Notable & Newsworthy

June 2021
High Power 0402 Anti-Surge Pulse Power Resistors
KOA Speer Electronics is adding a high power 0402 size to their SG73P series of anti-surge, pulse precision thick film chip resistors. The SG73P1EW has a power rating of 0.25 watt with a TCR as low as ±100ppm/°C. This represents a 100% increase in power compared to the existing SG73P 0402 package. The
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Date:
06/30/2021
2 W DC-DC Converters for High-Voltage Gate Driver Applications
Murata has announced the availability of its MGJ2 series, a new line of surface mount DC-DC converters. Comprised of six models, the lightweight units each have a 2 W power rating and are supplied in compact, low-profile form factor modules measuring just 19.49mm x 14.99mm x 4.39mm dimensions. Available in
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Date:
06/30/2021
PSDcast – Moving Towards Renewable Energy (and How it Effects Oil)

A petroleum engineer and consultant, Ian Palmer, PhD has worked at Los Alamos, The Department of Energy, BP, and Higgs-Palmer Technologies. He is a contributor at Forbes.com and the author of The Shale Controversy.

As federal mandates and the natural march of technological progress cause the gradual wholesale transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy – and it’s not “if” but “when” – the only questions surround just how rapid those changes will be and how much of a disruption it’ll be to the oil and ga
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Date:
06/30/2021
500W Low Airflow Power Supplies Enhanced with new Features
TDK Corporation announces the introduction of the 500W rated configurable TDK-Lambda brand XMS500A series of AC-DC power supplies. The series is mechanically designed for effective cooling with a low 1m/s airflow, reducing acoustic noise. Additional features over the preceding XMS500 models include an ATX power goo
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Date:
06/29/2021
A JEDEC Qualification for Rad-Tolerant FPGA in a Plastic Package
Developers of small-satellite constellations and other systems used in new spacemissions must deliver both high reliability and radiation protection while meeting stringent cost and scheduling requirements. Microchip Technology Inc. has now given them a faster, more economical production path with t
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Date:
06/29/2021
Touchless Switch for Contactless, Hygienic Switching
SCHURTER brings optical sensing to conventional switching, with its new TTS Touchless Switch. The TTS is a robust stainless-steel switch, designed for indoor or outdoor public use to prevent the spread of pathogens. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly raised awareness about the transmission of viruses and bacte
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Date:
06/29/2021
EMC Filter for LED Lighting Applications
Schaffner has extended its range of filters for LED lighting applications with the introduction of the new FN2560 filter range. Specifically designed for attenuation requirements in the lighting industry the performance of the filter starts at frequencies as low as 9kHz. The new filter comes in an attractive sp
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Date:
06/29/2021
Lowest-Noise, Class D/G Amplifier Consumes 1/5 Quiescent Power
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. unveiled the MAX98396 Class D/G speaker amplifier with the industry’s lowest noise and lowest quiescent power consumption, which is nearly five times lower power than similar amplifiers. The 20V digital input audio power amplifier offers 12.7mW of quiescent power to m
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Date:
06/25/2021
Team to Develop Nanofilm-Based
A research team, led by Prof. Nathaniel S. Hwang and Prof. Byung-gee Kim, from Seoul National University (SNU) and Prof. Dong Yun Lee, from Hanyang University, has used enzymatic crosslinking to create nanofilms on cell surfaces. SNU has announced that it has developed a "cell caging" technology for th
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Date:
06/25/2021
700V Buck Regulators w/ Unmatched Features for Home Appliances
Renesas Electronics Corporation unveiled a family of new 700V buck regulators that offers designers numerous advantages over competitive solutions. The new RAA2230XX devices deliver superior power consumption, noise and EMI suppression, as well as reduced overall system cost. They are ideal for a wide range of
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Date:
06/24/2021
3-Phase 5kW AC/DC Power Supply Offers Compact Flexible Solution
XP Power announces an addition to the high power range of digital programmable 3-phase 5kW AC/DC power supplies offering flexible operation with uncomplicated lowline input requirements. The series is suitable for a range of industries, including equipment manufacturers in industrial electronics, process control, sem
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Date:
06/24/2021
Design Software Enhances Ability to Accelerate FPGA Designs
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation announced availability of the latest version of its popular software design tool for use with low power Lattice FPGAs, Lattice Radiant 3.0. The tool supports higher density devices like the new Lattice CertusPro-NX family – the latest fa
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Date:
06/24/2021
Light-Harvesting Nanoparticle Catalysts for Renewable Fuels

In the right conditions, silver nanoparticles, represented by the large orange spheres, can absorb visible light. Charge carriers produced by light excitation are transferred to CO2 and water, allowing the conversion to hydrocarbons and other multicarbon molecules. In the graphic, carbon atoms are black, oxygen atoms are red and hydrogen atoms are white.

