Automotive & Transportation

February 2014

IBM demonstrates an automated automotive test platform at embedded world 2014 (Video)

In this podcast Peter Schadel from IBM demonstrates an automotive test stand using Rhapsody for model-based testing for Power Systems Design at embedded world 2014. The evaluation routine automatically runs the tests as a virtual user operating all the infotainment systems in the vehicle to ensure all funct

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Date:

02/27/2014

Digital power cuts time-to-market for industrial applications

Patrick Le Fèvre, Ericsson Power Modules

Given the range of industrial applications is extremely diversified – from very small sensors powered by energy harvesting to mega processors used for process control and huge data computing capabilities required by some industrial equipment – the challenge for power designers remains the selection of

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Date:

02/18/2014

Boosting output in high-voltage op-amps with a current buffer

Joe Kyriakakis, Apex Microtechnology

Delivering more than 200mA of output current can be a serious challenge for many high-voltage operational amplifiers. But for high voltage applications requiring as much as 1A of current, it is possible to meet this spec by pairing a current buffer with the op amp. What the current buffer brings to this arrangement is

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Date:

02/18/2014

Jonathon Eykyn, IHS Technology

Life to Return to the Power Supply Industry in 2014

Jonathon Eykyn, IHS Technology

The global market for power supplies crashed in 2012 as economic uncertainties led to low consumer demand and the postponement of large industrial projects. Whilst 2013 bought growth, it was limited to a few markets and the overall market grew by just 2.4%. However, the outlook for the global power supply market is

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Date:

02/17/2014

Focused Ion Beam circuit edit improves power device design

Taqi Mohiuddin, Evans Analytical Group

Designers of power control devices and those that combine control with power FET functionality are finding that FIB circuit edit techniques proven at older process nodes are delivering even greater benefits when used at advanced technology nodes. It is also expected that FIB circuit edit techniques wi

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Date:

02/17/2014

Powering low-voltage devices from an intermediate-bus voltage

Willie Chan & Jason Sekanina, Linear Technology

Intermediate bus voltages from 24V to 28V (nominal) are commonplace in industrial, aerospace and defense systems, where series-connected batteries may be a backup power source and 12V bus architectures tend to be impractical due to distribution losses. The widening voltage gap between the system bus and the po

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Date:

02/17/2014

Advanced packaging critical to power system performance

Doug Ping, Vicor

Packaging for power electronics has evolved from simple metal bending to advanced materials and thermo-mechanical design, and from freestanding supply to integrated power management. System-size reductions made possible by higher switching frequencies and semiconductor miniaturization drove the early part of th

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Date:

02/16/2014

Results of a power supply failure survey

Dr. Ray Ridley, President, Ridley Engineering

We here at Ridley Engineering recently conducted a survey with a group of almost 3,000 active power supply design engineers to discover the various reasons and circumstances they have encountered power supplies that failed. The experiences the engineers shared with us were very enlightening, and this article su

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Date:

02/15/2014

Reduce EMI & improve efficiency with a switcher design

Christian Kueck, Linear Technology

Switching regulators are an excellent replacement for linear regulators in areas where low heat dissipation and high efficiency are valued. The switching regulator is typically the first active component on the input power bus line, and therefore has a significant impact on the EMI performance of the complete co

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Date:

02/11/2014