Notable & Newsworthy

February 2023
First Measurements of Hydrogen-Boron Fusion in a Magnetically Confined Fusion Plasma

The team responsible for the first measurements of hydrogen-boron fusion in a magnetically confined fusion plasma

­As fusion developers  around the world race to commercialize fusion energy, TAE Technologies has pioneered the pursuit of the cleanest and most economical path to providing electricity with hydrogen-boron (also known as p-B11 or p11B), an abundant, environmentally sound fuel. Today the co
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Date:
02/28/2023
COSEL Adds High Power Density 700W Unit to Robust and Reliable 3

COSEL Adds High Power Density 700W Unit to Robust and Reliable 3"x5" GHA Series Power Supplies

­COSEL Co, Ltd announced the introduction of its new open-frame high power density, 700W, 3x5 inch power supply optimized for efficient cooling for use in demanding medical and industrial applications. Based on the robust platform with optimized thermal conduction, the GHA700F delivers 700W within a
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Date:
02/28/2023
800V Electric Vehicles Charge into the Mainstream using SiC Power Electronics

Expected share of >800v platforms by OEM in 2023.

­The demand for electric vehicle (EV) power electronics will increase dramatically in the next ten years, primarily driven by rapid growth in the BEV car market, where IDTechEx predicts a 15% CAGR globally over the next decade. Currently, the weighted-average battery capacity of BEV cars is increasing in all re
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Date:
02/28/2023
Infineon Coordinates Wide-Scale Research Initiative for Supercomputers in Highly Automated Connected Vehicles

Peter Schiefer, Infineon's Division President, Automotive

­Infineon Technologies AG – They will be the heart of automated connected vehicles: high-performance computers built into the car, processing all the available data and information as quickly and reliably as possible, so that the vehicles can make their way safely through traffic. The research project Mannheim-CeCaS (C
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Date:
02/28/2023
Tevva Partners with Ecobat for First-Life Battery Management

Tevva Partners with Ecobat for First-Life Battery Management

­British electric vehicle manufacturer Tevva has entered into a strategic partnership with Ecobat, the global leader in battery recycling, for the repair, repurposing and recycling of its lithium-ion batteries. The partnership kicks off with a 12-month pilot phase for first-life battery management, with the op
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Date:
02/28/2023
Payment Solution for Ultra-Small Devices Enables NFC Wireless Charging

Payment Solution for Ultra-Small Devices Enables NFC Wireless Charging

­Smart wearables and IoT devices are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of applications as they offer more functionality despite severe space and power constraints. By adding NFC capabilities to wearables, they can be used to pay in stores or gain access to public transportation and office buildings. SE
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Date:
02/27/2023
STMicroelectronics Grows ST-ONE Controller Family for USB Power Delivery Applications up to 140W

STMicroelectronics grows ST-ONE controller family for USB Power Delivery applications up to 140W

­STMicroelectronics has introduced the ST-ONEHP integrated digital controller, the  world’s first IC certified by USB-IF according to the USB Power Delivery Extended Power Range (USB PD 3.1 EPR) specification. As the third controller in the ST-ONE family, the ST-ONEHP has 28V output capabilit
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Date:
02/27/2023
Formula E Announces WAE as Official Partner of FIA Girls on Track Program

Formula E Announces WAE as Official Partner of FIA Girls on Track Program

­Formula E announced WAE as an Official Partner of the FIA Girls on Track initiative for the 2022/2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season. The next FIA Girls on Track activation will take place during race week ahead of the upcoming 2023 Julius Baer São Paulo E-Prix on Saturday, 25 March and again
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Date:
02/27/2023
Amazon Develops Algorithm to Improve Collaboration Between Robots and Humans

Amazon Develops Algorithm to Improve Collaboration Between Robots and Humans

­Amazon has identified a financially beneficial way for robots and humans to coexist, and it’s saving the online enterprise half a billion dollars per year. Using robots to bring shelves of inventory to associates to pick customer orders cuts down the distance traveled by robots and decreases the company’s st
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Date:
02/27/2023
Augmented Reality Headset Enables Users to see Hidden Objects

An augmented reality headset combines computer vision and wireless perception to automatically locate a specific item that is hidden from view, perhaps inside a box or under a pile, and then guide the user to retrieve it.

­MIT researchers have built an augmented reality headset that gives the wearer X-ray vision. The headset combines computer vision and wireless perception to automatically locate a specific item that is hidden from view, perhaps inside a box or under a pile, and then guide the user to retrieve it. The system utilizes
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Date:
02/27/2023
Corralling Ions Improves Viability of Next-Generation Solar Cells

Corralling Ions Improves Viability of Next-Generation Solar Cells

­Researchers have discovered that channeling ions into defined pathways in perovskite materials improves the stability and operational performance of perovskite solar cells. The finding paves the way for a new generation of lighter, more flexible, and more efficient solar cell technologies suitable for practical us
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Date:
02/27/2023
New Material May Offer Key to Solving Quantum Computing Issue

The formation of heterostructure of a layered two-dimensional material envisioned as Lego-type blocks locking together.

