Test & Measurement

September 2019
Do We Really Need a New Safety Standard?

Figure 1: IEC/EN 62368-1 is not a merge of the two standards IEC/EN 60065 and IEC/EN 60950 but a completely new one introducing a new way of working

Safety regulations have been in place for decades in the power industry and as we know only too well, all have been through lots of revisions. And although each revision has made them more stringent and tailored to our businesses, we have become familiar with designing products to conform to latest versions. So
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Date:
09/30/2019
Accelerometer Calibration System Increases Throughput
Cleveland, Ohio, USA - MB Dynamics, Inc. announced the global market launch of its Win475 MULTI-DUT CRASH-CAL (MDCC) automated accelerometer calibration system. The MB Dynamics Win475 MDCC increases metrology center throughput and productivity by facilitating the accurate, efficient, and simultaneous automated cal
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Date:
09/27/2019
Innovative high-power, high-frequency transformer
Murata’s innovative and patented pdqb winding technology makes it possible to construct high frequency transformers of up to and over 400 kW that can operate at frequencies as high as 50 kHz. The pdqb winding technique overcomes the skin and proximity effects as well as other high frequency losses associated w
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Date:
09/26/2019
High reliability 80W DC/DC converter with 10 year warranty
Packaged in an industry standard 2x1 inch, six sided, shielded metallic case, the MGF80 series has been designed to Cosel’s strict criteria for high performance and reliability, contributing to the company’s world class quality with a failure rate of below 30 parts-per-million (ppm). All components are sele
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Date:
09/26/2019
Technology enhances and simplifies design of 75 to 150W outputs
The SA modules are available with 5V /15A, 12V /12.5A, 15V /10A and 24V /6.25A outputs and offer a cost-effective solution for low power output requirements. The SA module’s patented loop control design uses a digital controller and TDK-Lambda developed algorithms. Phase mode control provides higher stability ac
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Date:
09/26/2019
Business Investment Platform Launched for Batteries
The EBA reconfirms that the business size of the European battery value chain will represent more than 250B€ annually, by 2025. Designed to bridge the gap between financial institutions and businesses, the BIP will shorten time to investment and substantially reduce the associated risk for both parties by
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Date:
09/26/2019
EMC components: Extended range of power line chokes
The new components are available in three different core shapes with different rated currents and inductance values, delivering great design flexibility. The B82116B* rod core chokes cover rated currents of 10 A, 21 A and 25 A and offer inductance values of 1.8 μH, 3.3 μH and 3.4 μH. Both B82116S* mushroom core
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Date:
09/26/2019
New integrated point-of-load regulator increases efficiency
It is a fully integrated and highly efficient device in two versions (IR3826AM for 16 A and IR3826M for 23 A) for applications such as netcom router and switches, datacom, telecom base stations, server and enterprise storage. The voltage regulator can operate from an input voltage of 12 V (5 V to 17 V) and provide up
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Date:
09/26/2019
LED drivers deliver high-current stability in portable devices
Key features include independently controlled output currents configured through an I2C-compatible interface and the ability to combine two devices (with different device identification addresses) to drive four LEDs up to 6A for quad-channel applications. The AL3644 is offered in chip-scale packaging and combines
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Date:
09/26/2019
Active current sharing added to BMR490 DC-DC converter
The current sharing capability enables two or more converters to be used in parallel for demanding datacom applications, thus delivering higher power on a single rail and improving redundancy. Up to six BMR490 converters may be used in parallel. When used in combination with OR-ing, this increases redundancy,
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Date:
09/26/2019
Analog Devices ADF437x Synthesizers, Now at Mouser
The ADF4371 delivers one of the highest frequency synthesizers in the industry today, offering the widest continuous RF output range available — 62 MHz to 32 GHz — while the ADF4372 operates at 62 MHz to 16 GHz for designs that do not require the higher frequency. Analog Devices’ ADF4371 and ADF4372 microwave wide
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Date:
09/26/2019
TSR-WI Series – New 0.6 and 1A POL converters
Covering the majority of standard bus- and battery voltages this POL converter line is a versatile solution for many applications in distributed power systems where different input voltages have to be handled. Being able to use the same converter in many different situations effectively reduces the bill of mater
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Date:
09/26/2019
RS Components adds robust TDK-Lambda power supply series
The cost-effective RWS-B series of AC-DC industrial power supplies comprises 10 models, each coming with an isolated 5V 1A standby voltage option. This latter feature makes the series suitable for markets including industrial, communications, test and measurement, LED signage equipment, and alternative-energy ap
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Date:
09/26/2019
Surface-mount isolated DC/DC converters maximise flexibility
The converters deliver a space-saving solution for bus isolation and general industrial power applications. These open-frame surface-mount modules are available with standard isolation rating of 1kV/second or in a high-voltage 3kV/second version. Customers can choose a nominal input voltage of 5V with unregu
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Date:
09/26/2019
Digi-Key signs global distribution partnership with Directed Energy
This new partnership adds to the more than 8.7 million products available from more than 800 manufacturers through Digi-Key. Directed Energy provides ready-to-use modules for driving laser diodes as well as applications requiring a high voltage pulse. Directed Energy's modules allow users to focus on their e
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Date:
09/26/2019
Rugged wide-range input 6/10W power modules
The DTE06 and DTE10 DC-DC converters provide 6W and 10W of power and offer a 4:1 input range, giving a wide tolerance for fluctuating supplies. With nominal inputs of 12/24VDC and 24/48VDC the series cover inputs between 9.0VDC and 75.0VDC. The devices are supplied fully potted in chassis mount format with screw ter
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Date:
09/26/2019
Synthesizers Offer Wide Frequency Ranges
Mouser Electronics, Inc., is now stocking the ADF4371 and ADF4372 microwave wideband synthesizers from Analog Devices Inc. The ADF4371 delivers one of the highest frequency synthesizers in the industry today, offering the widest continuous RF output range available — 62 MHz to 32 GHz — while the ADF4372 op
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Date:
09/19/2019
Thermal Solver Delivers Electrical-Thermal Co-Simulation

