Power Semiconductors

September 2020
Extremely Compact Isolated Auxiliary Supply for SiC-MOSFET Gate Driver

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Figure 1: Topology of a SiC-MOSFET half-bridge with highlighted parasitic inductances

With the increasing spread of high-voltage power semiconductor components build with silicon carbide (SiC) technology, which operate at switching frequencies above 100 kHz, the requirements for their gate control are becoming more and more demanding. Besides the bipolar, positive and negative driving voltages fo
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Date:
09/30/2020
What to Consider in Regard to Switching Frequency

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Figure 1. An ADP2386 buck converter with its switching frequency set with resistor RT.

Switch-mode power supplies switch with a frequency that is either fixed, adjustable, or synchronized to an external clock. The value of the switching frequency determines the physical size and, accordingly, the cost of a supply’s capacitors and inductors. There is a trend toward higher switching frequencies to
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Date:
09/28/2020
Designing Power Supplies for Uncontrolled Medical Settings

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Figure 1: Equipment designed for clinical settings may not be suitable for home healthcare applications. Certification to the 60601-1 general standard may be acceptable,but it is critical to consider the new requirements of the collateral standard as well as the constraints of a 60601-1-1 general standard certified power converter

The recent pandemic has driven medical facilities around the world to the brink; hospital beds have been earmarked, and ultimately filled, to treat and care for Covid-19 patients while others with “less life-threatening” conditions have either been asked to wait it out or risk their own health at those same fa
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Date:
09/28/2020
Solving Key Power Challenges for AI and Supercomputing
Numerous forums have allowed us to connect with customers and industry innovators in the computing domain, featuring events including the inaugural AI Hardware Summit and Supercomputing 2019 (SC19), alongside datacenter-focused events like the Open Compute Project (OCP) Global Summit and the Open Data Center Co
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Date:
09/28/2020
Boosting Power Conversion in the Internet of Things

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Figure 1: The functional block diagram of the AL17x50, integrating a MOSFET to reduce the BOM and improve the efficiency at low loads