­A new form of heterostructure of layered two-dimensional (2D) materials may enable quantum computing to overcome key barriers to its widespread application, according to an international team of researchers.   The researchers were led by a team that is part of the Penn State Center for Nanos
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Date:
02/27/2023
Vanguard Announces New Common Mode Choke Inductor

Vanguard Announces New Common Mode Choke Inductor

­Vanguard Electronics, under the iNRCORE Family of Brands, is pleased to announce its new XTCMN5 Series Common Mode Choke Inductors, the latest addition to Vanguard’s growing High Temperature product line.  The XTCMN5 Series Common Mode Choke Inductors have been designed to operate in extreme environme
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Date:
02/27/2023
i-ToF Imager Enables Smallest 3D Camera Systems with Improved Quantum Efficiency at Optimized Cost

i-ToF Imager Enables Smallest 3D Camera Systems with Improved Quantum Efficiency at Optimized Cost

­Infineon Technologies AG introduces the IRS2976C Time of Flight (ToF) VGA sensor, a performance-enhancing evolution of the IRS2877C ToF VGA sensor and novel member of the REAL3 product family. The implementation of Infineon's advanced pixel technology enables the pixels to achieve a quantum efficiency of 30 perc
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Date:
02/25/2023
Developing a New Approach to Predicting the Behavior of GaN Devices

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1: Infineon’s four-step qualification plan for CoolGaN™ devices

­Introduction Silicon semiconductor technology has evolved considerably over the past 50 years, during which time, multiple failure modes affecting device reliability have been discovered, researched, and addressed. This has led to the development of models and equations for failure modes like time-de
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Date:
02/24/2023
PSDcast – The Benefits of Community Solar

Ben Frank with Solar Edge

­Renewable energy is the future, and at some point, it’s just a matter of building it out, in all its forms, and realizing the long-term benefits. But that points to a major problem with renewable energy, particularly solar power – that it’s most inaccessible for low-income families. That’s where community so
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Date:
02/24/2023
STMicroelectronics Reveals Ultra-Compact, Low-Power, NB-IoT Industrial Modules with GNSS Geo-Location Capability

STMicroelectronics Reveals Ultra-Compact, Low-Power, NB-IoT Industrial Modules with GNSS Geo-Location Capability

­STMicroelectronics’ ST87M01 ultra-compact and low-power modules combine highly reliable and robust NB-IoT data communication with accurate and resilient GNSS geo-location capability for IoT devices and assets. The fully programmable, certified LTE Cat NB2 NB-IoT industrial modules cover worldwide ce
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Date:
02/23/2023
Enfinite Announces Addition of 40 MW of Energy Storage onto Alberta Electricity Grid

Jason White, Chief Operating Officer for Enfinite

­Enfinite, a North American leader in energy storage, is pleased to announce, through its eReserve battery storage program, it has financed and developed two more energy storage projects that are now operational and supporting Alberta’s electricity grid. Enfinite’s eReserve3 and eReserve5 projects are provi
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Date:
02/23/2023
Ultra-Low-Power Bi-Directional Wireless Mesh Network Modules from NeoCortec Available Through Endrich

Cato Skibsted Fagermo, Business Development Manager at NeoCortec

­NeoCortec, manufacturer of ultra-low-power bi-directional wireless mesh network modules, has signed a new distribution agreement with service-oriented special distributor, Endrich Bauelemente Vetriebs GmbH. The new agreement enables Endrich to promote worldwide NeoCortec’s NeoMesh wireless mesh network modules to
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Date:
02/23/2023
Small Temperature Rise can Cause Large-Scale Forced Migration - Study

Dr Lisa Thalheimer, study lead author and research associate with Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute and Climate Econometrics team

­A 1°C temperature increase can cause a tenfold increase in displaced people, according to new research led by the University of Oxford, which studied the effects of conflict, weather, and drought, on forced displacement in Somalia. According to the research, a typical reduction in rainfall of 50mm p
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Date:
02/23/2023
Infineon Presents User-Friendly LCC Design Tool, Enabling Highly Efficient LED Driver Design

Infineon presents user-friendly LCC design tool, enabling highly efficient LED driver design

­Lighting accounts for a significant portion of the world’s total electricity consumption, emphasizing the importance of energy-efficient solutions in this sector. Power factor correction (PFC) plus LCC resonant topology for constant current output has proven to offer outstanding efficiency combined with a
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Date:
02/23/2023
On the Road to Better Solid-State Batteries

Shown left: Conventional solid “ordered” electrolyte made of just one type of metal (blue spheres). The movement of lithium ions (yellow sphere) is slow and limited... Shown right: Ions move significantly faster through “disordered” solid electrolyte....

­A team from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Florida State University has designed a new blueprint for solid-state batteries that are less dependent on specific chemical elements, particularly critical metals that are challenging to source due to supply chain issues. Their work, reported re
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Date:
02/23/2023
Neutrons Reveal Key to Extraordinary Heat Transport

When phonons act, vibrations of atoms carry heat. In crystals with broken translational symmetry, phasons made when atoms rearrange — shown by arrows— can also move heat, shown as pink waves.

­Warming a crystal of the mineral fresnoite, Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists discovered that excitations called phasons carried heat three times farther and faster than phonons, the excitations that usually carry heat through a material. “Neutrons were ideal for exploring these sources of heat t
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Date:
02/23/2023
Mersen Introduces MDC Series DC Distribution Fuses

Mersen Introduces MDC Series DC Distribution Fuses

­Mersen announces its latest innovative product series, MDC DC distribution fuses. With the evolution of DC distribution and new technologies on the horizon, Mersen’s MDC DC Distribution fuses help customers achieve ultimate protection for today and tomorrow and let system integrators and OEM manufacturers easily&nb
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Date:
02/23/2023
Metasurface Enters Laser Fiber Cavity for Spatiotemporal Mode Control

Intracavity spatiotemporal modulation using a metasurface strongly coupled to an epsilon-near-zero material.