Researchers report that small quantities of useful molecules such as hydrocarbons are produced when carbon dioxide and water react in the presence of light and a silver nanoparticle catalyst. Their validation study - made possible through the use of a high-resolution analytical technique - could pave the way fo
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Date:
06/24/2021
A Novel Energy Storage Solution Featuring Pipes and Anchors

Proposed Buoyancy Energy Storage System

There is general consensus that renewable energy sources will play an important role in ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for the planet and its people, and many countries are indeed already seeing such technologies displacing “dirty” fossil fuels in the power sector in an effort to lower em
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Date:
06/23/2021
Intelligent Linear Actuator for High-Range Force Output
CIRCOR International, Inc., announces the RTK REact EQ-L electric intelligent linear actuator for high-range force output. RTK REact EQ-L actuators are ideal for processes that depend on 100 percent running time, including industrial, chemical, and power applications. Corrosion-resistant variants have been
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Date:
06/22/2021
Rugged USB 3.1 Hub with Extended Temperature Operation
Sealevel Systems, Inc., announces the Rugged SuperSpeed 7-Port USB 3.1 Hub. The USB 3.1 hub features a rugged, industrial-grade, metal housing, robust ESD protection, USB 3.1 compliance and backwards compatibility with legacy USB data rates. It is designed to meet the advanced requirements for connecting multiple US
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Date:
06/22/2021
SoCalREN's Metered Savings Program Saves Money and Time
With California laser focused on energy efficiency, a new program is helping public agencies get electricity-saving projects up and running faster. The Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN)'s Metered Savings Program streamlines projects by offering access to SoCalREN's technical services, inc
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Date:
06/22/2021
Amphenol Temperature Scanners, In Stock at TTI
TTI, Inc., offers available inventory on Amphenol Advanced Sensors’ TSCAN-750 Temperature Scanning Entry System. This system combines traditional infrared (IR) temperature measurement with artificial intelligence (Al) facial recognition. This Advance IR system provides full and partial facial recognition with th
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Date:
06/22/2021
Medical Power Supplies w/ up to 1,000W Peak Power Capability
TDK Corporation announces the introduction of the TDK-Lambda brand CUS350MP series of AC-DC power supplies with medical and industrial safety certifications. The series is rated at 350W convection, 500W with forced air and can deliver up to 1,000W peak power. This makes the CUS350MP ideal for low audible noise ap
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Date:
06/22/2021
Ultra-Low Power Outdoor Air Quality Sensor Platform
Renesas Electronics Corporation expanded its popular ZMOD4510 Outdoor Air Quality (OAQ) gas sensor platform with an IP67-qualified waterproof package and a new AI-based algorithm that enables ultra-low power selective ozone measurements. The enhanced ZMOD4510 is the industry’s first fully calibrated, miniature di
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Date:
06/17/2021
Stray-Field Robust Position Sensors w/ Decoupling Capacitors
TDK Corporation expands its Micronas 3D HAL sensor portfolio with the Hall-sensor family HAC 39xy*, which features integrated capacitors for stray-field robust position detection in automotive and industrial applications. The TO92UF package was designed explicitly for PCB-less applications, combining both a ch
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Date:
06/17/2021
Asukanet Invests in Holo Industries' Holographic Touch Technology
Japanese technology firm Asukanet Co., Ltd., has invested an undisclosed amount in Holo Industries LLC, the manufacturer of contactless, Holographic Touch products. Asukanet is the world’s leading provider of holographic plates.
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Date:
06/17/2021
EVCS, LA Fitness Install EV Fast Chargers at Fitness Centers
EVCS has announced a collaboration with Fitness International, LLC, a leading health club operator in the United States, to install fast charging stations at fitness centers throughout Southern California.   EVCS, founded in 2018, owns and operates the largest network of fast charging stations
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Date:
06/17/2021
Versatile Buck-Boost ICs for Efficient Energy Harvesting
Expanding its portfolio of advanced power management ICs (PMICs) for energy harvesting applications, e-peas announces the availability of two new devices adding complementary features to previously released products. The AEM10330 and AEM30330 PMICs distinguish themselves from the competition via their innovative bu
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Date:
06/17/2021
Interface ICs Support Operation Across Just one Channel
In order to strengthen its portfolio of devices supporting USB power delivery, FTDI Chip has unveiled the FT23xHP series. These compact, streamlined interface ICs are supplied in QFN packages. They support operation across just one channel, thereby enabling systems that are subject to space or budgetary constraints to
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Date:
06/16/2021
6-DoF XYZ-axis MEMS-Based Sensor for Industrial Applications
Murata has announced the availability of its 6-Degrees of Freedom (DoF) MEMS-based XYZ-axis inertial sensor for high-precision machine control and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning. The SCHA63T series features a digital SPI interface to enable engineers to develop industrial equipment wi
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Date:
06/16/2021
Town of Bethel and NYPA Install 176 LED Smart Streetlights
The New York Power Authority and the Town of Bethel have partnered to start the installation of 176 energy-efficient LED streetlights as part of the New York Power Authority’s Smart Street Lighting NY program, which calls for at least 500,000 streetlights throughout the state to be replaced with LED technology by
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Date:
06/16/2021
Expanded FPC-to-Board/Board-to-Board Connector Family
Hirose has designed an innovative FPC-to-board/board-to-board connector series that offers high density mounting and space-savings. Supporting USB4 Gen2 (10Gbps) transmission for a wide range of portable electronic and consumer devices, the DF40 Series combines a 0.4 mm pitch with a mounting depth of only 3.68 mm.
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Date:
06/16/2021
Lossless Zero-Cross Detection in Offline Switcher ICs
Power Integrations announced LinkSwitch-TNZ, a new switching power supply IC that combines offline power conversion, lossless zero-cross detection and, optionally, X-capacitor discharge functions in a compact SO-8C package. The highly efficient LinkSwitch-TNZ IC can be used for non-isolated buck and bu
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Date:
06/16/2021
Insulators Turn up the Heat on Quantum Bits

In the ion trap, the distance between the ions and optics can be precisely adjusted.