A temperature profile of 3D structures inside a package with metal interconnects,
as generated by the Cadence Celsius Thermal Solver

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. expanded its presence in the system analysis and design market with the introduction of the Cadence Celsius Thermal Solver, the industry’s first complete electrical-thermal co-simulation solution for the full hierarchy of electronic systems from ICs to physical enclosures. Following th
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Date:
09/18/2019
New Vector Scheduling Workforce Management Solution
TAMPA, FL - Vector Solutions announced the launch of Vector Scheduling, a dynamic platform for employee scheduling, resourcing, and human capital management, for its commercial sector industries. Joining forces with CrewSense, a recently acquired product that provides workforce management software for mission critical industries, Vector Scheduling brings robust and configurable scheduling and operational tools to businesses through Vector’s Commercial brands, RedVector, Convergence Training, and IndustrySafe. The user-friendly platform ensures that schedules are maintained efficiently and accurately; open shifts are filled in an automated, fair, and equitable fas
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Date:
09/18/2019
Tool Suites for Future Airborne Capability Environment
Boston, Mass. – With the latest release of the LDRA tool suite, LDRA delivers industry-first FACE Conformance Tool Suites, enabling cost-effective development and verification of high-assurance, FACE-conformant software. These new software tool suites uniquely automate the process of evaluating software for conformance with each version of the released FACE standard (e.g., version 2.1.1 and 3.0), while at the same time enabling developers to improve the quality of their software through traceability, static and dy
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Date:
09/16/2019
Oscilloscope Doubles Maximum Bandwidth to 16 GHz
With new 13 GHz and 16 GHz models, the R&S RTP high-performance oscilloscope family, the most compact multi-purpose lab instrument available, is now scalable from the 4 GHz minimum up to the full 16 GHz bandwidth. Additional new highlights are powerful debugging functions such as the high-speed serial pattern tr
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Date:
09/11/2019
Seoul Semi Files Litigation for Cell Phone Flashlight LEDs

Seoul Semiconductor's headquarters.

ANSAN, South Korea – Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. announced that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Conrad Electronic S.E. (“Conrad”), a large European retailer of electronic products. The lawsuit was filed in Germany in the District Court of Mannheim. This litigation is the second one involving mobile phone products following a litigation against Conrad for infringement of backlight LED units filed in July. According to the complaint, LEDs for flashlights of mobile phones sold by Conrad are infringing Seoul’s patent
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Date:
09/05/2019
Test Gets Even More Complex
Welcome to the September issue of PSD! We are again moving into conference season, but with no electronica this year and no large shows concentrating solely on the power industry, it will be a bit quieter than normal, for me at least. I’m sure there won’t be a halt in innovation just because there are no po
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Date:
09/04/2019
The Ubiquitous
With summer in the rearview mirror, we have Thanksgiving, the Holidays, and the “most wonderful time of year” to look forward to. Kinda. Sorta. The cold weather is miserable, the Holidays are a huge hassle, and every Turkey Day features an impromptu political sermon from crazy Uncle Bob or Aunt Susan. So it
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Date:
09/04/2019
Power Integrity Verification with an Oscilloscope

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1: Two R&S RT-ZPR20 power rail probes connected to an R&S RTO oscilloscope. One is connected to a coaxial cable soldered directly into the circuit, while the second has an attached browser module for quick overview measurements. Source: Rohde & Schwarz

In the worst case, advanced electronic designs can have up to a hundred power supply networks with different DC voltages. Each power supply network has its own requirements for DC voltage accuracy and maximum allowable disturbance signals. Unwanted disturbance signals on the DC power supply network can lead to
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Date:
09/03/2019
Avoiding AC Power Source Mistakes

Click image to enlarge

Figure 1: Constant voltage mode operation

This article explains the various functions available to the user of a programmable AC power source to protect the unit under test against various overcurrent and overpower conditions that could cause it to get damaged.  An overview of commonly found protection modes is provided first to set a baseline, fo
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Date:
09/03/2019
Power Analyzers: A Designer's Swiss Army Knife in a Box
The Swiss Army Knife (Figure 1) is a whole lot more than a knife. True, it starts out as a basic pocket knife but then it adds everything from screw-drivers, bottle opener, corkscrew, scissors and a half-dozen other useful tools. This venerable pocket tool has been used in numerous analogies for equipment that hand
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Date:
09/03/2019
Technology Could make Fracking Cheaper, more Environmental
LAWRENCE -- Hydraulic fracturing, popularly known as "fracking," has brought about a new era of energy abundance in the United States, slowing American dependence on foreign oil and creating domestic jobs. But the practice of extracting natural gas and oil by using water pressure to fracture shale ro
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Date:
09/02/2019
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