­Metasurfaces are highly versatile for manipulating the amplitude, phase, or polarization of light. During the last decade, metasurfaces have been proposed for a vast range of applications — from imaging and holography to the generation of complex light field patterns. Yet, most optical metasurfaces developed to
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Date:
02/23/2023
CityU Develops Wireless, Soft E-Skin for Interactive Touch Communication in the Virtual World

The soft, flexible e-skin can be attached to various parts of the body.

­Sensing a hug from each other via the internet may be a possibility in the near future. A research team led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently developed a wireless, soft e-skin that can both detect and deliver the sense of touch, and form a touch network allowing one-to-multiuser interaction. It
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Date:
02/23/2023
Electric Vehicles can go the Distance

UD’s Willett Kempton holds an electric vehicle (EV) battery module in his research lab at UD’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus.

­One nagging concern U.S. consumers have about electric vehicles (EVs) is the ability of these battery-operated cars and trucks to get you where you want to go without running out of power. Nobody wants to be stuck at a charging station for long in the middle of a trip, or worse, be stranded without a charging st
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Date:
02/23/2023
Ramping up Domestic Graphite Production Could Aid the Green Energy Transition

Northwestern University chemical engineer Jennifer Dunn

­Given the growing importance of graphite in energy storage technologies, a team of Northwestern researchers has conducted a study exploring ways to reduce reliance on imports of the in high-demand mineral, which powers everything from electric vehicles (EVs) to cell phones. The paper, which published this week
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Date:
02/23/2023
Wärtsilä Has Delivered a 125 MW / 250 MWh Energy Storage System to REV Renewables to Support Grid Stability and Meet Decarbonisation Goals in California

Wärtsilä’s energy storage technology enables REV Renewables to support grid stability, ensure resource adequacy and capitalise on ancillary services in California

­The technology group Wärtsilä reached substantial completion on a 125-megawatt (MW) / 250-megawatt hour (MWh) energy storage system in Calexico, California, USA, for REV Renewables, to help stabilise and decarbonise the electric grid. The facility, called the LeConte energy storage project, is Wärtsilä’s sec
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Date:
02/21/2023
CUI Devices Adds New DIN Rail Options to Terminal Blocks Product Line

CUI Devices Adds New DIN Rail Options to Terminal Blocks Product Line

­CUI Devices’ Interconnect Group announced the expansion of its line of terminal blocks with the addition of new DIN rail terminal block models. The TBDR family offers push-in spring or end cap connector types with feed through or ground type styles. These DIN rail terminal blocks are available in single-level or
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Date:
02/21/2023
Edge AI Market Expected to hit $70 Bn by 2032

Edge AI Market Expected to hit $70 Bn by 2032

­As per the report by Global Market Insights, Inc. “Worldwide Edge AI market was valued USD 5 billion in 2022 and will surpass a revenue collection of USD 100 billion by 2032 with an annual growth rate of 35% over 2023 to 2032.” Global Edge AI Market size is predicted to expand considerably throughout the forec
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Date:
02/20/2023
Wärtsilä to Provide Energy Storage System to Zenobē, Delivering First-of-a-Kind Project in the UK

Wärtsilä to provide energy storage system to Zenobē, delivering first-of-a-kind project in the United Kingdom

­The technology group Wärtsilä will supply a 200-megawatt (MW) / 400-megawatt hour (MWh) energy storage system under an Engineered Equipment Delivery (EEQ) contract to Zenobē, an electric vehicle fleet and battery storage specialist, in Blackhillock, Scotland. The project will be the first in the world to del
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Date:
02/20/2023
Development of a Self-Resonant Smart Energy Harvester

Schematics for energy harvester structure and adaptive clamping system (above)

­The Internet of Things (IoT) requires the installation free of time and space, therefore, needs independent power sources that are not restricted by batteries or power lines. Energy harvesting technology harvests wasted energy such as vibration, heat, light, and electromagnetic waves from everyday settings, su
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Date:
02/20/2023
This 'Harry Potter' Light Sensor Achieves Magically High Efficiency of 200%

Details of the photodiode used in the experimental setting.

­Using green light and a double-layered cell, PhD researcher Riccardo Ollearo has come up with a photodiode that has sensitivity that many can only dream of. Solar panels with multiple stacked cells are currently breaking records. Remarkably, a team of researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and TNO a
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Date:
02/20/2023
A Greener Alternative to Fossil Fuels by Producing Hydrogen from Water and Light

From left to right: James Cahoon and Taylor Teitsworth

­Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Chemistry have engineered silicon nanowires that can convert sunlight into electricity by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen gas, a greener alternative to fossil fuels. Fifty years ago, scientists first demonstrated that liqu
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Date:
02/20/2023
Electronic Metadevices Break Barriers to Ultra-Fast Communications

Electronic Metadevices Break Barriers to Ultra-Fast Communications

­Until now, the ability to make electronic devices faster has come down to a simple principle: scaling down transistors and other components. But this approach is reaching its limit, as the benefits of shrinking are counterbalanced by detrimental effects like resistance and decreased output power. Elison Matioli o
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Date:
02/20/2023
Space Travel Influences the Way the Brain Works

How space travel influences the way the brain works

­Scientists of the University of Antwerp and University of Liège have found how the human brain changes and adapts to weightlessness, after being in space for 6 months. Some of the changes turned out to be lasting – even after 8 months back on Earth. Raphaël Liégeois, soon to be the th
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Date:
02/20/2023
A Way to Govern Ethical use of Artificial Intelligence Without Hindering Advancement