Quantum technologies are based on quantum properties of light, electrons, and atoms. In recent decades, scientists have learned to master these phenomena and exploit them in applications. Thus, the construction of a quantum computer for commercial applications is also coming within reach. One of the emerging te
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Date:
06/15/2021
Modular RF Switch Design for Simulation and Prototyping
Menlo Microsystems, Inc.has announced that it has partnered with X-Microwave to deliver an X-MWblocks modular building block that enables developers to rapidly prototype RF systems based on Menlo Micro’s high-performance MM5130 switch. The innovator of the “Modular Building Block System,” X-Microwave provides
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Date:
06/15/2021
The First Multiport, Multigigabit PoE Injector
Organizations can only deploy today’s Wi-Fi 6 access points (APs) and 5G small cell access nodes where AC power is available or if their switch can deliver both power and data to them as required. Microchip Technology Inc. has created a more flexible and cost-effective alternative with the first mu
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Date:
06/15/2021
Renesas Supports Microsoft Azure RTOS Across 32-bit MCU Families
Renesas Electronics Corporation announced that customers designing with all mainstream Renesas 32-bit MCU families now have access to Microsoft Azure Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) embedded development suite, including its powerful Azure IoT middleware. Azure RTOS is integrated and available out-of-box in
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Date:
06/15/2021
EPC Expands eGaN FET Family w/ Latest 80 V and 200 V Offerings
EPC advances the performance capability while lowering the cost for off-the-shelf gallium nitride transistors with the introduction of EPC2065 and EPC2054 The EPC2065 is an 80 V, 3.6 mΩ, 221 Apulsed eGaN FET in a 7.1 mm2 chip-scale package. The small size and superior efficiency reduce ov
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Date:
06/15/2021
Tantalum Nitride Chip Resistors Add 10 ppm/ºC TCR Capability
Stackpole's AEC qualified RTAN series utilizes tantalum nitride technology to provide moisture proof precision chip resistor performance. The RTAN film passes biased humidity testing at 85ºC, 85% relative humidity, and 10% bias with very little shift in resistance.   The materials and design are
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Date:
06/15/2021
Rugged Modules Simplify Compact Motor Drive Design
ON Semiconductor announces new, integrated, converter-inverter-power factor correction (PFC) modules for use in industrial motor drives, servo drives and HVAC where they are used to drive motors for applications including fans and pumps. The new NXH50M65L4C2SG and NXH50M65L4C2ESG are transfer−molded power integrat
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Date:
06/14/2021
Digital Differential Measuring Systems for Broad Applications
The Measuring Division of Kaman Precision Products, Inc., announces that the KD-5600 family of eddy current measurement systems is ideal for use in COTS applications for fast steering mirrors, magnetic bearing active control, shaft vibration, image stabilization, and adaptive optics.   Customers in the s
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Date:
06/14/2021
First Automotive Window Voltage Monitor with Built-In Self-Test
Designers working to achieve automotive functional safety in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can now reduce solution size and complexity with the MAX16137 single-window voltage monitor with built-in self-test (BIST) from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. This window monitor IC delivers robust pr
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Date:
06/14/2021
Researchers Receive Funding for STEM Educator Project
Julia Nord, Professor, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences; Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs and Professor, Mathematical Sciences, College of Science (COS); Andrew Gilbert, Associate Professor, Elementary Education; Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon, Director, Educational and Career Pathways, Ac
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Date:
06/14/2021
Near-Field Routing of Hyperbolic Metamaterials

Reversible unidirectional propagation of hyperbolic modes.

