better source for that topic than the Consortium for Battery Innovation ...
Date:
07/09/2020
CleanSpark, Inc., ReJoule Awarded $2.9 Million Battery Grant
CleanSpark, Inc. and ReJoule announced that they have been awarded a grant from the California Energy Commission. The grant is approximately $2.9 million and is slated to be deployed over the next 30 months. The funds will be distributed to the multi-group partnership of clean energy and technology companies
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Date:
07/09/2020
IC Eases Design of 48 V/12 V Dual Battery Automotive Systems

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1. Next-generation cars will be powered by a 12 V and a 48 V battery

The future of 48V/12V battery systems in automobiles is just around the corner. Most of the major automobile manufacturers across the globe have been working on proving out their systems for the past few years and it is evident that their implementation will be relatively near term. This is a necessary and crucial ste
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Date:
07/09/2020
High-Speed Fuse Line for Battery Energy Storage Applications
Littelfuse, Inc. announced the launch of its PSX series of high-speed fuses. The PSX series offers an up to 1500 DC voltage rating and 100 kA DC breaking capacity at 1500 V DC to provide the greatest protection in the smallest case size available on the market—the NH XL package. These semiconductor fuses will he
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Date:
07/09/2020
ZVS Buck Regulators Available in BGA Tin-lead Package
Vicor has released two new ZVS buck regulators the PI3323 and the PI3325, with an extended operating temperature range of –55 to +120°C and an optional tin-lead 10 x 14mm SiP BGA package for Mil COTS applications. These high-density and high-efficiency buck regulators have a 14– 42V input voltage range an
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Date:
07/09/2020
Industry's Thinnest Dual-Photodetector Optical Sensors
Quickly and easily design sensors into places where they never used to fit with the thinnest optical sensor solution for wearable health and fitness products: the MAXM86146 dual-photodetector optical sensor solution from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. The turnkey drop-in module includes built-in algorithms for heart
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Date:
07/09/2020
IS Versions of Contact Tracing IoT Tech for Oil & Gas
Triax Technologies, Inc., launched Intrinsically Safe (IS) variants of its market-leading IoT solutions to address the specific needs of the energy and hazardous industrial markets. The IS versions are available for the Spot-r network, which provides onsite visibility to improve worker safety and productivity; an
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Date:
07/08/2020
ROHM and LEADRIVE to Develop SiC Inverters Together
ROHM and Leadrive Technology (LEADRIVE) held an opening ceremony of their joint laboratory on SiC technology in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Lingang New Area). SiC power devices have been adopted increasingly in onboard vehicle chargers and DC/DC converters. These devices provide several ad
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Date:
07/08/2020
30 V MOSFET Power Stage Delivers 11% Higher Output Current
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced a new 30 V n-channel MOSFET half-bridge power stage that combines a high side TrenchFET MOSFET and low side SkyFET MOSFET with an integrated Schottky diode in one compact PowerPAIR 3.3 mm by 3.3 mm package. For power conversion in computing and telecom applications, the Vi
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Date:
07/08/2020
Battery Project Makes Room for More Rooftop Solar in Decorah
Clean, solar energy is a good thing. But it can also affect the performance and efficiency of the electric grid. An innovative battery-storage solution in Decorah, Iowa, jointly supported by Alliant Energy, US Department of Energy (DOE), and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), looks to seamlessly co
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Date:
07/08/2020
Designed with Reliability in Mind
  TDK has developed new series of EPCOS AC filter capacitors that feature a high degree of reliability and long service life. This article will look at the new features in the range and how they improve on the previous generation of devices. AC filter capacitors are supplied with very high power ratin
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Date:
07/07/2020
Power Delivery Networks at a Crossroads

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Figure 1. Vicor’s Highest Systems Performance Power Modules

