Technical Features
August 2017
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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
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Date:
03/29/2026
Linear Regulators are integrated circuits that step a voltage down from a higher voltage to a lower voltage without the need of an inductor. The low dropout linear regulator (LDO) is a special type of linear regulator in which the dropout voltage – the differential between the input-to-output voltages needed to
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Date:
08/21/2017
When Li-ion batteries age, their performance drops. Current methods still require complex instrumented laboratory-based tests to determine how quickly and to which degree this occurs. In contrast, a procedure developed by Chemnitz University of Technology now enables quick and precise diagnosis. It ensures the re
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Date:
08/21/2017
Figure 1. A 12-layer winding planar transformer incorporating primary and secondary windings using copper, FR4 material and two identical substrates.
There is a growing importance to improve industrial power supply electrical efficiencies that is being driven by environment and economic factors. Even a small efficiency enhancement can translate into energy reductions that lead to costs savings and more productive and, many times, more reliable and longer li
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Date:
08/15/2017
Figure 1. A brushed DC motor in its very simplest form, using a permanent magnet for the stator field, safety pins as the brushes and a wire coil as the armature winding. It draws its power straight from a battery.
A brushed DC motor will start turning when you apply a DC power source to its brushes. These make contact with the commutator (part of the moving rotor) and cause a current to flow through it. The fixed part of the motor – the stator – provides the constant magnetic field that interacts with the current fl
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Date:
08/11/2017
Figure 1. Demorad 24 GHz radar platform solution.
24 GHz, silicon-based millimeter wave radar technology is enabling a new generation of real-world, no contact smart sensors that are increasingly being used in mass market applications such as automotive, UAVs/ drones, broad industrial, and consumer.
These radar sensors provide real-time information such as an
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Date:
08/11/2017
Figure 1. Structure of a fire alarm system whose network for the fire detectors is based on a double ring topology. The audible alarms (sounders), on the other hand, operate in a star network topology.
Office blocks, hotels, airports, shopping malls: Buildings designed for large numbers of people must be equipped with automatic fire alarm systems. These are complex systems consisting of sensors, actuators, power supplies and data transmission units. The individual fire detectors are generally linked over a ne
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Date:
08/11/2017
Kevin Parmenter, PSD Contributor
Opening Statements by Panel Moderator:
Kevin Parmenter, PSD Contributor
It was my distinct pleasure to chair a podium session at PCIM in Nuremburg Germany in May. The subject of the session was enabling next generation power and the panelists were from the AMP, or Architects of Modern Power, organization. The
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Date:
08/11/2017
Figure 1. LT3045 Typical Application Schematic & Features
Linear regulators are integrated circuits that step a voltage down from a higher voltage to a lower voltage without the need of an inductor. The low dropout linear regulator (LDO) is a special type of linear regulator in which the dropout voltage – the differential between the input-to-output voltages needed to
. . . Learn More
Date:
08/10/2017
Figure 1. Power rail voltages and tolerances required by ICs continue to decrease. These dynamics challenge traditional oscilloscope measurement approaches as the noise of the scope and probe system impairs the ability to make accurate measurements of small signals.
Development teams face increasing power integrity challenges. FPGAs, ASICs, and standard components semiconductor devices continue to increase in gate count. Each of the millions of gates on an integrated circuit requires current to switch. As devices can consume tens of amps and total power must be managed, DC
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Date:
08/09/2017
Figure 1. Extending the frequency and voltage range of a probe requires a front-end network of resistors and capacitors.
Low-power circuits combine high speed and low-power consumption in a single component, presenting a number of probing and testing challenges. Since many low-power devices are also high-speed systems, there is a need to test and verify their performance. Testing the low-power components for compliance with industry st
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Date:
08/09/2017
When Li-ion batteries age, their performance drops. Current methods still require complex instrumented laboratory-based tests to determine how quickly and to which degree this occurs. In contrast, a procedure developed by Chemnitz University of Technology now enables quick and precise diagnosis. It ensures the re
. . . Learn More
Date:
08/09/2017
In response to pressures to optimise energy efficiency throughout industry, a number of trends are emerging across the power landscape:
· In the automotive sector, we are seeing increased electrification of the power train and the growing adoption of hybrid, electric, plug-in and fuel-cell based transportation
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Date:
08/09/2017
Programmable AC and DC power sources have been widely used to implement and support a wide range of development and test applications where an engineer needs the ability to fully control voltage, frequency and current to the unit under test. These programmable sources are used to simulate various power co
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Date:
08/08/2017
Recent developments in electric vehicle designs are pushing power test equipment levels ever higher. To overcome range anxiety on the part of potential EV buyers, manufacturers are looking to increase battery capacity while at the same time improving electric drive train efficiencies. Both tactics require the ne
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Date:
08/08/2017
Figure 1. Small Wireless Earbuds Challenge the Size and Battery Life of Electronics
Hearable devices are an emerging market at the intersection of wireless stereo earbuds and fitness monitoring. However, the small form factor escalates the miniaturization challenge for electronics and presents additional challenges for battery life. This article presents an innovative power management system
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Date:
08/03/2017
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