Technical Features

October 2013

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Figure 1: The new Vicor BCM6135 enables the size and weight of an active suspension system to be reduced by half and provide symmetrical bidirectional power for highly efficiency energy recuperation.

Active Suspension Comes of Age Bolstered by High Density Power Modules

Chris Levasseur, Automotive Research Assistant, Vicor

Picture this. You are taking a trip to the city with some friends in your economy car, and you encounter an atrocious stretch of road. As you endure the bumpiest ride you have ever faced, you are passed by a sleek sedan, easily going twice your speed. ‘That can’t be comfortable’ you think to yourself, bu

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Date:

12/31/2024

How a Dynamic Bus Voltage Architecture Cuts Energy Consumption in ICT systems

Patrick Le Fèvre, Ericsson Power Modules

Using Dynamic Bus Voltage (DBV) technology reduces board level energy usage at times of both high and low data-traffic demand in ICT systems. Energy savings from 3% to 10% are achievable. The European Commission DG INFSO (Directorate General – Information Society) estimates that communications network energy co

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Date:

10/18/2013

Next-Generation Instrument Designs

Charles Cimino, Keithley Instruments

Since the recession of 2008–2009, many R&D organizations, including those within the green power and related industries, have had to become leaner and more efficient, just like their products. In addition to all the other cutbacks they’ve made, they are employing fewer dedicated test engineers with in-depth T&

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Date:

10/14/2013

Designing to meet 3rd edition medical safety standards

Tim Taylor, XP Power

First published in 1977, the internationally accepted IEC 60601-1 standard has been continuously developed to help alleviate safety issues relating to all types of medical equipment. The 3rd edition of this medical safety standard was first published by the IEC in 2005 (IEC60601-1:2005) and was adopted by the Eu

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Date:

10/14/2013

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Figure 1. Global Mobile Sensing Health & Fitness Sensor Shipments.

Powering up universal mobile telemedicine

Edmund Suckow, Bill Boldt, Fairchild Semiconductor

Universal health care is one of the most important governmental, societal and economic issues in recent time. Attention has been mainly focused on providing health insurance to the uninsured. However,

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Date:

10/11/2013

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Solar thermodynamic power challenges traditional PV technology

Scott Ludwig, Progea USA

In addition to photovoltaic systems to produce solar energy, another technology exists that can make better use of clean energy based on the principle known as thermodynamic solar power. Opened in

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Date:

10/11/2013

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Figure 1. Typical power chain for portable battery powered home health care device

Power Management in Health Care Applications

Frederik Dostal, Analog Devices

Different health care applications require different power management solutions. From a power management view, health care is a very interesting market. Though design cycles within health care are

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Date:

10/11/2013

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Figure 1: AVX's 70-9159 coplanar contact system

Considering COTS connector solutions for solid-state lighting design:

Tom Anderson, Connector Product Manager, AVX

Now that the color, quality, and cost issues often associated with early solid-state lighting technologies have been addressed and overcome by so many leading manufacturers, consumers are adopting

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Date:

10/10/2013

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Figure 1

Microgrid Market Trends and Outlook

Eric Davis, Energy Solutions Forum

In the wake of increasing blackouts and brownouts, and particularly after the recent power outages caused by Hurricane Sandy, the need for a more reliant grid is undeniable. One solution is to consider

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Date:

10/10/2013

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Figure 1. Data from the MAX8805W show how a bypass FET affects output voltage line regulation.

Enhancing RF system efficiency with bypass mode in hysteretic step-down converters

Nancy Xiong, Maxim Integrated

A hysteretic DC-DC step-down converter has been widely used in 2G/3G/4G RF power amplifiers (PAs) as a replacement for a direct battery supply to the PA's DC supply. By dynamically adjusting the PA

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Date:

10/04/2013

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Figure 1: Devices like these handle thousands of 6KV surges yet fuse quickly under continuous overload

Customizable Wirewounds in Utility apps

Kory Schroeder

Wirewound resistors have attributes that give them advantages over film resistors. Frequently, engineers have designs that require a resistor to meet specific characteristics in order to satisfy

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Date:

10/01/2013