A Way to Govern Ethical use of Artificial Intelligence Without Hindering Advancement

­Texas A&M University School of Public Health researchers are developing a new governance model for ethical guidance and enforcement in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence (AI). Known as Copyleft AI with Trusted Enforcement, or CAITE, the researchers believe this model will guard ag
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Date:
02/20/2023
PSDcast – Securing a Domestic Supply of Zinc

Andrew Green, the Executive Director of the International Zinc Association

­There’s a growing movement to kickstart a domestic supply chain of zinc, amongst other critical minerals. But how do we do so?
Date:
02/20/2023
Infineon's XENSIV Connected Sensor Kits, Now at Mouser, Offer Sensor Platform for IoT Device Development

Infineon's XENSIV Connected Sensor Kits, Now at Mouser, Offer Sensor Platform for IoT Device Development

­Mouser Electronics, Inc., is now stocking the XENSIV KIT CSK PASCO2 and XENSIV KIT CSK BGT60TR13C connected sensor kits (CSK) from Infineon Technologies AG. The XENSIV connected sensor kits provide a ready-to-use sensor development platform for IoT devices. The CSK platform enables the creation of new prototype id
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Date:
02/20/2023
PSDcast – Is Deregulation the Key to Lower Energy Costs?

Anthony Malascalza, CEO of Limitless Consulting and Marketing, a door-to-door sales company in the energy deregulation market

­Energy prices went hogwild in 2022. Naturally, one of the biggest culprits was the war in Ukraine, since Europe leans on Russia for most of their oil and natural gas and America imports enough from Russia that its absence was noticeable. But some feel that over-regulation of energy has also contributed to su
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Date:
02/17/2023
Murata Introduces Next-Generation LTE M/NB-IoT Module Solution

Akira Sasaki, General Manager of Connectivity Module Marketing, Murata

­Murata announced its second generation LTE-M/NB-IoT module, the Type2GD. Featuring recently announced ALT1350 chipset from Sony Semiconductor Israel (Sony), it is the first solution on the market that offers ultra-low power and multiple LPWA communication protocols including non-terrestrial networks (NTN) sat
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Date:
02/17/2023
Eaton Delivers Reliable, Flexible Power Protection for Connected Devices in Industrial Environments

Eaton delivers reliable, flexible power protection for connected devices in industrial environments

­Power management company Eaton announced its latest innovation in industrial backup power with the North American launch of its DIN rail industrial uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Built to withstand the demanding physical conditions and extreme temperatures of harsh environments, the new UPS offers reliable ba
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Date:
02/17/2023
Infineon's Latest SLC38 Security Device and TrustSEC's Operating System BIO-SLCOS Provide Secured, Open Platform for Advanced Smart Card Applications

Infineon's Latest SLC38 Security Device and TrustSEC's Operating System BIO-SLCOS Provide Secured, Open Platform for Advanced Smart Card Applications

­In cooperation with Infineon Technologies AG, TrustSEC has launched its new advanced smart cards operating system (OS) BIO-SLCOS. The OS uses Infineon's latest high-performance SLC38 Secure Element to provide a secured and open platform that combines the best in security, flexibility, and hardware independence to
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Date:
02/17/2023
Volvo Construction Equipment Invests in Battery Pack Production at Excavator Plant

Volvo Construction Equipment Invests in Battery Pack Production at Excavator Plant

­With the SEK 80 million (around $7.8 million) investment from Volvo Group, a new production facility and equipment will be built at the Changwon plant in South Korea – which at around 1.1 million sq. m is the largest excavator production site in Volvo CE, producing around 55% of its total excavator vo
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Date:
02/17/2023
Acopian Launches

Acopian Launches "Infinity" High Power Linear Rack & Benchtop Power Supplies

­Acopian launched their high power linear Infinity Rack and Benchtop power supplies rated up to 1200W. DC single/nominal output voltages range from 3.3VDC to 150VDC and up to 150A (1200W). All voltages are available in 2U, 3U and 4U high configurations. These linear power supplies are highly configurab
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Date:
02/17/2023
TDK Expands the Tronics AXO 300 Series With Two Types of High-Performance Digital MEMS Accelerometer Sensors

TDK Expands the Tronics AXO 300 Series With Two Types of High-Performance Digital MEMS Accelerometer Sensors

­TDK Corporation announces the extension of Tronics AXO®300 accelerometers platform with two new products. After the successful production launch in 2020 of the ±14 g AXO315 accelerometer for high-performance navigation and positioning of dynamic systems, Tronics extends the AXO300 accelerometer se
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Date:
02/15/2023
Tevva Hydrogen-Electric Truck Clocks up 350 Miles in Wintry Range Test

Tevva Hydrogen-Electric Truck Clocks up 350 Miles in Wintry Range Test

­While Tevva’s laser-guided focus remains trained on building and delivering its battery-electric 7.5t vehicle, testing and development of its hydrogen-electric counterpart continues apace.  Four Tevva engineers: Charlie Cordell, Byron Dolman, Ryan Clark and Toby Hurst were doing exactly that recently,
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Date:
02/15/2023
Emerson Software Helps Intermountain Power Agency Deliver Carbon-Free Power

Emerson’s Ovation software and automation technologies will provide reliable, secure control and monitoring of Intermountain Power Agency’s IPP Renewed power plant which transforms the retiring coal fueled power project into an innovative facility that reliably delivers carbon-free electricity.

