Technical Features

July 2023

Figure 1: Reference schematic of a buck converter Vin = 24 V; Vout = 5 V

Annika Frankemölle, Alexander Lang / Editor: Gerhard Stelzer, Würth Elektronik

Increasing current densities and short switching times in MOSFETs are placing ever greater stress on the dielectric strength of inductors. Molded inductors with a distributed air gap based on iron powder enable high inductance values in the smallest of spaces and thus increase the power density. A new test con

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Date:

03/31/2025

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Figure 1: A typical dual-bus electrical system in a mild hybrid has the addition of a bi-directional DC-DC converter to allow power to flow between the two voltages when needed

The Evolution of Low Voltage Power Distribution in Automotive Electronics – From ICE to MHEV to BEV

Alex Lidow Ph.D. – CEO and Co-Founder, Michael de Rooij Ph.D. – Vice President of Applications Engineering, Efficient Power Conversion

Automotive electronics have gone through several eras of evolution in the past 30 years. The first stage was with pure internal combustion engines (ICE) that had mostly mechanical, or engine-driven systems such as power steering and air conditioning. The second stage – mild hybrid (MHEV) – was wi

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Date:

07/28/2023

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Figure 1. The battery fuel gauge can be implemented on the host side or in the battery pack

A Guide to Battery Fast Charging

Franco Contadini, Alessandro Leonardi, Analog Devices

In this era of mobile devices, battery life is one of the primary factors that affects the user experience. While implementing power saving technology inside devices is important, it is only one part of the solution. Given the increasing capabilities—and greater power requirements—of mobile devices, original eq

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Date:

07/01/2023

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Fuel Cell Versus Battery Power for Trucks

Simone Bruckner, Cressall

There are two main types of electric vehicle, categorised by their power source. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) rely on a lithium-ion battery for power. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) on the other hand use a fuel cell, which combines hydrogen gas with oxygen to generate electricity. Hydrogen Power Hydroge

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Date:

07/01/2023

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Figure 1. ZapBatt battery lab testing

NYC's Burning Issue - Micro-Mobility Batteries

Charlie Welch (Co-founder and CEO) and Amiad Zionpur (COO) of ZapBatt

In 2022, NYC experienced 216 fires related to these batteries, resulting in six deaths and 147 injuries. This represents a significant uptick from 2021’s 104 fires, which resulted in four deaths and 79 injuries. In the first two months of 2023, there were already 2 deaths and 40 injuries from these battery fi

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Date:

07/01/2023

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Figure 1: A typical Battery Management System for lithium ion batteries

Putting Batteries in Parallel? Better Watch Out for These Failure Modes

JD DiGiacmandrea, Green Cubes

As the demand for increased energy storage capacity grows, engineers are frequently challenged to place multiple batteries in parallel. Using multiple batteries can offer extended runtime, enhanced reliability, and the ability to carry energy to different locations that may not have charging capabilities. With th

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Date:

07/01/2023

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Figure 1: Transient thermal impedance of Qorvo device UJ4SC07500L8S v. pulse width and duty cycle

Pulse Current Capability of SiC FETs Quantified

Pete Losee, Senior Engineering Manager – Power Devices at Qorvo

The race to reduce power losses in semiconductor switches is being led by wide band-gap (WBG) devices and particularly SiC FETs, cascodes of a silicon carbide JFET and co-packaged silicon MOSFET. This arrangement produces a normally-off device with an easy gate drive and a trophy cabinet of ‘figures of merit’ th

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Date:

07/01/2023

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Regulatory Energy Efficiency Testing: An Introduction

Daniel Pucek, Engineering Product Manager, UL Solutions

The demand for sustainable and efficient products comes from multiple stakeholders, including retailers, consumers and investors. A heightened awareness among consumers that greener products help us live safer, more secure and more sustainable lifestyles puts pressure on brands, manufacturers and retailers to fo

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Date:

07/01/2023

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Figure 1. Non-isolated current measurement using discrete op-amps and specialized current sense amplifiers

Non-Isolated Current Sensing Solutions

ROHM Semiconductor Technical Team

Many electronic devices are required to measure current, either to support one of their features or as a means of regulation for safety and control. In the former case, energy measurement tools and power management systems are common examples, while in the latter case, inverter feedback loops and over cu

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Date:

07/01/2023

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Figure 1: A battery pack assembly featuring Interplex Cell-PLX™ interconnect technology

Advanced Cell Interconnect Structure for Improving Battery Performance While Maximizing Cost Efficiency

Till Wagner, Product Manager, Energy System, Interplex

The battery pack is the most vital element of any electric vehicle (EV). It is through this that the electricity needed by the drivetrain is supplied. The battery also represents the most expensive part of an EV - having a major influence on its overall bill-of-materials (BoM) costs. Ensuring that it delivers pr

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Date:

07/01/2023