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Two Up-and-Coming Companies Collaborate to Make Battery-Less IoT a Sustainable Reality

Current energy-harvesting designs have their limitations. e-peas and Sequans are coming up with what they call a "non-stop, zero-maintenance" solution.

January 14, 2021 by Antonio Anzaldua Jr.

Could Indium Gallium Arsenide Dethrone Silicon in the Race for Smaller Transistors?

Recent work by researchers at MIT has led to better understanding of an alloy known as indium gallium arsenide, a room-temperature semiconductor that could lead to faster, denser chips.

December 15, 2020 by Luke James

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.

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.

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

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

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

Nexperia Creates a New FET Category: the Application-Specific FET (ASFET)

FETs and MOSFETs don't always cut it for dynamic applications. Nexperia says it has created a new flavor of FETs designed to rise to the challenge.

October 26, 2020 by Antonio Anzaldua Jr.

Dropping the LDO: New Buck Converter from TI Integrates Ferrite Beads

Last week, TI announced its newest product: a low-noise buck converter bolstered by integrated ferrite beads.

October 26, 2020 by Jake Hertz

How New Diodes Incorporated 40 V Dual MOSFETs Stack Up to Competitors

How does the new dual 40 V MOSFET, claimed as an "industry best" for power saving and size, compare to other devices like it?

October 17, 2020 by Jake Hertz

TI’s New Isolated Gate Driver Aims to Boost Efficiency in EV Powertrains

The new isolated gate driver for high-powered SiC and GaN power devices is said to reduce PCB space, eliminate external components, and increase power efficiency in EVs.

October 16, 2020 by Antonio Anzaldua Jr.

Photorelays: A More Power- and Size-Efficient Alternative to Conventional Relays?

Photorelays are gaining traction. In many cases, these devices outpace their mechanical counterparts in terms of size and power efficiency.

September 14, 2020 by Jake Hertz

SiC Hits the Tracks With Microchip’s New Power Module and Programmable Gate Driver Duo

Engineers can now skip the step of developing their own gate drivers—pushing SiC adoption in transportation systems even faster.

September 02, 2020 by Hannah DeTavis

The Benefits and Challenges of a GaN-Based, Quasi-Resonant Power Converter

A recently-released reference design for a GaN-based QR adaptor opens a discussion: How do quasi-resonant flyback converters work? And what are the virtues and limitations of designing a GaN-based power converter?

August 13, 2020 by Steve Arar

Reed Relays Can Be the Best Solution for Signal Switching in T&M

Signal switching is vital in test systems, and there are many options to accomplish the task. Here's why reed relay-based switching systems may be your best bet.

July 29, 2020 by Steve Arar

Once 5G Hits, DC-DC Converters May Be RF Power Amplifier’s Saving Grace

The most power-hungry component in RF transmitters, the RF power amplifier, is getting some serious attention from design engineers.

July 01, 2020 by Jake Hertz

University at Buffalo Engineers Develop A Transistor That Can Handle 8,000 Volts

The gallium oxide-based MOSFET, which is about as thin as a single sheet of paper, could help make large and bulky batteries and power systems, such as those used in electric vehicles, smaller.

June 23, 2020 by Luke James

A Revolutionary Development in Silicon Photonics: The World’s Smallest Comb Generator

Photonics leads the way today, and a new development now revolutionizes the potential of photonic data systems.

June 21, 2020 by Gary Elinoff