­Emerson has been selected to automate operations at Intermountain Power Agency’s IPP Renewed power plant, a regional energy hub that uses renewable energy resources. Emerson’s power industry expertise and hydrogen production experience as an automation supplier to the adjacent Mitsubishi Po
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Date:
02/15/2023
Enteligent Unveils World's First DC-to-DC Solar EV Charger

Enteligent Unveils World’s First DC-to-DC Solar EV Charger

­Enteligent Inc. is unveiling the world’s first DC-to-DC solar hybrid bi-directional EV charger this week at Intersolar NA 2023 in Booth 2460. Powered directly from the sun, Enteligent’s solar EV charger can supply 25 kW of fast DC charging – three times faster than AC Level 2 EV chargers – wh
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Date:
02/15/2023
Reduced Energetic Disorder Enables Over 14% Efficiency in Organic Solar Cells Based on Completely Non-Fused-Ring Donors and Acceptors

The more planar molecular structure of A4T-3 enabled it with lower energetic disorder and reduced energy loss, thus higher photovoltaic performance of the PTVT-T:A4T-3-based device.

­Non-fused-ring organic photoactive materials have attracted broad attention in recent years due to their low synthetic cost. Different from the rigid coplanar structure of fused-ring molecules, the easily rotated conformation of non-fused-ring molecules could lead to the different energetic disorder, which gr
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Date:
02/15/2023
Brain Changes in Fighter Pilots May Cast Light on Astronauts During Space Travel

Brain Changes in Fighter Pilots May Cast Light on Astronauts During Space Travel

­One cannot explore the profound mysteries of space without being changed by it. This is the message underlying a new study in Frontiers in Physiology. The study examined the brains of F16 fighter pilots, which have a lot in common with those of astronauts in terms of adapting to altered gravity levels an
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Date:
02/15/2023
Canada's First Zero-Carbon, Net-Positive Energy Building is on Track to Propel Ontario's Energy Transition

Canada's First Zero-Carbon, Net-Positive Energy Building is on Track to Propel Ontario's Energy Transition

­Office buildings are typically not energy efficient, and globally they contribute to nearly a third of greenhouse gas emissions from construction to end of life. A new study out of the University of Waterloo analyzes data-driven improvements in Canada’s first zero-carbon, net-positive energy building showing ho
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Date:
02/15/2023
Better Understanding on the Way to a Carbon-Neutral Economy

The ­Pangaea supercontinent

­Pangaea was the name Alfred Wegener gave to the supercontinent that existed on Earth 250 million years ago. Over the course of many millions of years, this supercontinent broke into different pieces, which became the landmasses we see on the globe today. Extensional forces on the tectonic plates causes continents to
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Date:
02/15/2023
'Magic' Solvent Creates Stronger Thin Films

Rong Yang, assistant professor in the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in Cornell Engineering

­A new all-dry polymerization technique uses reactive vapors to create thin films with enhanced properties, such as mechanical strength, kinetics and morphology. The synthesis process is gentler on the environment than traditional high-temperature or solution-based manufacturing and could lead to improved polymer co
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Date:
02/15/2023
GMS launches new 8-slot DominATR 3U OpenVPX chassis series

The X9 Venom family of 3U OpenVPX products, including this DominATR chassis, are SOSA (Sensor Open Standard Architecture) aligned and
ready to meet the C4ISR/Electronic Warfare Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) requirements of U.S. military programs and
platform upgrades

­General Micro Systems (GMS) launched its 8-slot DominATR™ 3U OpenVPX chassis to support U.S military and commercial applications. As part of the GMS X9 Venom product family, this chassis’ revolutionary architecture and lightweight materials offer improved performance, reliability and operating ra
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Date:
02/14/2023
STMicroelectronics Introduces Highly Integrated 32-Channel Ultrasound Transmitter Optimized for Handheld Scanners

STMicroelectronics Introduces Highly Integrated 32-Channel Ultrasound Transmitter Optimized for Handheld Scanners

­STMicroelectronics has expanded its family of advanced ultrasound transmitters by adding a 32-channel variant with high output current for portable applications. The new transmitter, STHVUP32, provides ±800mA aimed at portable systems that demand extra drive capability for a coaxial cable-mounted probe. Joining the portf
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Date:
02/14/2023
Alliance Memory Expands Lineup of CMOS DDR4 SDRAMs With New 16Gb Device

Alliance Memory Expands Lineup of CMOS DDR4 SDRAMs With New 16Gb Device

­Alliance Memory announced that it has expanded its portfolio of CMOS DDR4 SDRAMs with a new 16Gb device in the 96-ball FBGA package. Providing the company's customers with a higher-density option for a wide range of applications, the AS4C1G16D4-062BCN delivers improved performance over previous-generation DDR
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Date:
02/14/2023
Eolian Closes First-Of-Its-Kind Standalone Battery Energy Storage Tax Equity Financing

Eolian's CEO Aaron Zubaty

­Eolian, L.P., a portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners, has successfully closed the first-of-its-kind tax equity investment in two standalone utility-scale battery storage projects located in Mission, Texas. This pioneering financing is the first use of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) structure by
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Date:
02/13/2023
Navitas Fast Charges Global Launch of The OnePlus 11 5G

Navitas Fast Charges Global Launch of The OnePlus 11 5G

­Navitas Semiconductor has confirmed that its GaNFast technology fast-charges the newly-released OnePlus 11 5G flagship smartphone. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, the flagship OnePlus 11 5G combines a modern, elegant design with effortless imaging supported by the 3rd Generation Hasselbla
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Date:
02/13/2023
Novel Microscope Developed to Design Better High-Performance Batteries

UH researchers Yan Yao, Guangxia Feng and Xiaonan Shan.

