Technical Features

July 2023
An Integrated Solution to Li-ion Battery Management

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Figure 1: Some battery chemistries compared

This article discusses the issue and describes cost-effective integrated solutions that can also add extra user benefits, including state-of-charge and state-of-health monitoring. Going back in history, perhaps hundreds of chemistries have been proposed for batteries. These have ranged from the original copper,
Date:
11/30/2023
The Evolution of Low Voltage Power Distribution in Automotive Electronics – From ICE to MHEV to BEV








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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

­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 w
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Date:
07/28/2023

A Guide to Battery Fast Charging

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

­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
Fuel Cell Versus Battery Power for Trucks

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­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
NYC's Burning Issue - Micro-Mobility Batteries

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Figure 1. ZapBatt battery lab testing

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

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

­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. Wi
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Date:
07/01/2023
Pulse Current Capability of SiC FETs Quantified

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

­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
Regulatory Energy Efficiency Testing: An Introduction

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­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
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Date:
07/01/2023
Non-Isolated Current Sensing Solutions

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

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

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

­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
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