The explosion in demand around the world for smart devices in the Internet of Things and the smart home means designers have to accommodate a wide range of power sources. These power sources have to cope with an even wider range of regulations. At the same time, the end systems have to be as energy efficient
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Date:
09/28/2020
Why the IoT Needs Quickchargers
Fiddling around with my iPhone and a fast charger one weekend gave me a serious case of range anxiety. Bear with me – at its core, the Internet of Things is a global network of gadgets, vehicles, appliances, and anything else with an internet connection (which is to say, everything). It’s the logical evolut
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Date:
09/28/2020
Shielded flat-wire coil
This coil is designed for high-efficiency DC/DC converters in automotive applications. The characteristic features of this flat-wire coil with its MnZn core are its high rated current (IR 38-47 A) and a high saturation performance. At an RDC value of 0.6 to 1.1 Ω, its resistance is lower than that of comparable c
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Date:
09/27/2020
Advanced H2S protection of IGBT modules enhances lifetime
Harsh environments with critical levels of H2S can be found especially in paper production, mining, wastewater and petrochemical processing as well as in the rubber industry.H2S is the most critical corrosive contaminant for power semiconductors. During operation, IGBT modules are usually heated up to high temperature l
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Date:
09/27/2020
CoolSiC 62 mm module opens up new SiC applications
The proven 62 mm device has been designed in half-bridge topology and is based on the trench chip technology. It opens up silicon carbide for applications in the medium power range starting at 250 kW – where silicon reaches the limits of power density with IGBT technology. Compared to a 62 mm IGBT module, the
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Date:
09/27/2020
Low Voltage Automotive Buck Converter with Programmable PFM/PWM
With a fully integrated 110mΩ high-side power MOSFET and 80mΩ low-side power MOSFET, it provides high-efficiency step-down DC-DC conversion from 5V and 3.3V input rails. The converter has been developed for use in automotive applications including infotainment systems, instrumentation clusters, telematics, a
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Date:
09/27/2020
New silicon carbide power module for electric vehicles
In the past ten years, Infineon has sold more than 50 million EasyPACK modules with different chipsets for a wide range of industrial and automotive applications. At the same time, the semiconductor manufacturer has successfully established its extensive portfolio of CoolSiC products in industrial applications.
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Date:
09/27/2020
High-Speed Op Amp Eliminates Oscillation from Load Capacitances
The device targets applications such as anomaly detection systems used in measurement and control equipment along with sensors that work with very small signals. The proliferation of IoT in recent years has led to a significant increase in the number of electronic components used for advanced control in a v
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Date:
09/27/2020
1U 1kW programmable DC power supplies
These new products further expand the TDK-Lambda GENESYS+ series, offering up to 1,000W output power in a choice of full or half-rack package sizes. The GENESYS+ series is ideally suited for bench-top or rack-mount equipment in a wide variety of OEM, industrial and laboratory applications. Ten models are avai
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Date:
09/27/2020
AEC-Q200-certified SMD ferrites with peak current load ratings
The respective peak-current capability of the ferrite beads is exactly specified. They are characterized by a high rated current of up to 10 A and extremely low resistances. WE-MPSA ferrite beads are available in the construction sizes 0805, 1206, 1612, 1812, 2220, and 3312 and can also in some cases be supplied
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Date:
09/27/2020
New Ranges of Film Capacitors for Green Energy and Automotive
Constructed with an aluminum canister design, both the C44U-M and C44P-R power film series address the increasing demand for high-power conversion systems in green energy and industrial applications. These capacitors also support power conversion in en-ergy storage systems, IGBT and wide bandgap (WBG) semiconduct
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Date:
09/27/2020
Wireless Battery Management System for Electric Vehicles
The wBMS enables automotive manufacturers increased flexibility to scale their electric vehicle fleets into volume production across a wide range of vehicle classes. This is the first wireless battery management system available for production electric vehicles, and it will debut on General Motors’ production
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Date:
09/27/2020
ROHM and LEADRIVE Establish Joint Laboratory
SiC power devices have been adopted increasingly in onboard vehicle chargers and DC/DC converters. These devices provide several advantages compared to silicon-based power devices such as IGBTs. One key benefit: significantly lower losses during both switching and conduction along with being able to operate at hi
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Date:
09/27/2020
Integrated LIN Interface Sensor Signal Conditioner
      The single-package sensor signal conditioner (SSC) delivers best-in-class performance, increased design flexibility, and cost efficiency in a compact form factor for HVAC applications used in plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), and Fuel-cell Ele
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Date:
09/27/2020
SIGA Broadens Wound Components Capability
The move follows SIGA’s acquisition of the business and assets in February of Wolverhampton-based Stabilised Transformers Limited. Their current transformer capability includes open or enclosed types of dry transformers and inductors, and extends through double wound and auto wound components, toroidal wound
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Date:
09/27/2020
Würth Elektronik extends its WE-CBA product family
The SMDs are AEC-Q200 qualified as part of Würth Elektronik's automotive electronics portfolio. WE-CBA features high-quality Ni-Sn electrodes, a very high current carrying capacity up to 6 A, and operating temperatures from -55 to +125ºC. The ferrites, which are available in various specifications, are ideally
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Date:
09/27/2020
Power transformer maker relies on Yokogawa power analyzer
Founded in 1959, SEA supplies high-value assets which are expected to provide a return over decades. Quality, durability, safety and reliable performance are therefore key characteristics that customers are looking for when they specify a new transformer or reactor. Transformers play a crucial role in the transmission
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Date:
09/27/2020
Dev Kit Combines Wireless Power and Data Transmission
Although it was already possible to transfer data from the receiver device to the charging station, bidirectional data transfer can now be combined with the charging process. During wireless power transmission, the device and charging station exchange data through amplitude and frequency modulation. Würth Elekt
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Date:
09/27/2020
Small, low-power 3D magnetic sensor opens up new designs
With an 87 percent smaller footprint and 46 percent less height than previous comparable products, the sensor opens up new design options. Due to the small WLB-5 package (1.13 mm x 0.93 mm x 0.59 mm) and its low current consumption of 7 nA in power-down mode, the new magnetic sensor is also suitable for use
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Date:
09/27/2020
Upgrade to DesignSpark Mechanical 3D CAD modelling software
Version 5.0 offers new features, enhancements and customisation options that have been developed following feedback from users. The new release coincides with the 10-year anniversary of DesignSpark. Developed in conjunction with Ansys Inc., the leading provider of flexible and affordable 3D modelling software
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Date:
09/27/2020
Fanless Power Supplies Introduced by Advanced Energy
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. announced the availability of its Excelsys CS1000 fanless power supply series. Delivering up to 1000W with no fans, this convection cooled family of highly efficient power supplies eliminates acoustic noise, vibration and the need for baseplate cooling, making them lightweight an
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Date:
09/24/2020
High-Voltage Power Supplies Offer Advanced Interfaces
Dean Technology, Inc. announced the availability of advanced interface options on the UMR-AA and UMR-A series of high voltage power supplies. Using additional pins, the advanced interface options provide for enhanced adjustment and monitoring features consistent with industry standards and known customer needs. Th
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Date:
09/23/2020
Silicon power transistors with wide bandgap-like performance
The claim is made by developer Search For The Next (SFN). The first devices to use Bizen are members of the QJT (Quantum Junction Transistor) family which will include three parts rated at 1200V/75A, 900V/75A and 650V/32A, available in the industry-standard TO247 or TO263 power MOSFET packages. Of extreme signif
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Date:
09/22/2020
Front-End Power Supplies for Server, Network Applications
Bel Power Solutions announced the TET2200 Series, 2200 W power supplies that bring Titanium level efficiency to servers, storage and networking equipment. With AC-DC power-factor-corrected (PFC) and high voltage DC-input variants, TET2200 Series power supplies provide a main output of 12 VDC for powering intermediate bu
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Date:
09/18/2020
RECOM Power's RACM60 AC/DC Power Supplies Ship from Sager
Sager Electronics is now stocking RECOM Power’s RACM60 Series 60W AC/DC power supply.   RECOM Power's RACM60 series are 2" x 3" medical-grade, open-frame AC/DC converters that provide 4kVAC/1min reinforced isolation. They have an ambient operating temperature range of -40°C up to 55°C and up
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Date:
09/11/2020
DC-Link Film Capacitors Deliver Stable Capacitance and ESR
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced a new series of Automotive Grade DC-Link metallized polypropylene film capacitors optimized for high humidity environments. The Vishay Roederstein MKP1848H DC-Link is Vishay's first series of AEC-Q200 qualified DC-Link film capacitors to withstand temperature humidity bia
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Date:
09/09/2020
Stackpole Adds 5 ppm Ability to MLFA AEC Compliant MELFs
Modern electronics have become more complex and their requirements more precise. For those applications that require low TCR, finding an AEC compliant part can be challenging. Stackpole's MLFA is an AEC compliant MELF that offers exceptional electrical and environmental stability, with low self-heating. The MLFA is
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Date:
09/09/2020
Low-cost DC-DC converter ranges
They all focus on a simple and effective design approach which is unique to those Traco Power Products. By innovative engineering we have come up with an electrical design which minimizes component and labor costs. Key focus of those designs was to maximize the amount of automatization of the manufacturing process.
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Date:
09/07/2020
What are the advantages of SiC-based designs and how can you implement them?

