Technical Features

    March 2012
    Transformer Design Comparisons for Mitigating EMI in Gate Driver Circuits

    Click image to enlarge

    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
    Flyback Controller Incorporates Active PFC into a Single Stage Converter

    Click image to enlarge

    Table 1. IEC 61000-3-2 Classifications

    Any power system operating from the AC mains has an associated power factor defined as the way it draws current from the source. The power factor of an AC electric power system is defined as the ratio
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/26/2012
    Understanding Common-Mode Noise in Low-Power Offline Supplies

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1. A flyback converter's main common-mode noise sources and transfer paths.

    Yet the ruggedness of the underlying technology makes the core designs attractive to a much wider audience, such as industrial users who need low-power supplies for DIN-rail and similar equipment.
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/16/2012
    Inverter Efficiency

    Click image to enlarge

    At least two power reactors are needed for solar inverters: one in the boost converter (step-up chopper) and one at the ouput of the inverter for EMC filtering. Besides the IGBTs, the losses in the reactors are a major determining factor of the overall efficiency of the inverter

    Low-loss and high saturation flux density core materials in reactors and transformers are a key determining factor for the efficiency of inverters. The new TDK PE90 ferrite is a cutting-edge
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/06/2012
    Efficient Power Protection

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1: NetRiver desired a solution capable of easily scaling to match its unpredictable future growth.

    NetRiver, the leading provider of collocation and interconnection services in the state of Washington, has been making data center managers green with envy — racking up hefty utility rebates, generating
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/06/2012
    Wiring for Safety and Efficiency
    This article describes a unique spacer cable system designed to power an industrial renewable energy plant pipeline. When the L'Anse Warden Electric Company in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/06/2012
    Multiphase DC/DC Converters

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1: High output current 1.5V/50A application schematic

    The data centers' incremental overhead power consumption, due to inefficiencies and cooling systems is estimated to be equal to the amount of power that is consumed by servers, storage and networking. The
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/06/2012
    Industrial Control

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1: Example PLD, with 12 inputs, 8 product terms and 4 macrocells
    PLDs can have hundreds of macrocells with up to 16 product terms driving each macrocell. The AND and OR gates within the product terms can be interconnected to form highly flexible custom logic functions. The macrocells are typically clocked, and their outputs can be fed back into the product term array. This allows state machines to be created.

    In most microcontroller architectures, there is a ‘smart' CPU surrounded by a set of relatively ‘dumb' peripherals. Peripherals have limited functions; converting data from one form to
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/05/2012
    Industrial Applications Control

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1: With the new XMC4000 family - starting with the XMC4500 series - Infineon addresses three high-level trends for microcontrollers in industrial applications: higher energy efficiency, enhanced connectivity and reduced software complexity

    Infineon has taken their wealth of know-how in microcontroller design for real-time critical control applications to combine it with all benefits of an industry standard core. The unique
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/05/2012
    The Power Output Stage

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1

    Power electronics subsystems are often divided in a control and a power circuit, where the power output stage components strongly determine the characteristics of the whole application, like efficiency,
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/05/2012
    Safe System Operation

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1: Optocoupler Construction

    Isolation components such as optocouplers that are used in applications that have user safety issues as a key aspect must not fail under continuous high-working-voltage bias conditions. Safety
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/03/2012
    Simplified POL Design

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1: Five steps of working with the SupIRBuck® Online Design Tool

    Fast and reliable design and evaluation of Point of Load (POL) circuits is a major factor to reduce the product development cost and time for electronics industry. Switching power supply
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/03/2012
    Challenge of Automotive Audio

    Click image to enlarge

    Fig. 1 - The ON Semiconductor NCV47701 Current Sense Regulator Implementation

    In the age of connectivity, increasingly demanding consumer expectations are driving the evolution of in-vehicle infotainment, resulting in greater demands on the infotainment system power supply.
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/02/2012
    Powerful Ideas

    Click image to enlarge

    Figure 1. How intellectual property, intellectual assets and intellectual capital work together

    An inventor caught up in the thrill of developing a new product, or an engineer trying to source parts from other companies to complete his new design, may understandably not have legal matters
    . . . Learn More
    Date:
    03/02/2012
    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

    Power Systems Design

    146 Charles Street
    Annapolis, Maryland 21401 USA

    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.