Every electronic piece of equipment or system has a power delivery network (PDN) made up of cables, bus bars, connectors, circuit board copper power planes and AC to DC and DC to DC converters and regulators. Governing the performance of a PDN is its overall architecture, such as the use of AC or DC voltage di
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Date:
07/07/2020
Highlighting Advances in e-Mobility
Dwindling oil reserves, rising pollution levels and the increasing threat from global warming have made e-mobility an urgent area of focus for most governments. A recent report from the Committee on Climate suggests that to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, all new vehicles produced must be pu
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Date:
07/07/2020
Rugged Power System for Reliable Charging in Remote Areas
Elma Electronic has developed an advanced, rugged power system for use in mission-critical field applications deployed in harsh environments. The new RP24 Power System incorporates reinforced insulation to meet IEC Class II requirements, eliminating the need for a ground connection. The compact size of the 10
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Date:
07/07/2020
P-Channel MOSFET Features Low On-Resistance
Torex Semiconductor Ltd. has launched the XP231P02017R (-30 Withstand Voltage) for MOSFET. XP231P02017R (-30 Withstand Voltage) is a general-purpose P-channel MOSFET with low on resistance and high speed switching. It can be used for various applications such as relay circuits and switching circuits. The gate prot
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Date:
07/07/2020
DC Power Supplies Available in 1U High Full, Half Rack Sizes
TDK Corporation announces the introduction of the G1kW and GH1kW series of 1U high programmable DC power supplies. These new products further expand the TDK-Lambda GENESYS+ series, offering up to 1,000W output power in a choice of full or half-rack package sizes. The GENESYS+ series is ideally suited for bench-top or
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Date:
07/07/2020
Film Capacitors for Green Energy and Automotive Applications
KEMET announces three new series of metallized polypropylene dielectric film capacitors: C44U-M, C44P-R, and R75H. Constructed with an aluminum canister design, both the C44U-M and C44P-R power film series address the increasing demand for high-power conversion systems in green energy and industrial applications. Th
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Date:
07/07/2020
Industry's First Zero-Drift Hall-Effect Current Sensors
  Texas Instruments (TI) introduced the industry’s first zero-drift Hall-effect current sensors. The TMCS1100 and TMCS1101 enable the lowest drift and highest accuracy over time and temperature while providing reliable 3-kVrms isolation, which is especially important for AC or DC high-voltage systems
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Date:
07/07/2020
Lasers Powerful Enough to Investigate a new Kind of Physics

The paper "Thin plate compression of a sub-petawatt Ti:Sa laser pulses" made the cover of the journal Applied Physics Letters, Volume 116, Issue 24 published June 15, 2020.

In a paper that made the cover of the journal Applied Physics Letters, an international team of researchers has demonstrated an innovative technique for increasing the intensity of lasers. This approach, based on the compression of light pulses, would make it possible to reach a threshold intensity for a new t
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Date:
07/06/2020
'Breath of Nothing' for a new Superconductivity Perspective
Zero electrical resistance at room temperature? A material with this property, i.e. a room temperature superconductor, could revolutionize power distribution. But so far, the origin of superconductivity at high temperature is only incompletely understood. Scientists from Universität Hamburg and the Cluster of
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Date:
07/06/2020
Atomic 'Swiss Army Knife' Measures Quantum Materials

Top: Photo of a sample inside the scanning probe module showing the eight electrical contacts to a plate containing the sample to be studied. In the center the probe tip and its reflection in the sample can be seen. Bottom: Atomic force image of an aluminum sample showing the arrangement of atoms measured at 0.01 Kelvin (-459.65 degree Fahrenheit). The red curve shows the aluminum film is superconducting by having an electrical current with zero voltage.

It images single atoms. It maps atomic-scale hills and valleys on metal and insulating surfaces. And it records the flow of current across atom-thin materials subject to giant magnetic fields. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a novel instrument that can make th
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Date:
07/06/2020
Expanded N-channel MOSFET Lineup for General Applications
Torex Semiconductor Ltd. has launched three new products of XP22x series (20 Withstand Voltage) for MOSEFET. The products which released this time are general-purpose N-channel MOSFET with low on resistance and high speed switching. It can be used for various applications such as relay circuits and switching ci
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Date:
07/03/2020
Faster Data Processing Through Ultrashort Electric Pulses
Physicists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Lanzhou University in China developed a simple concept that could improve significantly magnetic-based data processing. Using ultrashort electric pulses in the terahertz range, data can be written, read and erased very quickly. This would make da
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Date:
07/03/2020
Electrolytic Capacitors for Electric Vehicle Charging