Near-field light is invisible light at the subwavelength scale. Harnessed for a variety of practical applications, such as wireless power transfer, near-field light has an increasingly significant role in the development of miniature on-chip photonic devices. Controlling the direction of near-field light propagation ha
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Date:
06/14/2021
Compact DC-Link Solution for PCB Mounting in Cylindrical Shape
TDK Corporation presents its new B32320I* series of compact cylindrical DC-link capacitors for mounting on PCBs. They are designed for voltages of 450 V DC to 1300 V DC and cover a capacitance range of 6.5 µF to 260 µF. The current handling capacity IRMS is up to 27.6 A (10 kHz, 60 °C) and minimal ESR is 2.
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Date:
06/10/2021
KHK USA Inc. Announces Line of Metric Internal Ring Gears
KHK USA Inc., announces its extensive line of metric internal ring gears. KHK’s large selection of internal ring gears are designed for use in planetary gear trains and are suitable wherever high-speed reduction is required. Internal gears, also known as Ring gears, are cylindrical disks which have involu
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Date:
06/10/2021
Automotive-Compliant LED Driver for Rear Lighting Designs
Diodes Incorporated has expanded its portfolio of devices supporting automotive exterior illumination with the introduction of the AL5873Q three-channel linear LED driver targeted at simplifying rear lamp cluster designs. Rated for 125°C ambient temperature operation, this automotive-compliant, AEC-Q100 Grade
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Date:
06/10/2021
Analog Front End IC for 4-7 cell Li-Ion/Li-Po Battery Pack
Ricoh Electronic Devices Co., Ltd. in Japan has launched a new advanced Analog Front End IC, a battery management IC for monitoring the condition of Lithium-Ion and Lithium-Polymer battery pack configurations consisting of 4 to 7-cells in series. Analog Front End ICs perform cell measurements processed by a ho
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Date:
06/10/2021
Wireless Add-on Module to Solve Network Management Challenges
Moxa has released the MXview Wireless add-on module for MXview industrial network management software. MXview streamlines network management by visualizing networks, helping non-IT staff simplify operations and improve network uptime. This software has successfully helped many customers from around the world in
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Date:
06/10/2021
TI Bridges High-Speed, Precision Gap with new SAR ADC Family
Texas Instruments (TI) expanded its portfolio of high-speed data converters with a broad new family of successive-approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that enable high-precision data acquisition in industrial designs. Featuring best-in-class dynamic range at the lowest power consumption, th
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Date:
06/09/2021
2nd-Gen Direct Conversion DC/DC Converter for Data Centers
Flex Power Modules introduces the BMR482, its second generation of direct conversion isolated DC/DC converter. By converting directly from a 48 V supply to the load voltage without an intermediate stage, the BMR482 delivers increased efficiency in a compact package, enabling it to meet the higher power needs of
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Date:
06/09/2021
ESD Solutions w/ High-Trigger, Ultra-Low Clamping Voltage
Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (AOS) introduced the AOZ8S303BLS-24 and AOZ8S305BLS-24, a series of single-channel Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) for high-speed line protection using the best-in-class low capacitance TVS platform. The new products are ideal for Electrostatic Di
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Date:
06/09/2021
AEC-Q200-Compliant Inductors for In-Vehicle PoC Systems
To foster innovation within the automotive market, Murata has announced the availability of its LQW21FT_0H series. These are the world’s smallest inductors with broadband impedance for in-vehicle power-over-coax (PoC) circuit of SerDes-based interfacing. The product line is AEC-Q200 compliant an
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Date:
06/09/2021
2:1 Mux/DeMux Switch Enables Routing w/ High Signal Integrity
Diodes Incorporated has added a new device to its range of passive multiplexer/demultiplexer (mux/demux) switches. Supporting data rates of up to 20Gbps, the PI2DBS16212A is a 4-to-2 differential channel switch IC, which offers bidirectional operation and is suited for use in high-performance IT equipment, incl
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Date:
06/08/2021
Calculation Tool Serves Film Capacitors for PCB Mounting
TDK Corporation presents the new, powerful and intuitive CLARA tool (Capacitor Life And Rating Application) for calculating and selecting EPCOS and TDK film capacitors for PCB mounting. The tool offers a versatile parametric search functionality. This includes a search for capacitance, voltage range as well as
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Date:
06/08/2021
Rad-Hard eGaN Transistors and ICs for Space Applications
EPC announces the introduction of a new family of radiation-hardened gallium nitride transistors and integrated circuits. With higher breakdown strength, faster switching speed, higher thermal conductivity and lower on-resistance, power devices based on GaN significantly outperform silicon-based devices. Th
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Date:
06/08/2021
Smallest, Most Accurate Isolated System-Monitoring Solution
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. expands the MAXSafe Technology line with the MAX22530, an isolated, field-side self-powered 12-bit system monitor. Featuring 4 channels, the MAX22530 provides isolated system monitoring to improve accuracy 50x and to reduce solution size by 40 percent by integrating five co
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Date:
06/08/2021
Doble Engineering Company Launches F8000 Power System Simulators
Doble Engineering Company releases the all-new F8000 platform of modular, highly configurable power system simulators. The new F8000 hardware platform is designed for next-level testing of protection relay, automation and control technologies. Universally suited for both conventional and digital protectio
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Date:
06/08/2021
Tracking RNA Through Space and Time

One-cell zebrafish embryo: The MDC research lab found numerous localized genes at this early stage of development. Much of their genetic information flows into the precursor cells of the later germ cells.

The "miracle of life" is most obvious at the very beginning: When the fertilized egg cell divides by means of furrows into blastomeres, envelops itself in an amniotic sac, and unfolds to form germ layers. When the blastomeres begin to differentiate into different cells - and when they eventually develop in
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Date:
06/08/2021
Smart Watches Monitor Quality of Life Changes During Lockdowns

Dr. Erez Shmueli

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo used smart watches and a dedicated app to monitor 169 subjects before and during Israel's second COVID-19 lockdown (October 2020). The watches and app provided the researchers with accurate daily data for
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Date:
06/08/2021
Saving the Climate with Solar Fuel

By 2030, the retailer Lidl Switzerland will switch from fossil natural gas to liquefied renewable gas to operate its trucks.

Mobility analyses show: Only a small proportion of all vehicles are responsible for the majority of the kilometers driven. We are talking above all about long-distance trucks that transport goods all over Europe. If these continue to be fueled with fossil energy, it will hardly be possible to sufficiently reduce CO
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Date:
06/08/2021
Next 20 Years are Crucial in Determining the Future of Coal
Decisions made now will determine whether economies win or lose money as the coal industry changes over the next couple of decades. Countries including Australia and Indonesia could lose billions of dollars if they continue to invest in new coal mines and exports as the world moves away from fossil fuels.
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Date:
06/08/2021
Service Robotics Advanced: Part 2 of  3 Editorial Series Sponsored by Infineon; Ensuring the Safe Operation of MOSFETs in Bidirectional Protection Power Switch (BDPS) Applications

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1. BDPS configurations

Introduction The global market for battery-powered applications is rapidly growing, including power tools, consumer robotics, light electric vehicles, and many others. The evolution of switched-mode power supply (SMPS) topologies enables designers to ensure safe charging and discharging of the equipment’s battery using bidirectional converters through
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Date:
06/08/2021
Service Robotics Advanced: Part 1 of 3 Editorial Series Sponsored by Infineon; Leveraging the Benefits of GaN to Improve Motor System Efficiency and Power Density in Robotics Applications

