Technical Features

December 2016
Combining Lowest RDS(on) + SMT for Space-Limited, High-Performance Apps

Click image to enlarger

Figure 1: The Qorvo SiC FET – a ‘cascode’ of a Si-MOSFET and SiC JFET

The performance of wide band-gap (WBG) semiconductor switches such as silicon carbide cascode FETs (‘SiC FET’ henceforth) [1] (Figure 1) and SiC MOSFETs is closely tied to its package. At the pure technology level, nanosecond switching speed and low specific on-resistance result in very low losses, allowing much
Date:
05/30/2023
In today’s data acquisition systems (DAQs), performance boundaries are continually being pushed.  System designers require higher speed, lower noise, and better total harmonic distortion (THD) performance; all of which are possible but none of which are free.  These performance improvements typically co
. . . Learn More
Date:
12/07/2016

Music to my ears

The EPCOS PQSine active harmonic filter

To a non-engineer, the word “harmonics” has a beautiful sound – one that to many conjures up an image of a concert with instruments playing beautiful music. The harmony is what combines with the melody to turn the composition into something complex and beautiful rather than being just a simple tune. However, when most
. . . Learn More
Date:
12/07/2016
Safety vs. performance

The creepage distance is the shortest path between two conductors along the surface of an isolator (typically a PCB)

When designing a switch-mode power supply (SMPS) operating losses and the ability to dissipate heat are critical selection criteria for MOSFETs. The standard TO-220 package is generally good at dissipating heat and the wide range of heatsinks and forced-air cooling options available can easily improve this. Le
. . . Learn More
Date:
12/04/2016
Archives