50 Most-Read Power Electronics Stories of 2012: 50 to 41
The following is a listing (with links for the full story) of the most read stories on PowerPulse.Net for 2012, thus providing a window into the "pulse" of the trends and interests in the Power Electronics Industry. This is the first article in the series, which will continue tomorrow.
50: GE Energy Delivers First 300W Eighth Brick Bus Converter
GE Energy is launching a power electronics industry first with the availability of a new eighth brick Barracuda™ series 300W fully regulated digital bus converter. Developed through collaboration with leading technology sector original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the new dc-dc isolated power modules are the result of a 14-month, $1.1 million technology investment by GE in advanced dc power converter technology and associated software-based digital control.
The new Barracuda series of fully regulated digital bus converters help power innovation in OEM new product designs, while reducing risks, accelerating time to market and lowering costs. The Barracuda series is a drop-in replacement for unregulated and semi-regulated bus converters challenged by recent industry-wide intellectual property issues. The standards-based DOSA footprints and analog/digital compatibility with existing circuit board designs shrinks the size, lowers the cost and improves the performance of dc-dc converter modules.
The full story can be found here
49: iWatt PrimAccurate Controller Platform Enables Smaller, Greener Power Adapters Up to 40W
iWatt Inc. debuted its newest PrimAccurate™ controller platform. The new iW1699 and iW1760 digital pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers allow power adapter designers to meet stringent emerging global energy regulations for ac-dc power adapters, which require them to consume less than 100mW standby power, with the added benefits of a lower BOM (bill of materials) cost, and smaller overall adapter size.
The iW1699 is optimized for applications up to 12W with ultra-low standby power of less than 30mW to address the needs of smart phone and media tablet applications. The iW1760 is designed for applications requiring higher power, up to 40W, with less than 50mW standby power, including set top boxes, home networking devices, and a wide range of household appliances.
The full story can be found here
48: ZMDI Launches Smallest Intelligent Battery Sensor IC for Automotive, Industrial and Medical Markets
ZMD AG (ZMDI) announced the ZSSC1856. As a global supplier of analog and mixed-signal solutions for automotive, industrial, medical, information technology and consumer applications, ZMDI introduces the first member of a new Battery Power Management product line. The ZSSC1856 features two high-precision 18-bit Sigma/Delta ADCs with an on-chip voltage reference. Designed for ultra-low power consumption, the ZSSC1856 uses less than 100muA in Sleep Mode and comes in a PQFN32 5 x 5mm package only 0.85mm high.
The full story can be found here
47: Analog Devices Introduces Highly Integrated Synchronous Regulator
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) introduced the ADP2164, a 6.5V, 4A output dc-dc regulator featuring a high conversion efficiency of greater than 96 percent. The highly integrated ADP2164 regulator offers an input voltage supply range of 2.7 to 6.5V, an output range as low as 0.6 V and includes low on-resistance switching FETs to maximize efficiency while reducing board space. The ADP2164 provides very high efficiency in a compact 4 x 4mm QFN 16-lead package. This new dc-dc regulator is designed for multi-rail, point-of-load applications ranging from communication infrastructure to industrial devices that demand small size, fast transient performance and highly accurate voltage regulation. Unlike other 5V regulators, the maximum input range of the ADP2164 is 6.5V, which provides additional safety headroom.
The full story can be found here
46: Electrovaya Announces New Product Line of High Voltage Mid Size Lithium Ion Energy Storage Systems
Electrovaya Inc. announced a new product line, leveraging its utility and automotive products. Electrovaya has made its first product delivery of a 25kWh, 400V Lithium Ion SuperPolymer® Battery Energy Storage System (PowerBlock 25-400V) to a large Japanese Utility through Nippon Kouatsu Electric Co. Ltd. (NKE). The PB25-400V system will be providing energy storage for a program to investigate distributed Energy Storage for Solar Applications. The PowerBlock line of products is designed to cater to a rapidly growing mid-size residential and industrial energy storage market. The PowerBlock line integrates a complete energy storage system with cells, battery management system and power electronics.
The full story can be found here
45: RECOM Introduces New Switching Regulator Module
RECOM introduces its new R-78E low cost switching regulator module, which now offers all the advantages of a switching regulator (high efficiency, wide input voltage range, accurate output voltage regulation) but at a price level below $2 USD at quantities of 1000 pieces. According to the company, the R-78E offers a risk-free, pre-tested solution that makes designing a switching regulator circuit redundant.
The full story can be found here
44: Curiosity Rover Features Unique Hybrid Power System
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, which is scheduled to land August 5, has the potential to be the most productive Mars surface mission in history. That's due in part to its advanced "hybrid" power system. Space applications are frequently powered by a combination of energy sources — usually solar array/battery combinations. This is the first time a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), Li-ion batteries and a solar array have been used on the same power system which has to function over all three stages of the mission, cruise, descent and rover.
The full story can be found here
43: EPC Publishes First Application-focused Gallium Nitride (GaN) Transistors Textbook
Efficient Power Conversion Corp. (EPC) announced the publication of a textbook designed to provide power system design engineers basic technical and application-focused information on how to design more efficient power conversion systems using gallium nitride-based transistors.
According to Alex Lidow, Efficient Power Conversion CEO and co-author of this book, "Gallium nitride transistors provide a long-awaited displacement technology for MOSFETs, and much has been learned over the past several years about how to apply this new technology. In addition to increasing the efficiency of today's power conversion systems, GaN transistors open up new applications such as RF envelope tracking and wireless power transmission that are much needed to keep pace with the ever-expanding communications industry and battery operated products. These new applications are enabled by the high frequency switching capability combined with the high voltage and high power capabilities of gallium nitride FETs."
The full story can be found here
42: Cree Technology Breakthrough Enables 50A Silicon Carbide Power Devices
In what the company describes as a breakthrough that redefines performance and energy efficiency in high-power applications, Cree, Inc. announced a new family of 50A Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices, including the industry's first 1700V Z-FET™ SiC MOSFET. These new 50A SiC devices, which also include a 1200V Z-FET SiC MOSFET and three Z-Rec® SiC Schottky diodes, will enable a new generation of power systems with record-setting energy efficiency and lower cost of ownership than with conventional technologies.
The new devices, available in die form, are designed for high-power modules for applications such as solar power inverters, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) equipment and motor drives. Using the Cree SiC 50A devices, power electronics engineers can set new standards for system cost of ownership through reduced size, lower-cost bill of materials (BOM), and improved efficiency.
The full story can be found here
41: Competition in Wide-Bandgap Devices: a Technical Session at PCIM 2012
One of the highlights of the technical program at this year's PCIM Europe event was a session on "Competition in Wide-Bandgap Devices" that focused on considerations for selecting SiC devices for power conversion applications. Among the companies making presentations were: Danfoss Solar Inverters, EADS, Fairchild Semiconductor and STMicroelectronics.
The full story can be found here