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1. Schematic of the CoolGaN™ 100 V-based motor drive

Introduction Robotics is an interdisciplinary field with a strong focus on integration and system optimization. Applications include service robots, collaborative as well as industrial robots, autonomous drones, and automated guided vehicles. An optimized design of the motors and drives in these robotic applications is key for a successful end-product. In a conventional, silicon-based (Si) d
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Date:
06/08/2021
Researchers Probe Grid Resilience Using Advanced Batteries

Isolated multichannel battery and cell voltage measuring circuit for use in series strings

A new university research partnership will show how advanced lead batteries can support electricity grid energy storage and plug-in to more renewable and other storage requirements for low carbon energy systems.  The project is being led by the University of Warwick and Loughborough University, supported by the Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI).  Demand for batteries as a storage technology is steadily growing across the globe in order to support greater levels of grid flexibility, reliability and decarbonization as more renewables are integrated into the grid and in the face of extreme weather events. By developing more advanced levels of modelling and prediction of lead battery behaviour for utility grid storage, the r
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Date:
06/07/2021
New Portable Gas Booster System from High Pressure Equipment
High Pressure Equipment Company (HiP), a subsidiary of Graco Inc., introduces an air driven gas booster system mounted in a hand cart to allow for easy portability. HiP's new portable gas booster system features a double acting, double head gas booster with max. output of 15,000 psi mounted within a s
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Date:
06/07/2021
Silicon Carbide MOSFET Module Solutions for Charging EVs
ON Semiconductor driving energy efficient innovations, announces a pair of 1200 V full silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET 2-PACK modules further enhancing their range of products suitable for the challenging electric vehicle (EV) market. As sales of EV continue to grow, infrastructure must be rolled-out to meet the ne
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Date:
06/07/2021
PSDcast – Mentoring the Next Generation of Female Engineers

