Notable & Newsworthy

    August 2023
    PSDcast – The Importance of a Battery Management System

    Texas Instruments’ Mark Ng

    Why is a reliable battery management system so important? Texas Instruments’ Mark Ng is here to discuss.
    Date:
    08/29/2023
    Revolutionizing e-Bike Charger Efficiency

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    Figure 1. PFC-flyback currents with regard to the input voltage

    ­E-bike chargers play a pivotal role in addressing common pain points riders face, such as the fear of running out of power and the burden of carrying or storing portable chargers. As e-bikes continue to gain traction as a sustainable and economical mode of transportation, it becomes imperative to emphasize th
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    Date:
    08/29/2023
    Dual Linear Regulator for Digital IC Power Enables On the-Fly Output Adjustment and Dynamic Headroom Optimization

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    Figure 1. The UltraFast load transient response, 12 µV rms output noise, and 80 mV dropout voltage features of the dual-channel, 2.5 A LT3072 meet the needs of digital ICs with stringent power requirements. In this schematic, the three-state VO1B2–0 and VO2B2–0 pins are shown

    Low dropout (LDO) linear regulators are often used to provide clean power to processor cores and communication circuits. In these applications, LDO regulators are used specifically because processors and power amplifiers have stringent performance requirements for power supply output noise and load transient re
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    All-Electric Flying Car Gets Go-Ahead for Testing

    Ally Winning, European Editor, PSD

    “I was told we’d all have flying cars by now” is a common put down among those cynical of potential technological advancements. Up until now, they may have had a point, but with the news of the FFA granting Alef Aeronautics legal permission to test its Model A vehicle both on the road and in the air, they ma
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Is Deregulated Energy the Best Path Forward?

    Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

    It’s the million-dollar question with every conceivable form of commerce – regulated, deregulated, or somewhere in the middle? Texas is about to answer that in a microcosm, with deregulated energy headed for Lubbock. To whit, it’s a choice between (deregulated) free markets, where consumers choose th
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    NIMBY and Other Problems Stalling EV Adoption

    Kevin Parmenter, Director, Applications Engineering. TSC, America

    The electrification of transportation is booming – IDTechEx predicts a 15% CAGR increase globally over the next decade just in the semiconductors serving this market. However, it’s difficult to discuss this market without considering the interrelated issues affecting the adoption of electric vehicles. Although I
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Powering A Sustainable Future with Electric Vehicle Battery Technology

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    Figure 1: Electric vehicles are forecasted to represent approximately 20% - 25% of total vehicles sales in 2030. Source Bloomberg NEF Electric Vehicle Outlook 2020

    With the continued development and improvement of electric vehicle battery technology, it’s easy to imagine the future of transportation: a world where everything from personal cars and SUVs to the trucking industry runs on batteries. Carbon emissions will be reduced dramatically. But that’s just the start. Ol
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Do EVs Still Require A 12V Battery?

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    Figure 1: Transient test comparison: 48V-to-12V at 75A compared to a 12V battery. The Vicor NBM2317 power module response to a 50A load is three times faster than a standard 12V battery

    Look under the hood of an electric vehicle and you may be surprised to find a conventional 12V lead-acid battery, or an additional 48V battery. You may wonder why does an EV need a conventional battery when there’s a 400V or 800V battery already in the vehicle to power the motors? Today the 12V or 48V batteries po
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Wireless Communication in Automotive BMS

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    Figure 1: Wired vs Wireless BMS

    Batteries in EV/HEV reach nominal voltages of 400 V or 800 V. The batteries are typically organized in modules that are managed by a dedicated battery management integrated circuit (BMIC). Typically, one BMIC can monitor up to 16 cells connected in series. The main role of the BMIC is to periodically measure th
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Silicon Carbide E-Fuse Demonstrator Offers Designers Solution for Circuit Protection in Electric Vehicles

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    Figure 1: Microchip's Auxiliary E-Fuse Technology Demonstrator

    With the increased voltage and lessons learned from 400V systems, designers are now focused on enhancing the performance of high-voltage protection circuits along with improving reliability. The incumbent solution using a fuse, contactor or relay is being reevaluated for faster-reacting, more robust and reliable so
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Use Soft Termination to Improve Reliability in Vehicle Applications

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    Figure 1: Shows major causes and the process of board flexure

    The automotive industry is in the midst of a transition from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV). At the same time, automakers are adding assisted-driving features to both ICE vehicles and EVs. Both trends represent multifunctional capabilities enabled by high power electronic control un
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Powering Embedded Systems

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    Figure 1: The PBO-15C series of 15 watt single-output AC/DC power supplies from CUI Inc suit industrial and smart home applications. (Source: CUI Inc)

    Embedded systems are ubiquitous. They control our home appliances, track our pets, manage industrial processes, and take soil samples on distant planets. Initiatives to improve industrial performance, such as Industry 4.0, launched the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which accelerated the need for low-power se
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    On the Brink of an Energy Revolution

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    Figure 1. IPSC’s “The ROC”

    This current energy revolution is reminiscent of past pivotal eras that shaped our world, such as the digital and industrial revolution. However, what sets this moment apart is the impetus of global warming and climate change, which have the potential to profoundly impact not only our lives but also the lives of
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Intelligent Power Sharing for Next-Generation Charger Design

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    Figure 1: SZPL3002A buck converter IC with a built-in USB PD/FC port controller

    Power adapters with multiport power sharing allow multiple electronic devices to be charged or powered simultaneously. These adapters have multiple output ports, each capable of delivering power to different devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, or other USB-powered consumer electronics, smart home, IT
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    All Charged Up

    Ally Winning, European Editor, PSD

    Welcome to the August issue of Power Systems Design Europe. Infrastructure and charging are two of the main reasons that the adoption of electric vehicles is not more widespread. If owners cannot charge vehicles at home, and even then at a slow rate, they usually have to charge at a commercial charging station. Th
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Getting Electric at the Close of the Summer

    Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

    Welcome to the August issue! Summer’s nearly over, and here’s hoping you were able to holiday somewhere fun, possibly by availing yourself of our topic this month (EVs, Hybrids, and Charging Infrastructure). My personal vehicle is a hybrid, though I haven’t ruled out graduating to an electric vehicle,
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    Date:
    08/01/2023
    Archive

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    Power Systems Design

    Power Systems Design is a leading global media platform serving the power electronics design engineering community. It delivers in-depth technical content, industry news, and product insights to engineers and decision-makers developing advanced power systems and technologies.

    Published 12× per year across North America and Europe, Power Systems Design is distributed through online and fully digital editions, complemented by eNewsletters, webinars, and multimedia content. The platform covers key areas including power conversion, semiconductors, renewable energy, automotive electrification, AI power systems, and industrial applications—supporting innovation across the global electronics industry.