Technical Features

July 2020
CoolSiC™ MOSFET 750 V G1 from Infineon Make Onboard Chargers Smaller, Lighter and More Efficient

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Figure 1: Electric vehicle stock by mode in the Announced Pledges Scenario, 2022-2030 IEA Global EV Outlook 2023

­The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that by 2030, 60 percent of the automobile market will consist of electric vehicles (EV), resulting in over 200 million electric powertrains on the road (Figure 1). In addition to this rapid growth, the automotive industry must integrate various other trends, su
Date:
02/29/2024
IC Eases Design of 48 V/12 V Dual Battery Automotive Systems

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Figure 1. Next-generation cars will be powered by a 12 V and a 48 V battery

The future of 48V/12V battery systems in automobiles is just around the corner. Most of the major automobile manufacturers across the globe have been working on proving out their systems for the past few years and it is evident that their implementation will be relatively near term. This is a necessary and crucial ste
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Date:
07/09/2020
Designed with Reliability in Mind
  TDK has developed new series of EPCOS AC filter capacitors that feature a high degree of reliability and long service life. This article will look at the new features in the range and how they improve on the previous generation of devices. AC filter capacitors are supplied with very high power ratin
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Date:
07/07/2020
Power Delivery Networks at a Crossroads

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Figure 1. Vicor’s Highest Systems Performance Power Modules

Every electronic piece of equipment or system has a power delivery network (PDN) made up of cables, bus bars, connectors, circuit board copper power planes and AC to DC and DC to DC converters and regulators. Governing the performance of a PDN is its overall architecture, such as the use of AC or DC voltage di
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Date:
07/07/2020
Highlighting Advances in e-Mobility
Dwindling oil reserves, rising pollution levels and the increasing threat from global warming have made e-mobility an urgent area of focus for most governments. A recent report from the Committee on Climate suggests that to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, all new vehicles produced must be pu
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Date:
07/07/2020
Electrolytic Capacitors for Electric Vehicle Charging

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Figure 1. EV on-board charger block diagram showing capacitor-stabilized DC link

Automotive remains one of the fastest growing sectors of the electronics industry as car makers look to new technology to increase safety and reliability, support new connected user experiences, and improve economy and emissions. The evolution to electric powertrains from the traditional internal combustion en
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Date:
07/02/2020
The Smarter the Car, the More It Needs GaN

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Figure 1: The MOSFET solution (top) for a 3 kW 48 V – 12 V DC-DC converter requires five phases compared with the eGaN FET solution (bottom) with only four phases. The eGaN FET solution is 35% smaller and 20% less expensive

As the new decade emerges, it is becoming clearer that the trend in automotive is electric. Internal combustion engines (ICE) are succumbing to hybrid and full-electric vehicles.  Along with that major shift in propulsion comes a variety of accessories that need to convert to electric.  In addition, ne
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Date:
07/02/2020
How to Meet Functional Safety Requirements for Automotive Displays

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Figure 1. Modern vehicles boast more displays than ever. Given the safety-critical information delivered via displays, it’s imperative for them to meet automotive functional safety standards. Photo courtesy of Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com

  It’s becoming more common these days to step inside a vehicle and be greeted with a touchscreen that’s larger than a tablet computer. The screen, serving as the center information display (CID), might share data such as the car’s speed, driving directions, preset radio stations, the driver’s phone boo
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Date:
07/02/2020
Efficient WBG Power for Medium Voltage Applications

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Figure 1: Example historical cascode circuits

Perhaps the power conversion industry is now familiar with the concept of the ‘cascode’ device when applied to silicon and wide band-gap semiconductor hybrids, achieving a close approximation to the normally-off, ideal switch, with easy gate drive and a range of other benefits. The idea goes back to 1939 wh
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Date:
07/02/2020
Digital-Controlled Totem-Pole PFC for Next-Gen Power Systems

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Table 1: 80 plus Efficiency Standard Requirements

  The pace and scope of the change overtaking the industry shows no signs of stopping. From advanced robotics, to medical wearables, to the smart grid, the amount of functionality presented to the public today is extraordinary. However, all that functionality needs power. Power is behind everythin
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Date:
07/02/2020
Reflections on Selecting Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors

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Figure 1: Construction of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors have become an important part of most electrical designs. As a result, the proper selection of these type of capacitors is crucial to the success of many designs. Engineers must understand how aluminum electrolytic capacitors work and how to select the most appropriate one for th
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Date:
07/02/2020
Wide Bandgap Enabling a Bright Future for Solar Power

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Figure 1: Block diagram of a typical solar power inverter system

Of the various forms of renewable energy in use, solar and wind power have become the most often deployed and are responsible for the majority of clean, renewable power generated. Of the two, solar is becoming the dominant technology, generating almost twice the power output of wind power. In fact, the amount of
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Date:
07/02/2020
How to Be Prepared for a Prolonged Power Outage

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Figure 1. What happens when Mother Nature causes power outages?

Whether they’re facing threats from Gulf Coast tropical storms, Midwest snow events or unexpected tornadoes, ill-equipped businesses could see a significant blow from a prolonged blackout – including lost revenue, hardware damage, data loss and customer service complications.   While an outage of any le
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Date:
07/01/2020
Key Considerations When Choosing an External Power Adapter

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Figure 1 - Typical DC plug options for an external desktop power supply (Source: CUI)

A system is only as good as its weakest link, and the adapter or external power supply has to match the quality and performance of the end product to avoid an unhappy customer. More than just producing volts and amps, an adapter must also meet international statutory standards for safety and electromagnetic co
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Date:
07/01/2020
Multiply Power of a Boost Converter with a Phase Expander

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Figure 1. The interface of the LT8551 phase expander U1.1 to the primary controller U2. The four additional (expanded) power phases of the solution are shown in Figure 2

Multiphase boost designs have a number of advantages over single-phase designs, including: increased efficiency, improved transient response, and reduced input and output capacitance values (due to reduced inductor ripple current and ripple current in the input and output capacitors) resulting in reduced thermal st
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Date:
07/01/2020
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