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Figure 1. EV on-board charger block diagram showing capacitor-stabilized DC link

Automotive remains one of the fastest growing sectors of the electronics industry as car makers look to new technology to increase safety and reliability, support new connected user experiences, and improve economy and emissions. The evolution to electric powertrains from the traditional internal combustion en
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Date:
07/02/2020
The Smarter the Car, the More It Needs GaN

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Figure 1: The MOSFET solution (top) for a 3 kW 48 V – 12 V DC-DC converter requires five phases compared with the eGaN FET solution (bottom) with only four phases. The eGaN FET solution is 35% smaller and 20% less expensive

As the new decade emerges, it is becoming clearer that the trend in automotive is electric. Internal combustion engines (ICE) are succumbing to hybrid and full-electric vehicles.  Along with that major shift in propulsion comes a variety of accessories that need to convert to electric.  In addition, ne
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Date:
07/02/2020
How to Meet Functional Safety Requirements for Automotive Displays

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Figure 1. Modern vehicles boast more displays than ever. Given the safety-critical information delivered via displays, it’s imperative for them to meet automotive functional safety standards. Photo courtesy of Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com

  It’s becoming more common these days to step inside a vehicle and be greeted with a touchscreen that’s larger than a tablet computer. The screen, serving as the center information display (CID), might share data such as the car’s speed, driving directions, preset radio stations, the driver’s phone boo
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Date:
07/02/2020
Efficient WBG Power for Medium Voltage Applications

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Figure 1: Example historical cascode circuits

Perhaps the power conversion industry is now familiar with the concept of the ‘cascode’ device when applied to silicon and wide band-gap semiconductor hybrids, achieving a close approximation to the normally-off, ideal switch, with easy gate drive and a range of other benefits. The idea goes back to 1939 wh
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Date:
07/02/2020
Digital-Controlled Totem-Pole PFC for Next-Gen Power Systems

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Table 1: 80 plus Efficiency Standard Requirements

  The pace and scope of the change overtaking the industry shows no signs of stopping. From advanced robotics, to medical wearables, to the smart grid, the amount of functionality presented to the public today is extraordinary. However, all that functionality needs power. Power is behind everythin
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Date:
07/02/2020
Reflections on Selecting Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors

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Figure 1: Construction of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors have become an important part of most electrical designs. As a result, the proper selection of these type of capacitors is crucial to the success of many designs. Engineers must understand how aluminum electrolytic capacitors work and how to select the most appropriate one for th
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Date:
07/02/2020
Wide Bandgap Enabling a Bright Future for Solar Power

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Figure 1: Block diagram of a typical solar power inverter system

Of the various forms of renewable energy in use, solar and wind power have become the most often deployed and are responsible for the majority of clean, renewable power generated. Of the two, solar is becoming the dominant technology, generating almost twice the power output of wind power. In fact, the amount of
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Date:
07/02/2020
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Battery?
  Just how dangerous are electric car batteries? Objectively, not very, but EVs and hybrids are the new kids on the block, and new is scary. And a new battery electrolyte developed at Stanford could help alleviate our collective anxiety. We’ve all seen the headlines – EVs catching fire after accidents, bat
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Date:
07/02/2020
One IC for Multiple DC-to-DC Topologies

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Figure 1. Electrical schematic of LTC3892 in SEPIC and buck application

Each new chip used in an industrial or automotive setting must be qualified via extensive testing before it can be utilized in demanding environments. Implementing a different IC for each application is time consuming and cost prohibitive. It is far better to have a tested and verified IC on the shelf that can be
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Date:
07/02/2020
Decoding Material Wear with Supercomputers
Wear and friction are crucial issues in many industrial sectors: What happens when one surface slides across another? Which changes must be expected in the material? What does this mean for the durability and safety of machines? What happens at the atomic level cannot be observed directly. However, an additi
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Date:
07/01/2020
Mathematical Noodling for Insights into old Fusion Problem

PPPL physicist Christopher Smiet helped produce findings that could bring fusion-produced electricity closer to being a reality.