­Lithium-ion batteries have transformed everyday lives – almost everyone has a smartphone, more electric vehicles can be spotted on the roads, and they keep power generators going during emergencies. As more portable electronic devices, electric vehicles and large-scale grid implementations come online, the de
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Date:
02/10/2023
Eighth-Brick DC-DC Provides 240 W From a Wide Input Range

Eighth-Brick DC-DC Provides 240 W From a Wide Input Range

­Flex Power Modules has extended its PKB-D series of isolated eighth-brick DC-DC converters with the launch of the PKB5213D, featuring a wide 18-60 V input range to include 24 V and 48 V nominal inputs, and a fully regulated 12 V output rated at 20 A/240 W. The part’s Isolation is 2250 VDC input to
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Date:
02/09/2023
Space-saving Solution for Circuit Isolation

Würth Elektronik introduces its WL-OCPT dual-channel optocoupler phototransistor

­Würth Elektronik has expanded its WL-OCPT optocoupler product family with the DIP-8 design. Two-channel optocoupler phototransistors with eight pins are now available. This design contains two circuits inside a single component constructed from two input LEDs and two output phototransistors, therefore two se
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Date:
02/09/2023
Infineon QDPAK and DDPAK Top-Side Cooling Packages Registered as JEDEC Standard for High-Power Applications

Infineon QDPAK and DDPAK Top-Side Cooling Packages Registered as JEDEC Standard for High-Power Applications

­The trends toward higher power density and cost optimization dominate the development goals of efficient high-power applications that create substantial value for segments such as electromobility. To push these boundaries, Infineon Technologies AG announced it has successfully registered its QDPAK and DDPAK to
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Date:
02/09/2023
Compact Snap-In Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors with 85% Increased Ripple Current Capability

Compact Snap-In Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors with 85% Increased Ripple Current Capability

­TDK Corporation presents its new EPCOS B43652* series of snap-in aluminum electrolytic capacitors that are characterized by very compact dimensions and very high ripple current-carrying capacity. The RoHS-compatible capacitors are designed for a maximum rated voltage of 450 V DC and cover a capacitance ra
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Date:
02/09/2023
25MWh of Second-Life EV Battery Capacity is Operational at Hybrid Solar + Storage Facility in Lancaster, CA

25MWh of Second-Life EV Battery Capacity is Operational at Hybrid Solar + Storage Facility in Lancaster, CA

­B2U Storage Solutions announced that 25MWh of storage capacity is now operational at its SEPV Sierra hybrid solar + storage facility in Lancaster, CA. The project’s storage capacity is comprised of 1,300 reused EV battery packs sourced from Honda and Nissan. The Sierra hybrid storage facility is interc
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Date:
02/09/2023
SunHydrogen Unveils Larger Version of the World's First-Ever Nanoparticle-Based Green Hydrogen Generator

SunHydrogen’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Syed Mubeen

­SunHydrogen, Inc. published a photo of the largest version to date of its nanoparticle-based green hydrogen technology. The image unveiled shows a panel that houses multiple hydrogen generators and contains 16 times more hydrogen generator area than the Company’s previous small-scale model. Mu
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Date:
02/09/2023
Kraftanlagen Selected for Green Hydrogen Project H2eron

The future H2eron green hydrogen factory at Delfzijl

­HyCC has selected the engineering partner and technology supplier for its green hydrogen project H2eron in Delfzijl, The Netherlands. The 40 MW plant is expected to deliver the first hydrogen in 2026 to support the production of sustainable aviation fuels. Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) Kraftanlag
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Date:
02/08/2023
Sfera Labs Extends Family of Pi-Based Edge Computing Servers with Strato Pi CM v3 and Strato Pi CM Duo v3

Sfera Labs Extends Family of Pi-Based Edge Computing Servers with Strato Pi CM v3 and Strato Pi CM Duo v3

­Sfera Labs has expanded its Strato Pi CM family of compact Raspberry Pi-based Compute Module (CM) servers with two new models that provide support for the new Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4S (CM4S) alongside other performance improvements. The Strato Pi CM v3 and Strato Pi CM Duo v3 are ideally suited to industrial an
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Date:
02/08/2023
Compact Intelligent (Smart) Low Side Switches: Reduced Power Loss and Safer Operation

Compact Intelligent (Smart) Low Side Switches: Reduced Power Loss and Safer Operation

­ROHM Semiconductor announced a new generation of single- and dual-channel 40 V intelligent (smart) low side switches, the BV1LExxxEFJ-C and BM2LExxxFJ-C series. The two product families are ideally designed for automotive and industrial applications. They are AEC-Q100 qualified and ar
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Date:
02/08/2023
Bel Fuse Takes Minority Stake in Innoelectric for EV Advancement

Bel Fuse CEO Dan Bernstein

­Bel Fuse Inc. announced that the Company has entered into an agreement and closed on a minority stake investment with Germany-based innolectric AG (“innolectric”). This passive investment will create a strategic alliance that is focused on Electric Vehicles (“EV”) on-board power electronics br
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Date:
02/06/2023
Harwin Showcases Performance-Enhanced, Cost-Effective Industrial Connectors

Harwin Showcases Performance-Enhanced, Cost-Effective Industrial Connectors

Harwin's high density board-to-board connectors are intended for use in challenging industrial applications, providing assured long-term operation. The BBi portfolio includes components for drives and controls, edge-based computing hardware, automation systems, robotics, instrumentation and monitoring equipment, IIo
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Date:
02/06/2023
TTI Family of Specialists Renews Support of Women in Electronics Organization as Major Sponsor

