News

50 Most-Read Product News Stories for 2015: 40-31

January 04, 2016 by Power Pulse1595211359

The following is a listing (with links for the full story) of the most read Product News stories on PowerPulse.Net for 2015, thus providing a window into the "pulse" of the trends and interests in the Power Electronics Industry. This is the second article in the series, which will continue tomorrow.

#40: High-speed MOSFET Drivers have New Architecture

Microchip Technology Inc. announced the first power MOSFET drivers in a new product family—the MCP14A005X and MCP14A015X. These drivers feature a new architecture for high-speed operation, the first in the MCP14A product line. Available in SOT-23 and 2 x 2 mm DFN packages, the new devices are among the smallest packaged MOSFET drivers on the market today. The small packaging enables higher power densities and smaller solutions, while the design targets fast transitions and short delay times that allow for responsive circuit operation. Additionally, these MOSFET drivers include low input threshold voltages that are compatible with low voltage MCUs and controllers, while still maintaining strong noise immunity and hysteresis. more

#39: 7 milliOhm 200V and 5 milliOhm 150V GaN Transistors

Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) announces the introduction of two eGaN FETs that raise the bar for power conversion performance. These products have a maximum operating temperature of 150 degrees C and pulsed currents capabilities of 260A (150 V EPC2033) and 140A (EPC2034). Applications include dc-dc converters, synchronous rectification in dc-dc and ac-dc converters, motor drives, LED lighting, and industrial automation. more

#38: 99% Efficient Digital Inrush Current Controller Reference Design

IXYS Corporation announced the release of a reference design that makes use of Zilog's 8-bit Z8F3281 microcontroller - Digital Inrush Current Controller. With efficiency as high as 99.5 percent and the input operating voltages ranging from 80- to 240-Vac, it provides programmable inrush current limitation, instant overcurrent protection as well as corrective actions by the MCU. more

#37: Power Supply-in-Inductor Technology Reduces D2D Cost

Sumida Group has reinvented the dc-dc power module by literally turning it inside out. The new power modules have achieved performance improvements through a new patent-pending design concept, where the magnetic material forms the entire package and all components are mounted within the inductor. The maximum volume can therefore be available for the inductor, allowing very low dc resistance and high conversion efficiency. (In a conventional design, the circuitry and main inductor are side-by-side.) This power supply-in-inductor (PSI2) technology provides an industry-leading power density of up to 1300W/cu in. more

#36: Low-Resistance Wireless Charging Coils

A.K. Stamping Company, Inc. (AKS) announced cutting-edge technology allowing one of the world's most efficient wireless charging receiver coils. Using advanced manufacturing technology, AKS coils have the highest metal density of any charging comparable coil. Currently, handheld device manufacturers are facing numerous challenges posed by incorporating wireless charging into their devices. A.K. Stamping is addressing these with unique solutions for receiver coils. more

#35: Highly-Integrated 8A and 3A Synchronous Buck Regulators

Intersil Corporation announced five new highly integrated synchronous buck regulators that step-down 5V rails to point-of-load (POL) inputs as low as 0.6V for FPGAs, DSPs and microprocessors. The feature-rich ISL8018 delivers up to 8A of continuous output current from a 2.7V to 5.5V input supply, while offering up to 97% efficiency and higher integration than competitive devices. The 2 x 2mm ISL8003x family of devices delivers up to 3A of continuous output current from a 2.7V to 5.5V input supply and offers up to 95% peak efficiency for delivering general POL conversions in telecom, cloud computing, industrial, instrumentation and medical equipment. more

#34: 900V / 32A SiC MOSFETs Outperform Silicon

Cree, Inc. has introduced the industry's first 900V MOSFET platform. Optimized for high frequency power electronics applications, including renewable energy inverters, electric vehicle charging systems, and three-phase industrial power supplies, the new 900V platform enables smaller and higher efficiency next-generation power conversion systems at cost parity with silicon-based solutions. The C3M0065090J is rated at 900V/32A, with an Rds(on) of 65mΩ at 25 degrees C. At higher temperature operation (TJ = 150 degrees C), the Rds(on) is just 90mΩ. more

#33: Bidirectional DC-DC for Energy Storage Battery Systems

TDK Corporation announces the introduction of the TDK-Lambda 2500W EZA2500-32048 bidirectional dc-dc converter. Ideal for solar or wind powered energy storage systems, this power supply can automatically, and continuously, change conversion direction from "grid side" 320Vdc nominal to "battery side" 48Vdc nominal. The EZA2500 is also designed to be used for energy recovery; recycling previously wasted power from battery testers, robots, cranes, elevators and autonomous ground vehicles. more

#32: 98+% Efficient 200W Buck-Boost Regulators

Vicor Corporation announced the expansion of its Picor Cool-Power™ ZVS Point of Load (POL) Regulator portfolio with the introduction of its new, high efficiency PI3749, PI3751, and PI3755 buck-boost regulators. By minimizing switching losses, Picor's ZVS topology enables efficiencies over 98% – maintains a high efficiency over the specified Vin range. High frequency operation (up to 2.5 MHz) claims best in class power density and transient response. Easy to use LGA System in Package (SiP), with integrated controller, power switches and support components, reduces design risk and speeds time to market. more

#31: 1.7kV SiC FET for Inverter Auxiliary Power Supplies

Wolfspeed, a Cree Company, has introduced the first 1700V SiC MOSFET offered in an optimized surface mount package designed for commercial use in auxiliary power supplies in high-voltage power inverter systems. The higher blocking voltage enables design engineers to replace lower rated silicon MOSFETs with the new SiC MOSFETs, delivering higher efficiency, simplified driver circuitry, and lower thermal dissipation, and resulting in lower total system costs. more