Technical Features

February 2022
QSPICE: A Mission to Get SPICE Right

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Figure 1: MOSFET channel punch-through showing outputs from previous SPICE simulators vs. QSPICE

Qorvo’s QSPICE™ simulator for analog and mixed-signal simulation provides power designers with the tools to confidently evaluate their designs. Free to use, QSPICE improves SPICE basics, supports large amounts of digital logic without performance penalties, and delivers the speed and accuracy needed for rel
Date:
11/29/2024
System solutions for battery-powered applications: Part 4 of 4 Editorial Series sponsored by Infineon; Innovative solutions for compact and efficient battery-powered applications

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Introduction As discussed in previous installments in this series, integrating power electronics co-located or in close proximity to motors is an important design goal in many battery-powered applications. Faced with increasing functionality and power requirements, as well as the size and weight constraints in
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Date:
02/25/2022
System solutions for battery-powered applications: Part 3 of 4 Editorial Series sponsored by Infineon; Maximizing integration and addressing EMI challenges in low-voltage motor drive/control applications

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Introduction Now that the era of the IoT, AI, and 5G has arrived, intelligent, lightweight, and miniaturized motor drives are essential to the next generation of power tools. According to a forecast provided by Grandview Research [1], the global power tool market is projected to reach 40.9 billion US dollars
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Date:
02/18/2022
System solutions for battery-powered applications: Part 2 of 4 Editorial Series sponsored by Infineon; High power density and thermal management for compact low-voltage (LV) motor drive/control designs

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The challenge Heat management is one of the biggest challenges for motor control and drive designs as it affects the efficiency and lifetime of the solution. In battery-powered applications, more sophisticated cooling mechanisms are adopted, requiring smaller heatsinks as well as different approaches other than PCB cooling. Power MOSFET package innovation is moving towards these new industry´s needs by developing products overcoming thermal challenges. Current state-of-the-art solutions Today most of the power MOSFET
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Date:
02/11/2022
Programmable Electronic Loads Offer Cooling and Operating-Mode Options

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The proliferation of renewable-energy applications is driving an increasing need to test batteries, fuel cells, solar panels, and other devices that produce renewable DC power. An electronic load—typically programmable and designed to draw various and specified amounts of power from a source—is the ideal inst
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Date:
02/06/2022
System solutions for battery-powered applications: Part 1 of 4 Editorial Series sponsored by Infineon; System solutions for robots and cordless power tool applications A move towards the future

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Introduction Very often we hear that today’s world is moving faster. Let’s take a moment to think about what this really means. We see things changing around us, no doubt about it. New apps, solutions, behaviors, habits, discoveries, implementations – there are plenty of innovative ideas that one cou
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Date:
02/04/2022
Increasing a Power Supply's Hold-Up Time

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Figure 1: AC-DC power supply block diagram

During a storm, or when equipment is using a common power source shared with large machinery, the nominal AC input voltage may dip for a short period of time. This frequently happens when lightning strikes are in close proximity to a facility, or when large amount of current is drawn during a welding process on
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Date:
02/04/2022
Regulation Efficiency for Data-Intensive Applications

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Figure 1: Real-time data in the global ‘datasphere’ will reach 51 zettabytes by 2025

It is estimated that by 2025 the annual size of real-time data in the global ‘datasphere’ will have increased tenfold from the level in 2018, reaching a total of 51 zettabytes. Indeed, driven in part by the pandemic, global internet traffic grew by around 35% in 2020 as a result of rapid uptake of video st
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Date:
02/04/2022
DC-DC Converter Design Basics

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Figure 1: The buck and boost DC-DC converter outlines

This article gives a broad review of the switched-mode topology technology and some commercial implementations. Historically DC-DC conversion utilised a series pass element (transistor) with linear circuitry, resulting in woeful efficiency levels especially if the differential voltage across the series pass el
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Date:
02/04/2022
Increasing Multi-Output Flyback Transformer Efficiencies in Power Supply Applications

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Figure 1: The flyback transformer circuit schematic

Integrated circuits and transistor components of the switch mode power supply (SMPS) already operate at faster switching speeds and higher efficiency than in previous years. Likewise, magnetic components used in SMPS circuit topologies require advanced design and analysis to keep up. A flyback topology with low
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Date:
02/04/2022
Achieving Low-Latency Active Noise Cancellation in Automotive Settings

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Figure 1: A series of Molex RNC sensors daisy-chained together

Driven by rising customer expectations, over the last decade there has been a significant shift of priorities within vehicle design. A far greater proportion of automotive engineers’ focus is now placed on enhancing the driving experience, to make the time that people spend in their cars as enjoyable as possible. Th
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Date:
02/04/2022
Powering Automotive Electronics

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Figure 1. Automobile instrument cluster and centre console. (Source: Shutterstock / BoJack)

Providing power rails for automobile instrument clusters and radio head units presents many conflicting design challenges. These include finding a highly efficient switching regulator with low quiescent current (IQ) that can generate a low output voltage directly from the vehicle battery, while still maintaining l
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Date:
02/04/2022
Taking the Speed Bumps Out of the ISO 26262 Functional Safety Certification Process

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Figure 1: Certified Functional Safety Resources and Development Ecosystem

Stringent International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 26262 functional safety specifications ensure that the increasingly complex and sophisticated automotive applications operate safely. However, developing compliant designs and achieving certification can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Th
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Date:
02/04/2022
SiC FETs in Traction Applications Maximize Efficiency

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Figure 1: Figure of merit RDS∙A compared for technologies at increasing voltage rating

A traction inverter is an application that is peculiarly unique; power conversion electronics is generally pushing to ever-higher switching frequencies for higher power density, but a motor drive typically seen in an EV is still operating around 20kHz. The reason is that the magnetic element is the motor, which is
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Date:
02/04/2022
It’s All About Voltage Ratings

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Figure 1: Voltage distributes equally across inductor turns

Yes, voltage ratings for inductors. The popularity of molded composite core inductors has placed new emphasis on voltage ratings to ensure safe and reliable inductor operation. Molded-core inductors place the core material in direct contact with the windings, changing the way inductor windings are insulated. New circuit
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Date:
02/02/2022
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