John Drabik, TTI President Americas

­TTI, Inc., announced that its Family of Specialists is pleased to continue its Platinum-Level support as a founding sponsor of the Women in Electronics (WE) non-profit organization. TTI, together with Mouser Electronics, Sager Electronics and eXponential Technology Group (XTG), have found great value in
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Date:
02/06/2023
Integrated Flyback Controller with Advanced Features Boosts LED Lighting Performance

Integrated Flyback Controller with Advanced Features Boosts LED Lighting Performance

­STMicroelectronics’ HVLED101 90-400V flyback controller for LED-lighting applications up to 180W enhances performance and simplifies design through extensive feature integration, patented control techniques, and support for primary-sensing regulation. Joining ST’s HVLED family of high-power-factor controlle
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Date:
02/06/2023
Advanced Energy Introduces Ultra-Miniature, Programmable High Voltage Precision DC-DC Converters

Advanced Energy Introduces Ultra-Miniature, Programmable High Voltage Precision DC-DC Converters

­Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., introduced a new series of ultra-miniature isolated single and dual-output high voltage DC-DC converters. The Advanced Energy UltraVolt© AEQ series optimizes power conversion in a wide range of medical, life science, industrial and semiconductor equipment applications. Devices in the AE
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Date:
02/03/2023
Single-Chip Antenna-Matching ICs for Easier, Faster Design with Bluetooth LE SoCs and STM32 Wireless Microcontrollers

Single-Chip Antenna-Matching ICs for Easier, Faster Design with Bluetooth LE SoCs and STM32 Wireless Microcontrollers

­STMicroelectronics has extended its range of single-chip antenna-matching ICs that simplify RF-circuit design with two new devices optimized for BlueNRG-LPS system-on-chip ICs (SoCs) and STM32WB1x and STM32WB5x wireless microcontrollers. The MLPF-NRG-01D3 for BlueNRG-LPS and MLPF-WB-02D3 for STM32WB integrate the compl
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Date:
02/02/2023
Automotive-Qualified Supercapacitors are Tested and Qualified to the Stringent AEC-Q200 Standard

Automotive-Qualified Supercapacitors are Tested and Qualified to the Stringent AEC-Q200 Standard

­KYOCERA AVX is proud to announce its first automotive-qualified supercapacitors, which are also known as cylindrical, electrochemical, double-layer capacitors.  The five new automotive-qualified SCC Series supercapacitors are tested and qualified to the stringent AEC-Q200 standard, which pro
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Date:
02/02/2023
Elma Adds to Comprehensive Line of SOSA Aligned Backplanes That Enable Complex, High Speed Signal Processing in Rugged Applications

Elma Adds to Comprehensive Line of SOSA Aligned Backplanes That Enable Complex, High Speed Signal Processing in Rugged Applications

­Elma Electronic has now added six additional high-speed backplanes that align with The Open Group Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Technical Standard 1.0 and incorporate the latest optical fiber and RF connectivity. With 2-, 4- and 6-slot options, the expanded 3U OpenVPX series of backplanes provides de
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Date:
02/02/2023
PSDcast – Decarbonizing the Future

Mark Kapczynski, CMO, with Energy Shares

­While renewable energy recently surpassed coal in consumption, the first time in 130 years, over 60% of electricity production in the US is still generated via fossil fuels. That obviously clashes with our goal of going carbon neutral by this middle of this century, so something has to be done.
Date:
02/02/2023
Texas Utility Selects Wärtsilä Technology for new 190 MW Grid-Balancing Peaker Power Plant

Texas Utility Selects Wärtsilä Technology for new 190 MW Grid-Balancing Peaker Power Plant

­The technology group Wärtsilä will supply the generating equipment for a new approximately 190 MW power plant to be built in Texas, USA. The order was placed by Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), a river authority based in Austin, Texas providing wholesale power to the Texas power grid. The contract wa
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Date:
02/02/2023
World's First 64 Gbps Fully Integrated Loopback Solution for High-Speed Data Connectivity

Block diagram of the Menlo Micro 5620 (Graphic: Business Wire)

­Menlo Microsystems, Inc. (Menlo Micro), introduced a new dual double-pole/triple-throw (2x DP3T) switch. The MM5620 switch provides the highest performance and data rates for high-speed differential data applications. It offers unprecedented levels of parallel testing on space-constrained final test and probe tes
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Date:
02/01/2023
Current Transducer with Large Aperture for Automotive (EV) Test Benches & Battery Testing

Current Transducer with Large Aperture for Automotive (EV) Test Benches & Battery Testing

­Danisense announced the release of its latest current transducer mainly aimed for automotive (EV) test benches and battery testing & evaluation systems. Featuring a very large aperture of 41.2mm, the DN1000ID current transducer enables power cables with large power connectors to be easily fi
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Date:
02/01/2023
ABB and Hynamics Collaborate to Lower Hydrogen Production Cost

ABB and Hynamics collaborate to lower hydrogen production cost

­Hynamics has signed an agreement to collaborate with ABB and test the ABB Ability OPTIMAX for Green Hydrogen energy management system (EMS), which was launchedto market in November 2022, across Hynamics’ plants to help optimize electrical costs of hydrogen production by up to 16 percent, according to
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Date:
02/01/2023
Improving System-Level Performance and Robustness in Power Line Monitoring

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1. AD7606B in a typical power line monitoring application