A challenge to creating fusion energy on Earth is trapping the charged gas known as plasma that fuels fusion reactions within a strong magnetic field and keeping the plasma as hot and dense as possible for as long as possible. Now, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Lab
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Date:
07/01/2020
Inertial Sensor Includes Photonic Integrated Chip Technology
KVH Industries, Inc., announced that the P-1775 inertial measurement unit (IMU) featuring KVH’s new PIC Inside photonic integrated chip (PIC) technology is now available and the first units have started shipping. KVH has been developing and testing the technology for more than three years and is now incorporating it
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Date:
07/01/2020
Automotive Buck Converter with Programmable PFM/PWM
Diodes Incorporated announced the AP61100Q, a 5.5V, 1A continuous output current, automotive-compliant, synchronous buck converter for point of load (POL) applications. With a fully integrated 110mΩ high-side power MOSFET and 80mΩ low-side power MOSFET, it provides high-efficiency step-down DC-DC conversion fr
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Date:
07/01/2020
Transportation Electrification – Where Will it Take Us?
  What I like to call the “electrification of transportation” is the fundamental transformation of the way we will transport ourselves over long distances. The driving forces to becoming a fully electric vehicle (EV) automotive market are energy efficiency and infrastructure. Automotive electroni
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Date:
07/01/2020
How to Be Prepared for a Prolonged Power Outage

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Figure 1. What happens when Mother Nature causes power outages?

Whether they’re facing threats from Gulf Coast tropical storms, Midwest snow events or unexpected tornadoes, ill-equipped businesses could see a significant blow from a prolonged blackout – including lost revenue, hardware damage, data loss and customer service complications.   While an outage of any le
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Date:
07/01/2020
Key Considerations When Choosing an External Power Adapter

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Figure 1 - Typical DC plug options for an external desktop power supply (Source: CUI)

A system is only as good as its weakest link, and the adapter or external power supply has to match the quality and performance of the end product to avoid an unhappy customer. More than just producing volts and amps, an adapter must also meet international statutory standards for safety and electromagnetic co
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Date:
07/01/2020
Multiply Power of a Boost Converter with a Phase Expander

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Figure 1. The interface of the LT8551 phase expander U1.1 to the primary controller U2. The four additional (expanded) power phases of the solution are shown in Figure 2

Multiphase boost designs have a number of advantages over single-phase designs, including: increased efficiency, improved transient response, and reduced input and output capacitance values (due to reduced inductor ripple current and ripple current in the input and output capacitors) resulting in reduced thermal st
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Date:
07/01/2020
LED Irradiation System - Disinfection to Medical Treatments

Modular LED irradiation system equipped with UVC LEDs for disinfection.

For disinfection purposes, the compact system can be equipped with UV LEDs to eliminate germs on critical surfaces such as mobile phones. It can also be assembled with LEDs providing the optimum emission spectrum for polymer curing and medical treatments - even multiple wavelengths are possible. Berlin-based Ferdinand
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Date:
07/01/2020
Research into Next-Generation Automotive Battery Technology

The bipolar lead battery developed by Advanced Battery Concepts will undergo automotive testing regimes

One of the latest technology developments in lead batteries will undergo well-known automotive testing standards in a research project collaboration between Advanced Battery Concepts (ABC) and the Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI).  Bipolar lead battery technology, which has been
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Date:
07/01/2020
High-Voltage Switcher ICs Now Certified for Automotive Use
Power Integrations announced an AEC-Q100-qualified version of its LinkSwitch-TN2 switcher IC for buck or non-isolated flyback applications. Featuring an integrated 750 V MOSFET, the new automotive-qualified LinkSwitch-TN2 IC provides simple and reliable power for EV sub-systems connected to the high-voltage bu
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Date:
07/01/2020
CS Energy Completes 33 MW Texas Solar Portfolio
CS Energy, LLC, has successfully completed a portfolio of solar projects in Texas. At 32.7 MWdc, the portfolio will generate enough renewable energy to power more than 5,000 homes each year. The Texas portfolio is comprised of three separate properties: a 14.5 MW project located in Brooks County; a 7.3 MW
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Date:
07/01/2020
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