Engineer, entrepreneur, teacher, and U.S. Navy Captain Jenn Donahue

Whenever possible, we like to discuss the gender gap in STEM and engineering on this show and hash out possible solutions. The male-to-female ratio for engineering degrees is still about 4 to 1, but the real problem is that about 40% of women who earn engineering degrees either leave the profession or never en
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Date:
06/07/2021
UnitedSiC announces six new D2PAK-7L SiC FETs
Available in 30, 40, 80 and 150mΩ versions, these latest SiC FETs represent another step forward in accelerating migration to SiC across applications such as server and telecom power supplies, industrial battery chargers and power supplies, EV on-board chargers and DC-DC converters.   The D2PAK-7
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Date:
06/04/2021
Rugged Nicomatic EMM Series rectangular connectors
The connectors reduce space and weight in the most extreme environments, including defence, space, motorsport, civil aviation, UAVs and robotics. The 1.27mm pitch EMM interconnects effect a 40% space reduction over their parent CMM Series and a 20% space saving when compared to standard Micro D connectors. A recen
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Date:
06/04/2021
Würth Elektronik presents new common mode chokes
The THT-mountable WE-FCLP for common-mode and differential-mode suppression, and the SMT data line and low-voltage common mode choke WE-CMDC. Both are available from stock without a minimum order quantity.   The WE-FCLP has a compact design with a maximum height of 14.5 mm, yet achieves an inductance up to 100 m
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Date:
06/04/2021
Farnell stocking Rohde & Schwarz NGA100 power supply series
With intuitive manual control and simple computer-controlled operation, the NGA100 series is in stock for same day shipping and can be used as a bench supply for R&D, product test, repair and education, or in racks for manufacturing test systems.   The new generation NGA100 series is an easy-to-use entry-level
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Date:
06/04/2021
3DMAG magnetic position sensor for next-generation ADAS
3DMAG sensors combine Allegro’s proven planar and vertical Hall-effect technologies to measure magnetic field components along three axes (X, Y, Z), enabling true 3D sensing capabilities with a wide magnetic dynamic range without saturation.   Continued advancements in advanced driver assistance systems (A
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Date:
06/04/2021
Aspiring Drone Pilots Can Now Train Remotely at Embry-Riddle
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide Campus recently received a first-of-its-kind waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that will allow students to remotely pilot unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, through online video platforms like Zoom.  “This is a big deal,”
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Date:
06/04/2021
Servo Controller/Driver Module Cuts Power Loss by 75 Percent
The new TMCM-1321 servo controller/driver module enables two-phase bipolar stepper motors in robotics and automation equipment to optimize speed and synchronization of axes for quicker throughput while also reducing power loss by 75 percent. It features an on-board magnetic encoder and digital inputs for an optica
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Date:
06/04/2021
Vishay Names Digi-Key European Catalog Distributor of the Year
The award recognizes Digi-Key's contributions to Vishay's European revenue, growth, customer count and more over the past year. Vishay offers an unmatched portfolio of discrete semiconductors (diodes, MOSFETs, and optoelectronics) and passive components (resistors, inductors, and capacitors). These components are u
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Date:
06/04/2021
3637 Size Added To CSSK Four Terminal Current Sense Resistors
High efficiency current sensing is commonly done using low resistance value resistors. However, as resistance values are reduced, the measurement error due to lead resistance becomes significant. For applications requiring high efficiency with the best possible temperature accuracy, four terminal metal element curr
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Date:
06/04/2021
IP67-Rated USB Type-A Cable Assemblies
Stewart Connector, a Bel group company, announces a new line of IP67 rated USB Type-A Cable Assemblies. Designed for use in IoT applications where reliability and functionality are necessary and USB connections are needed outside of typical office applications, these cable assemblies can be used in multiple ap
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Date:
06/04/2021
TTI Stocks Molex's OTS Expresslink 2.0 Pico-Clasp Assemblies
TTI, Inc., announces the availability of the full range of Molex Expresslink 2.0 Pico-Clasp Assemblies from stock at TTI. Molex’s Expresslink 2.0 Data Cables reach speeds of up to USB 2.0, to integrate a variety of different Molex connectors and are available for small passable footprints and optimized performance. Th
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Date:
06/04/2021
Regulator Delivers Tight Accuracy for Supercapacitor Backup
System architects seeking backup power using supercapacitor or other energy sources can now deliver the best combination of highest efficiency and smallest size with the Continua MAX38889 2.5V-to-5.5V, 3A reversible buck/boost regulator from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. The latest addition to Maxim’s Con
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Date:
06/04/2021
Pushing green hydrogen production forward
The consortium includes Flemish research centres imec and VITO (partners in EnergyVille), together with industrial pioneers Bekaert, Colruyt Group, DEME and John Cockerill.   Under the flag of Hyve, the consortium aims at a cost-efficient and sustainable production of hydrogen at gigawatt level. Hyve
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Date:
06/04/2021
Low RDS(on) 40 V MOSFETs deliver highest power density
The MOSFETs are intended for automotive (BUK7S0R5-40H) and industrial (PSMNR55-40SSH) applications.   These devices are the lowest RDS(on) 40 V parts that Nexperia has ever produced and more importantly, they deliver power densities more than 50X greater than traditional D2PAK devices. More, the n
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Date:
06/04/2021
8V Gate Withstand Voltage for 150V GaN HEMT
The technology is optimized for power supply circuits in industrial and communication equipment.   In recent years, due to the rising demand for server systems in response to the growing number of IoT devices, improving power conversion efficiency and reducing size have become important social issu
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Date:
06/04/2021
Ultra low IQ power management IC for nRF52/nRF53 Series SoCs
The nPM1100 combines a USB compatible input regulator with overvoltage protection, 400mA battery charger and 150mA DC/DC step-down (“buck”) voltage regulator in a 2.075 x 2.075mm wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP). The PMIC ensures reliable power supply and stable operation for Nordic’s nRF52 and nRF53 S
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06/04/2021
Power Management Focus for Mouser Campaign
The series’ second episode, available on the Mouser website, Alexa, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Pandora and Spotify, explores power management and the potential behind wide bandgap technology.   Each month, the series brings a closer look to industry-changing technologies shaping modern society, and
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Date:
06/04/2021
Osram and Infineon partner on NFC programming for LEDs
Osram’s new OPTOTRONIC FIT product family features Infineon’s NLM0011 and NLM0010 dual-mode NFC wireless configuration integrated circuits (ICs) with pulse width modulation (PWM). This will bring benefits at all levels of the LED luminaire value chain.   NFC programming is an emerging technology
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06/04/2021
Farnell adds Inksmith experiential learning tools
The Climate Action Kit’s project-based learning experiences are designed to teach students how to apply technology to solve real world problems through the lens of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Every project provides a unique hands-on opportunity for cross-curricular learning, with
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06/04/2021
Renesas Expands Portfolio of World’s Smallest Photocouplers
Measuring a mere 2.5mm x 2.1mm in an LSSO5 package, the world’s smallest optical isolated IGBT drivers and intelligent power module (IPM) driver reduce PCB mounting areas by up to 35 percent compared with other devices on the market.   “Industrial equipment and green energy system manufacturers a
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06/04/2021
2W-Rated Surface Mount DC-DC Converters with Bipolar Outputs
Comprising 9 different models, the lightweight units in the MGJ2 series each have a 2 W power rating and are supplied in compact, low-profile form factor modules with 19.49 mm x 14.99 mm x 4.39 mm dimensions. They are intended to accompany the IGBT and SiC-based MOSFET high-voltage gate drivers used in industr
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Date:
06/04/2021
High Temperature, Power DC-Link Film Capacitor
The C4AK series joins the C4AU (harsh environment) and C4AQ-P (125°C) family of power DC-Link film capacitors. These series offer higher capacitance density, DC voltage, and DC ripple current capabilities with an extended operational lifetime at high temperatures in harsh environments. Ideal for use in automoti
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Date:
06/04/2021
Mersen relaunches Enlight Energy Cap capacitor series
Since the relaunch, these products feature a new foil structure with much higher rated currents and an optimized price-performance ratio. That makes them the ideal solution for use in frequency converters and DC links in wind energy or photovoltaic technology. “These industries have huge potential”, explains Herw
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Date:
06/04/2021
New Würth Elektronik RJ45-10G-LAN transformers
Three tab-down models join the existing Ethernet connectors with integrated transformer in tab-up design. These models have the recess for the connector tab on the underside. All four new RJ45 integrated transformer connectors feature an extremely low-profile package. One of the models is especially suitable for par
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Date:
06/04/2021
APEC 2021: Infineon solutions from silicon to wide bandgap
With a device portfolio that spans silicon and wide bandgap (WBG) devices, engineers look to Infineon for solutions that balance performance, efficiency, reliability and cost. Infineon’s power solutions set the pace for innovations that make life easier, safer and greener.   Products, demonstrat
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Date:
06/04/2021
600 V CoolMOS PFD7 in Samsung’s newly launched refrigerator
They have been integrated in Samsung’s brand new one-door fridge (RR23A2J3XWX, RR23A2G3WDX) and FDR (French Door Fridge: RF18A5101SR) inverterized refrigerator. Inverterization is an emerging DC to AC conversion trend in contemporary inverter designs. It helps the application run more quietly and smoothly wh
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Date:
06/04/2021
Enefit VOLT acquired the nationwide charging station network from the government of Estonia. The network was operated using out-of-date EV charging management software from 2013. The chargers weren’t networked and weren’t compatible with industry standards; they frequently failed, and the driver charging exper
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Date:
06/04/2021
InnoSwitch4-CZ Flyback Switcher ICs for Mobile Charging Devices
InnoSwitch4-CZ devices incorporate a robust 750 V primary switch using Power Integrations’ PowiGaN technology and a novel high frequency active clamp flyback controller to facilitate a new class of ultra-compact chargers suitable for phones, tablets, and laptops. The first consumer devices based on InnoSwitch4-
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Date:
06/04/2021
Precision, High-Speed, DAQ µModule
The device can also enable a low latency digital control loop in Hardware in the Loop (HiL) applications or source measurement unit applications. The new ADAQ23875 incorporates the critical signal conditioning circuitry associated with scaling the signal from the sensor and enables a 4x footprint reduction vers
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Date:
06/04/2021
Dual Power Rail I2C Bus GPIO Expanders Improve System Design
Diodes Incorporated has announced 16-bit PI4IOE5V6416Q and 34-bit PI4IOE5V6534Q bidirectional voltage-level translation general-purpose I/O (GPIO) expanders for automotive applications. Representing an industry first for the automotive industry, the automotive-compliant, AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qua
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Date:
06/02/2021
24 W AC-DC Power Supply Ideal for Home Healthcare Applications
CUI Inc, a Bel group company, announced the addition of a new series of medical desktop ac-dc power supplies to its external ac-dc power supply line. The SDM24-UD Series is available in four models and in black or white color options. The series features up to 27 W of continuous power and no-load power consumption of
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Date:
06/02/2021
Sager Electronics Offers Molex’s Opto Assemblies
Sager Electronics is now stocking Molex’s OptoHD, OptoDP, and OptoUSB assemblies.  Delivering uncompressed video with superior resolution, Molex's OptoHD, OptoDP and OptoUSB Active Optical Cable (AOC) assemblies offer familiar passive plug-and-play interfaces with reliable signal integrity perf
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Date:
06/02/2021
TE Connectivity Sensor Solutions Guide on TTI.com
TTI, Inc., is pleased to present the new TE Connectivity’s Sensor Solutions Guide. Whether you are working on the newest technology in digital and home healthcare, heavy industrial or harsh environments, or on the newest electric vehicles, the solution guide will help you navigate through TE Connectivity’s to
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Date:
06/02/2021
60 V Input Monolithic Converter Powers Critical Circuits Without Supercaps

