Technical Features

    June 2011
    Transformer Design Comparisons for Mitigating EMI in Gate Driver Circuits

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    Figure 1: Gate driver circuit diagram with a Bourns transformer

    While gate driver-based converters deliver improved efficiency, speed and signal integrity, their high frequency switching features can produce elevated levels of conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI), posing challenges to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and overall system reliability. To solve this
    Date:
    03/29/2026
    Shunt Charger Systems

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    Figure 1: LTC4070 Typical Application Circuit

    Energy harvesting ICs can convert an appropriate transducer's output into an electric current for a battery charger device. Recent technology developments have pushed energy harvesting to the point
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    Date:
    06/29/2011
    Solar IC Solutions

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    Figure 1: National Semiconductor's diverse analog IC product offering for PV

    To succeed in today's competitive solar market, system designers and OEMs require a system solution which may include energy-efficient analog ICs, tools, evaluation boards, and reference designs. As
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    Date:
    06/28/2011
    Solar Power Optimization

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    Efficiency Chart

    Solar industry insiders have declared this "The Year for Power Optimization." Distributed electronics like maximum power point tracking (MPPT) power optimizers and microinverters are growing in
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    Date:
    06/27/2011
    Solar Harvest

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    Figure 1: Power-Voltage Curve of a photovoltaic cell for differing light levels

    In the utilization of solar panels, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is the automatic adjustment of electrical load to achieve the greatest possible power harvest, during dynamic variations
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    Date:
    06/27/2011
    Cooling the Circuits

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    Figure 1

    The need for forced-air cooling should be assessed at an early stage in system electronics enclosure design. The full range of implications needs to be considered in detail for a successful outcome. Typical
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    Date:
    06/27/2011
    Keeping it Simple

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    Figure 1: Method of implementing the smart grid which does support deregulation

    Smart grid strategies have still to be finalized as countries strive to lower their greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency and ensure security of supply. A growing number of
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    Date:
    06/27/2011
    Powerful Software Simulation

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    Figure 1: By using software from ANSYS to predict maximum temperatures and temperature distribution within its new diesel particulate filter under diverse conditions, Cummins engineers can ensure that the manufactured component will have acceptable durability.

    Cummins uses simulation software from ANSYS to reduce weight, improve fuel economy and reduce environmentally harmful emissions of engines The phrase "environmentally responsible" doesn't
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    Date:
    06/27/2011
    Power Network Redundancy

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    Ruggedized, Fast/Gigabit Ethernet rack-mount switches, such as this Hirschmann MACH1000, offer high port density and hundreds of copper/fiber media-mix options, excellent RFI/EMI shielding, and high performance - even in the harshest industrial environments and applications

    Today's power grid receives energy from conventional, independent and alternative power source producers and distributes that power to industrial, commercial and residential customers. Providers
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    Date:
    06/18/2011
    Renewable Energy

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    Recognising, defining and dealing with renewable energy risks have never been more of a priority. Projects tend to be complex, innovative and often pioneering, which is why it pays to have insurance
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    Date:
    06/18/2011
    High Power Modules

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    Figure 1: Application range of high power modules. A different optimization of devices is required, indicated by the attributes "soft" and "fast"

    A new technology for the vertical architecture of free wheeling diodes is introduced, which is optimized for applications with high switching frequencies. To minimize the turn off losses of the
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    Date:
    06/18/2011
    Designing with LDOs

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    Figure 1: The challenge of dynamic performance vs. current consumption has been addressed by introducing parts that are switchable between low power mode and high performance. A typical example is ON Semiconductor's NCP4587.
    Looking at products that are currently sampling, it appears that products with noise in the 10 ?VRMS range and Quiescent current in the 10-15 μA range will be in production by the end of this year, giving cell phone designers the best of both worlds in selecting their LDOs.

    Low drop-out Linear voltage regulators are a vital component in a wide range of applications; perhaps some of the most demanding conditions exist in the portable equipment (media players, digital
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    Date:
    06/18/2011
    Customizing COTS Testing Systems

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    By definition, the off-the-shelf modular instruments (VME, PXI, VXI, CompactPCI, PCI, etc.) used to create automated test and measurement systems are designed to be general purpose, programmable,
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    Date:
    06/18/2011
    Design for Security

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    Figure 1: LT3748 Flyback Converter with Primary-Side Output Voltage Sensing

    Even before heightened awareness brought on by threats of terrorism, many public and private institutions had already began incorporating video security into critical infrastructure. Video
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    Date:
    06/18/2011
    LED Lighting Solutions

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    Available in serial or parallel wiring options, the new Molex array holder simplifies LED installation. Array holder is shown with and without optional Ingress Protection

    Here follows an in-depth look into just how synergistic electronics, optical and lighting industries are yielding new and award-winning technologies to revolutionize the world of LED luminaires. LEDs
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    Date:
    06/13/2011
    Driving LEDs

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    Figure 1: N and P type doping of an LED

    LEDs are fast replacing Fluorescent light bulbs and incandescent light bulbs in many lighting applications. In the past these sources could be driven directly from the mains voltage, but this is
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    Date:
    06/13/2011
    Low ESR Tantalum Capacitors

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    Figure 1: CAMEL Card validator and PCB detail

    Fare collection and ticketing systems are an essential part of any public transport network. Systems combine software and hardware elements such as onboard computers and driver interfaces for automated
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    Date:
    06/13/2011
    Offline LED Applications

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    Table 1: Comparison of LEDs, CFL & Incandescent Light Sources

    Most of the new LED lighting fixture applications will be required to run from existing AC offline power sources, generally 90VAC to 265VAC depending on the end application's geography. The ability
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    Date:
    06/11/2011
    LED Street Lighting

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    Figure 1: LED street lights

    High brightness LED street lights are now being installed in pilot projects at many sites. In most cases these are replacing high intensity discharge (HID) and high pressure sodium (HPS) street
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    Date:
    06/08/2011
    Video Transmission Solution

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    Figure 1: Single Stage Equalizer for 300 meters of Cat 5 cable

    Transmission cables have improved, but the challenge is always the same: get more messages down longer cables faster. It may sound simple, but the longer the cable, the greater the losses. These
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    Date:
    06/01/2011
    Archive

    Transformer Design Comparisons for Mitigating EMI in Gate Driver Circuits

    Mar 29,2026
    Matthew Russell, Master’s student at University College Cork, and a student engineer at Bourns Electronics Ireland

    1250 V/1700 V GaN HEMTs for NVIDIA 800 VDC Architecture

    Jan 31,2026
    Kamal Varadarajan & Chris Lee, Power Integrations

    Future-Proof Automotive High-Voltage-to-SELV Conversion

    Dec 30,2025
    Greg Green, Director of Automotive Marketing, Vicor

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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.