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Figure 1 Technology positioning – Si, SiC and GaN

The global trends - such as digitalization and energy efficiency - that have emerged and accelerated in the past few years pose new challenges to the manufacturers as well as the semiconductor market. Developing power semiconductor devices that contribute to highly efficient power management systems is on the ag
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Date:
09/03/2020
Stackpole Improves Thick Film Resistor Power Ratings
Electronic devices that require downsizing or increased functionality may utilize high power surface mount resistors to accomplish this. High power surface mount chip resistors utilize materials designed for the higher temperatures associated with higher power levels. Stackpole's RMCP series is a thick film techno
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Date:
09/02/2020
30 / 65 Watt AC/DC Compact Open-Frame Power Supplies
TRACO POWER’s new 30 / 65 Watt TPI line of compact open frame AC/DC power supplies are cost-optimized for price sensitive Industrial, Automation and IoT applications. The TPI 30 and TPI 65 products feature: -40°C ~ +85°C Operation Rated full load to +60C, convection cooled up to 94% efficiency 120-130% p
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Date:
09/01/2020
Low-Inductance SiC Power Module, Gate Driver Kit Available
The transformation to electrify transportation – from trains, trams, and trolleys to buses, automobiles and EV chargers – continues at a rapid pace, as countries shift toward improved modes of transit with greater efficiency and innovative technology. Microchip Technology Inc. announced its AgileSwitch digital pr
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Date:
09/01/2020