PowerGuru – Power Electronics Information Portal

       High-performance gate driver for IGBT modules from 1200V to 3300V. Growing power-system complexity calls for the utilization of ready-to-use building blocks. This approach is particularly suited to IGBT gate drivers, where fully customized Plug & Play components are an attractive option for successful design. By Georg Näf and Sascha Pawel, CT-Concept Technologies [...]

       Integrating the New PrimePACK The integration of the new PrimePACK module into an existing inverter platform is discussed. The mechanical features of the module allow an optimization of the thermal management and to increase the usability of the IGBTs. Measurements of the inverter performance are presented. BY M.Schulz, O.Schilling, M. Wölz, G. [...]

       The inrush current creates a thermal stress on the driver Despite the development of new lighting technologies such as the Xenon lamp (HID) or LED lights, the incandescent bulb will remain the most commonly used light source for the next generations of cars. By Jerome Pillet, Senior Engineer Intelligent Power Devices,Power Semiconductors [...]

       A New Method to Evaluate DC/DC converter Efficiency This article offers an alternative to efficiency measurements as an evaluation tool of power supplies. The proposed method works well with little dependency on the output voltage and temperature. By Alan Elbanhawy, Fairchild Semiconductor, San Jose CA, USA   Power supplies have always been [...]

       There are many different ways to change the output voltage Applications that require the output voltage of a power supply to change dynamically come from a wide variety of areas. Examples are sensor applications that require a different supply voltage under varying circumstances and LED applications, where the DC current through an [...]

      Battery managers incorporates an unsurpassed level of integration Today’s high performance, portable handheld Li-Ion/Polymer battery powered products have integrated more features, enabling them to inch closer to being “all-in-one” devices for the tech-hungry consumer. By Steve Knoth, Product Marketing Engineer and Mark Gurries, Linear Technology Corporation   The high level of integration, [...]

       Core with low losses to minimize temperature rise Devices like PFCs are boost circuits that bring current in phase with voltage, to create acceptable power factor front ends for power supplies. The role of the inductor is to store energy, and reduce ripple current. By David Anderson, Chief Engineer, Precision   Design [...]

       Electronic Stabilization Methods As a low rate of torque ripple usually is one of the major design targets of switched reluctance drives it is necessary to have more than one torque productive phase at a time. By Andreas Schramm, Universität der Bundeswehr, München   Particularly when one phase current is being switched [...]

      Flexible in Shape and Size The growing use of mobile electronic devices is generating an ever-increasing demand for high performance primary (disposable) and secondary (rechargeable) batteries. Applications with special needs regarding performance and design of the electrical energy storage unit call for solutions, which cannot be provided by standard battery products. By [...]

       From laboratory level to mass production Vacuum application in the soldering process reduces the void rate in the soldered joints considerably, typically to below 1%. By Klaus Roemer, Sales Director, PINK GmbH Vakuumtechnik   Shrinking package sizes of electronic devices require a perfect thermal management thus, void free soldering. Voids reduce the [...]