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1. The 5 V output converter (U1) provides hold-up power for protected load on the 3.3 V output (U2). Note that the pin MODE/SYNC of U1 is left floating, allowing the LTC3649 to enter boost mode

The LTC3649 is a monolithic step-down regulator capable of operating from an input voltage range of 3.1 V to 60 V, and efficiently producing a single resistor-programmable output voltage at up to 4 A of output current. These features alone make it a compelling industrial or automotive supply for output voltages fr
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Date:
06/01/2021
£300m Investment in UK Electric Infrastructure
The UK’s electric vehicle sector has been given a major boost as the energy regulator Ofgem announced a £300m investment in electric infrastructure. The investment is part of a potential award of £40bn by the UK government to upgrade the UK’s electricity distribution network in preparation for a zero carbon fu
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Date:
06/01/2021
How Far Does Tesla Need to Protect us from Ourselves?
The hoopla over the latest Tesla autopilot crash took a strange turn (imagine that), again calling into question who’s responsible in what can only be described as user error. For those late to the party – in April, a Tesla Model S (equipped with autopilot) left the road at high speed and hit a drainage
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Date:
06/01/2021
LED Lighting Markets
Lighting has been a commodity market since incandescent light was invented. The Phoebus cartel, formed in 1925 by Osram, GE, Associated Electrical, Philips, and others, controlled the worldwide sale and manufacturing of lamps until it disbanded in 1939 when WWII started. The cartel also set the lifespan of incandescent bu
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Date:
06/01/2021
VCSELs in Vehicle Monitoring Applications

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Figure 1: 3D time-of-flight QVGA

Time-of-flight (ToF) sensors are being increasingly used for a variety of in-cabin automotive monitoring applications, including monitoring the gaze direction and head position of the driver. A ToF device is a sensor that detects wavelengths of light. Light waves are modulated at high frequencies—in the lower to
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Date:
06/01/2021
Illuminating the Future of Vehicle Headlights

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Figure 1: Headlight FOV with only a base light module

Recently, there has been a big push in the automotive lighting industry to improve both vehicle headlight functionality and driver visibility, which has led to the development futuristic headlight technologies such as adaptive driving beam (ADB) and high-resolution headlights. Adaptive beam headlights Drivers use headlights t
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Date:
06/01/2021
5 Ways LED Lighting Can Improve Facility Safety

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Figure 1: LED lighting improved visibility at hazardous chemical processing plant

