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PCB Design Considerations When Using Bi-Directional Translators

In the past, we touched on the theoretical underpinnings of voltage-level translators. Now, we'll discuss some practical design tips for using these increasingly-common devices in your design.

December 11, 2020 by Nicholas St. John

Super Junction MOSFETs Up the Power Efficiency and Cut the Size of MOSFET Sibling

From EV charging stations to OLEDs in TV screens, Super Junction MOSFETs can be a useful design option when power efficiency is paramount.

December 09, 2020 by Adrian Gibbons

When Bandwidth is Stretched Thin, Voltage-Controlled Oscillators are a Key Solution

With bandwidth demand at an all-time high, designers may find themselves using voltage-controlled oscillators more frequently in wireless communication applications.

December 09, 2020 by Antonio Anzaldua Jr.

New Chip Modularizes Both Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser and MOSFET

VCSEL usually requires an external MOSFET driver, which causes parasitic impedances. Now, ROHM has announced new R&D that puts VCSEL and MOSFET elements on the same chip.

December 05, 2020 by Jake Hertz

Figures of Merit in Power Design: A Reliable Benchmark or an Evolving Standard?

Design teams, especially in the power sector, may be increasingly asked to benchmark performance with Figures of Merit. What is this standard and how might it be evolving alongside component innovation?

December 04, 2020 by Antonio Anzaldua Jr.

Analog Power at the Size of Digital? Edge AI Processor Combines Best of Both Worlds

Can analog computation be a viable solution to the many challenges facing edge AI hardware? We spoke with Mike Henry, CEO of Mythic, to see why they think it is.

December 02, 2020 by Jake Hertz

The New IEC 62368-1 Safety Standard Is Upon Us. Here’s What You Should Know

IEC 62368-1 will be in effect on December 20, 2020. What are the key takeaways designers should know?

December 01, 2020 by Tyler Charboneau

Improving Home Appliance Safety with IEC Standards

This article explores the IEC 60730 Class B standard for functional safety to address both mechanical and electrical design in appliances. Learn what the standard entails and controllers to help meet these standards.

December 01, 2020 by Chad Solomon, Microchip Technology

Voltage-Level Translators: Connecting a World of Increasingly Varying Voltages

Voltage-level translators are essential in devices like SD/micro SD card readers, wireless access points, and 5G femtocells. How exactly do these devices work?

November 30, 2020 by Nicholas St. John

The War Against Dendrites, the Plague of Li-ion Batteries, Wages On

Dendrites have long since plagued lithium-ion batteries with problems that not only shorten their lifespans, but in some situations can be outright dangerous. Here’s how recent research efforts have contributed to the fight against these microscopic adversaries.

November 30, 2020 by Luke James

Common Protection Functions of an Intelligent Power Device (IPD)

In safety-critical applications, like in automotive designs, reliability is key. Here are a few ways IPDs can guard against issues related to current, heat, and more.

November 27, 2020 by Steve Arar

Researchers Create Low-Power Method to Control Magnetism With Voltage

New research has unveiled that it’s possible to switch states of magnetism between ON and OFF in a new class of easy-to-fabricate materials containing nitrogen.

November 26, 2020 by Luke James

EV Battery Testing Parameters

This article discusses the different factors in designing vehicle battery systems to adhere to EV Battery Standards.

November 25, 2020 by Robin Mitchell

How Ethernet Switches are Branching Into Industries Far Beyond IT

While Ethernet switches were once solely associated with IT applications, today they are staples in industries from military to rail communications.

November 25, 2020 by Luke James

TRACO POWER TPI 30/65/125W Open Frame AC-DC Power Supplies | New Product Brief

This New Product Brief (NPB) is part of a video series highlighting the features, applications, and technical specs of newly-released products.

November 25, 2020 by Mouser Electronics

Power Density Roundup: New Assets in a Power Engineer’s Toolbox

Power manufacturers are increasingly drilling down on power density as a priority. Here are a few recent updates around the industry.

November 23, 2020 by Steve Arar

Semiconductor Leaders Bank on the Power of WBGs

As we quickly reach the end of Moore’s Law, semiconductor giants ST, Cree, and Infineon are hot on the tails of potential silicon alternatives that promise smaller, faster, and more reliable devices.

November 20, 2020 by Luke James

How Does Qi, the Wireless Charging Standard, Work?

Qi-certified wireless charging devices are now commonplace in the consumer market. But how exactly does Qi achieve wireless power transfer at the circuit level?

November 19, 2020 by Steve Arar

Medical Power Supplies Are in a League of Their Own

Power supply design is always extremely important, but no application may have more stringent design requirements than medical devices.

November 18, 2020 by Jake Hertz

Xilinx, TI, and Skyworks Tackle PA Efficiency Problems in 5G Small Cell Radios

As modulation scheme efficiency goes up, power amplifier efficiency goes down. Xilinx, TI, and Skyworks are bringing their expertise to the table to reconcile the trade-off.

November 18, 2020 by Adrian Gibbons