­For many applications, monitoring powerlines implies the use of current transformers and resistor divider networks in order to sense the three phases and neutral voltages and currents, as shown in Figure 1. The AD7606B, due to its high input impedance, can directly interface with a sensor, easing the da
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Date:
02/01/2023
Printing is Key to Battery-Free IoT Sensors

Ally Winning, European Editor, PSD

­The Internet of Things has already shown it can enhance our home and work lives in many ways even though we are only at the beginning of its implementation. Being able to measure multiple different metrics about our bodies, our equipment or our environment and then use that data to calculate optimal outcomes ov
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Date:
02/01/2023
Chinese Companies May Have Circumvented Solar Tariffs

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

­Those PRC rascals are at it again. Allegedly. Back in December, the U.S. Department of Commerce released its preliminary findings on circumvention inquiries of solar cells and modules from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).  They determined that 4 of 8 companies under investigation had shipped cell
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Date:
02/01/2023
Merchant Power Supplies: It's Still Better to Buy

Kevin Parmenter, Director, Applications Engineering. TSC, America

­Verified market reports show the merchant power supply market was valued at USD 33.78 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 50.22 billion by 2030 -- a CAGR of 5.13%. This growing market has evolved since the early 2000s. Back then, I wrote a “make vs. buy” article, saying it was better to buy merchant po
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Date:
02/01/2023
Testing the Quality of Low Power Transformers

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Figure 1: Test equipment for partial discharge testing with test chamber, partial discharge tester, and computer with measurement software

­During their extensive service life, low-power transformers are subjected to a wide variety of stress. The electrical insulation, which is essential for fault-free operation, can be damaged as a result. Despite taking the utmost care, small defects, cavities, cracks, inclusions in the dielectric, or inhomogeneities in
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Date:
02/01/2023
Electronic Fuse Protects 48 V Supplies

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Figure 1. A 48 V, 10 A electronic fuse with an LTC4381

­Traditional overcurrent protection (OCP) relies on fuses, but they suffer frombulky size, slow response, wide tolerance, and requiring replacement after one or a few trips. Integrated circuit OCP solutions for DC power supplies, known as electronic circuit breakers or electronic fuses, overcome these fuse di
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Date:
02/01/2023
Multiple Output Power Supplies – Are There Benefits to Having Isolation Between the Output Voltages?

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Figure 1: Multiple outputs using non-isolated DC-DC converters with fixed polarity outputs

­The outputs for multiple output power supplies could be fixed at +5V, +12V and -12V for example, sharing a common 0V terminal with no isolation between the outputs. Other types of power supplies, on the other hand, may have one, two, or all three of the outputs isolated from each other. But are there any benefits of
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Date:
02/01/2023
Decarbonizing Mission-Critical Power

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Figure 1. The use of renewable diesel in existing generators can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%

­Back-up power plays a central role in the mission-critical systems that support our essential infrastructure such as data centers, smart grids, hospitals, utilities and airports. But we also need to drastically cut carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases as part of the ongoing fight against climate ch
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Date:
02/01/2023
Output Filter Capacitor Characteristics and Performance in Miniature Switched-Mode Power Supplies

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1: A typical schematic for output filter capacitors

­Switched-mode power supplies can introduce conducted or radiated noise into a system, which is a potentially significant disadvantage. Noise control is increasingly achieved with streamlined designs that use of one or two chipsets, have matched performance, and are designed to provide simple, proven integrati
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Date:
02/01/2023
Preserving Information Security at Data Centres

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Figure 1: Modern Data Centre

Countermeasures are designed to preventing eavesdropping on data radiated as signals via conducting lines such as power, telephone or control line cables. In defence parlance, the countermeasures applied to prevent intelligence interception are known as hardening, and TEMPEST hardening represents one aspec
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Date:
02/01/2023
Wolfspeed – SiC and Energy Efficiency

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Figure 1: The basic electrical implementation of air conditioning units and heat pumps

­With energy prices climbing significantly over the past twelve months, businesses and consumers are starting to feel the pinch. In Europe, gas prices rose by 47% between 2020 and 2021. Countries like Germany rely on gas for a sixth of their electricity generation and, in the US, two-fifths of electricity is ge
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Date:
02/01/2023
Harnessing Electromagnetic Induction to Power the Wireless Charging of Industry 4.0 Mobile Robots

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Figure 1: Wireless charging of mobile robots on a factory floor

­Advances in wireless charging have been critical for keeping these robots running, but solutions must be optimized for the specific cost and safety requirements of Industry 4.0 applications. These challenges can be overcome through the proper combination of component selection, coil design and board layout. Role and Benef
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Date:
02/01/2023
Advanced Electrical Protection Trends for DC Fast Charging

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Figure 1: EV charging systems are rapidly maturing, leveraging DC fast charging with the latest in electrical protection solutions

­Now that the latest Electric Vehicles (EVs) are exhibiting operational ranges that are more acceptable consumers, the attention has shifted to battery charging times. These EVs are using the latest in wide-bandgap semiconductor solutions and power topologies, with system voltages often well over several hundred vo
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Date:
02/01/2023
Making Power Supplies More Efficient

Ally Winning, European Editor, PSD

February is traditionally when the work year kicks off at full pace. The exhibition season starts up again, in the UK at least, with the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics show in the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre from the 7th to 9th February. However, the traditional first major ev
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Date:
02/01/2023
In the Homestretch for APEC

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

­Forgive the bad pun, but we’re barreling towards one heck of a powerful start to the year! We’re a mere month away from arguably the most important event of the year, the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC), so now likes an opportune moment to discuss the lifeblood of our brand. And we can thi
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Date:
02/01/2023
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