Because servers are essential for handling data communications, the server industry has grown exponentially in parallel with the Internet. Although server units were originally based on a PC architecture, a server system must be able to handle the increasing number and complexity of network hosts. Figure 1 shows a typical rack server system in a … Read more
Battery-powered applications have become commonplace over the last decade, and such devices require a certain level of protection to ensure safe usage. The battery management system (BMS) monitors the battery and possible fault conditions, preventing the battery from situations in which it can degrade, fade in capacity, or even potentially harm the user or surrounding … Read more
With their low on-resistance, Nexperia’s 12-V and 30-V N-channel trench MOSFETs minimize energy losses and increase efficiency. The 30-V PMCB60XN and PMCB60XNE come in ultra-compact wafer-level DSN1006 (SOT8026) packages, while the 12-V PMCA14UN is housed in a DSN1010 (SOT8007) package. Nexperia reports that the MOSFETs’ RDS(on) is up to 25% better than competing devices. Simplified … Read more
The Cadence Voltus-XFi custom electromigration and IR drop (EM-IR) software eases the design of efficient, low-power ICs. Seamlessly integrated with the company’s Quantus extraction tool, Virtuoso design environment, and Spectre simulator, Voltus-XFi can enhance productivity by as much as three times versus existing solutions. The transistor-level EM-IR tool delivers foundry-supported SPICE-level accuracy for power integrity … Read more
When designing a power converter, simulation models can be used to help trade off multiple design criteria. Simple switch-based models of active devices are used for fast simulation, enabling more engineering insights. However, simple device models do not invoke the same confidence level in a design as a detailed manufacturer device model can. This article … Read more
Small air taxis – generally called vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOLs) – have been on dream and wish lists for decades. They were popularized in the 1960’s animated TV series The Jetsons, which ran for only a few years yet developed a loyal following and has been shown in reruns ever since. The Jetson … Read more
Extending Transphorm’s SuperGaN FET portfolio to higher power systems, the TP65H050G4BS is a 650-V, 50-mΩ device housed in a TO-263 (D2PAK) package. Engineers can use the TP65H050G4BS where higher power and surface-mount packaging are required, enabling better thermal performance than PQFN type packages. It also increases the efficiency of PCB assembly through the use of … Read more
Silicon Labs’ hardware and software platform uses Bluetooth LE devices to simplify angle of arrival (AoA) and angle of departure (AoD) location services. The software maximizes the location-finding capabilities of the BG22 family of Bluetooth LE SoCs and SiP modules. These tiny, low-power devices operate for up to 10 years on a coin cell battery, … Read more
The AC Direct Sensing engine from AmberSemi is a predictive analysis and sensing software engine in a semiconductor architecture. By essentially digitizing electricity, it enables real-time and continuous sensing and detection, sampling over 4000 times per second, 64 times per sine wave cycle. AC Direct Sensing detects transient events, such as inductive kickback, overcurrent, overvoltage, … Read more
In some workplaces, at some construction sites, there are various machines doing all kinds of things. The issue is taken up in the following Kohler Power Systems presentation (Figure 1) at pages 18 through 25: Figure 1 Kohler Power Systems presentation. The underlying mathematics merits some attention. Imagine two diesel engine driven power generators, two … Read more