Every seven seconds, a U.S. worker is injured on the job, resulting in some 105 million total days lost to work-related injuries each year. Even more troubling, some 4,572 people were killed in preventable workplace incidents in 2019 alone. In addition to the toll these tragedies take on workers and their fam
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Date:
06/01/2021
Ensuring Predictable Lighting System Performance

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Figure 1: DALI+ is DALI lighting control plus wireless and IP-based networking

When it comes to the best-practice design of power systems that supply lighting loads to commercial and industrial facilities, typical considerations include avoiding unwanted effects such as voltage drop, flicker and transients. For this reason, effective lighting control is among the fundamental concepts that ca
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Date:
06/01/2021
How LED Lighting is Driving a Revolution: Connected Buildings

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Figure 1. LED lighting controls now serve a key entry point into building automation systems, which uses interconnected networks of software and hardware to monitor and control all the building’s electrical and mechanical systems

The “lighting revolution” is old news now. Building automation is the new bedrock-shifting event unfolding within the building world now, and it too is being spurred by advancements in LED technology and controls. The premise that lighting should be independent from other building systems is now antiquate
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Date:
06/01/2021
USB-C Power Delivery Data Lines Demand Enhanced Protection

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Figure 1: A digital camera connected to a tablet via a USB-C cable

USB-C and USB-C power delivery raise voltage and power levels. A new reversible connector with tighter pin pitch than that of USB Micro-B, increases the risk of short circuits. This, in conjunction with the ever-increasing complexity of portable devices leads to enhanced ESD, surge and overvoltage protection re
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Date:
06/01/2021
Power your UV-C Sterilization Designs

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Figure 1. UV-C light-disinfecting robot

The Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection equipment market is projected to grow from $1.3 billion in 2019 to $5.7 billion by 2027.  Applications for this market are found in a variety of areas such as water treatment, wastewater treatment, air treatment, food & beverage disinfection, and surface disinfection.  We've witnessed
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Date:
06/01/2021
Driving SiC and Silicon with the Same Gate Driver Series

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Figure 1: Simple Single Channel Isolated Drivers Line up

Among the few methods of isolating a gate driver, the latest innovations of the coreless transformer technology are paving the way for compact and efficient gate drivers for high voltage systems.The conventional isolated gate driver technology, including discrete transformer, opto isolated, and capacitive methods, th
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Date:
06/01/2021
A New Variation of the Classic Instrumentation Amplifier

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Figure 1. Classic instrumentation amplifier

The need for PGIAs arises because of the often-encountered case of adapting the circuit to a wide range of sensors or environmental conditions.With a fixed gain, suboptimal SNR could compromise precision. Techniques useful in creating accurate, stable PGIAs are discussed in, “Programmable Gain Instrumentation Am
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Date:
06/01/2021
How to Design a Flyback Converter in Seven Steps

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Figure 1: Flyback Converter Schematic

Although simple, the flyback converter design offers great advantages for certain applications. New, more complex topologies have surfaced in recent years, but flyback converters remain a popular design choice. These switch-mode power converters offer competitive size, cost, and efficiency ratios in the lo
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Date:
06/01/2021
Conducted Emissions Testing for Switch Mode Power Supply Designs

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Figure 1: CISPR 25 conducted emissions measurement set-up

Switch Mode Power Supply technology has drawbacks such as the generation of switching harmonics. Converter waveforms are not a pure sinusoid and, consequently, they generate harmonics. The topology chosen and switching scheme deployed will directly influence the magnitude of harmonics generated. The purpose of this applic
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Date:
06/01/2021
Lighting the Way (and for more than just lighting)
It’s hard to believe we are halfway through the year already – time really does fly as you get older. Being stuck in the house, as most of us have been over the last year, doesn’t help that ageing feeling either. However, I just managed to get away for the first time since last February at the weekend, wh
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Date:
06/01/2021
Lighting for Safety, Connectivity and Efficiency
As you read this, we should already be – or on our way – to APEC. But alas, COVID-19 is still a persistent enough problem that the halls of the Phoenix Arizona Convention Center will be empty this year and 2021 will play host to mostly virtual trade shows (again). That’ll never become less disappointing, and hopef
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Date:
06/01/2021
Enabling System Upgrades with SiC Technology using Industry-Standard Baseplate-Less Packaging

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Wolfspeed, a Cree company, has introduced the Wolfspeed WolfPACKTM family of power modules, which feature silicon carbide (SiC) devices in a well-known power module package. The modules are built on the years of research and optimization Wolfspeed has dedicated to its SiC material and devices.  Along with critical
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Date:
06/01/2021
PSDcast – Bringing Inductive Wireless Charging to Larger Devices

Igor Spinella with Eggtronic.

Eggtronic’s new E2Watt could bring inductive wireless charging to white goods, larger appliances, and even cars.
Date:
06/01/2021
PSDcast – Does Nuclear Power have a PR Problem?

Ed Halpin, the CEO and namesake of Halpin Leadership Industries.

There appears to be at least a slight disparity between nuclear’s actual record and its perceived image....  
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Date:
06/01/2021
Gate-Driver IC Family with Integrated Galvanic Isolation
Infineon Technologies AG expands its growing portfolio of single-channel gate-driver ICs. The new EiceDRIVER 1EDB family of single-channel gate-driver IC provides galvanic input-to-output isolation of 3 kV rms (UL 1577) that ensures rugged ground-loop separation. Their common-mode transient im
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Date:
06/01/2021
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