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Power_electronics Features

BEV advancements are driving sales, but vehicle safety and reliability will ensure long-term viability
Innovative power architectures using power modules provide power redundancy and improve overall safety and system performance By Patrick Kowalyk, Automotive FAE,Vicor
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AC/DC power factor correction module offers up to 1,512W
A full brick package developed by TDK-Lambda, the PF1500B-360, is for high voltage distributed power architectures
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Automotive Power Features
 
Why EVs don’t need 12V lead acid batteries - March 2024 March, 08 2024
The continuous advancement of lithium-ion battery technology has given EVs longer driving range, faster acceleration and more horsepower than ever before. So why are most EVs still carrying a 12V lead acid battery for standby power? By Power Integrations
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BEV advancements are driving sales, but vehicle safety and reliability will ensure long-term viability February, 19 2024
Innovative power architectures using power modules provide power redundancy and improve overall safety and system performance By Patrick Kowalyk, Automotive FAE,Vicor
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Battery management systems and the role of the sensor in EV driving range and safety - December 2023 December, 08 2023
The latest sensors used in electric vehicles (EVs) not only help to prevent on-board fires but also contribute to tackling the driving range challenges...
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How GaN-based power can smooth the road ahead for smaller, more efficient, cost-effective automotive infotainment systems - November 2023 November, 20 2023
In-vehicle infotainment systems poses a challenge to vehicle power design...
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GaN Power Behind Mild Hybrid Vehicle Electrification - November 2022 November, 07 2022
The hybrid vehicle market has more than doubled from 2017 from 2.0 to 5.1 percent [1] and by 2025, one of every 10 vehicles sold worldwide is projected to be a 48 V mild hybrid. 48 V systems boost fuel efficiency, deliver four times the power without increasing engine size, and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions without increasing system costs.
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How to Design a Thermally Balanced Current-Sharing System for Multi-Phase Power Designs - Nov/Dec 2022 November, 07 2022
The car of tomorrow is envisioned to be an audiovisual wonderland on wheels, including wraparound screens and dozens of speakers. Driving on the road in the future will immerse passengers in an incredible sensory experience with content streamed via ultra-fast 5G. To achieve this content-rich, connectivity-heavy paradigm of future mobility, emerging digital cockpit systems continue to demand exponentially greater computing capability.
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Is the 12V Lead-Acid Battery Dead? - Nov 21 October, 25 2021
Yes, the 12 V lead-acid car battery is dead. Europe has decreed that no new cars will have lead-acid batteries after 2030, creating a considerable challenge for OEMs to find alternative solutions. While this may seem like a daunting task, it also presents a tremendous opportunity to eliminate the environmentally toxic battery while also reducing weight in a vehicle and improving overall efficiency..
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GaN Raises Electric Vehicle Powertrain Performance - April/May 2021 April, 22 2021
In recent years, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) have multiplied on our global roads. Industry analysts expect that 56 million new EVs will be sold in 2040. The electricity consumption that accompanies this growth will rise to 1,800 TWh, representing 5% of global power according to Bloomberg NEF’s Electric Vehicle Outlook. A smart, smaller, lighter-weight powertrain is a key area in creating changes for the EV industry.
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New Inverters for Efficient EV Battery Charging and Solar Energy Generation -August 2020 July, 28 2020
The race for power conversion efficiency over 99 % continues. New innovative topologies are competing with the standard half-bridge topology using SiC and GaN semiconductor technologies. Requirements for high-efficient power conversion both unidirectional and bidirectional are getting standard in the wide field of applications ranging from EV battery chargers, solar inverters and UPS to industrial drives with built-in or separate PFC..
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Powering the future of Autonomous driving - issue 4/2019 August, 06 2019
Analog Devices announced mid July a collaboration with First Sensor AG to develop products aimed at speeding the launch of autonomous sensing technology serving unmanned automotive, aerial and underwater vehicles in transportation, smart agriculture, industrial manufacturing and other industries...
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High Power module platform for automotive traction applications - issue 3/2019 June, 26 2019
A paper on a novel power semiconductor module platform for the automotive powertrain was awarded as the best PCIM 2019 paper....
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Design considerations for fast DC chargers targeting 350 Kilowatt - issue 2/2019 April, 23 2019
Working groups within standards organisations have, around the world, defined everything from the operational envelope and charging sequence, to the communication and connectors of High Power Chargers (HPC)...
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Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Challenges - issue 1/2019 March, 06 2019
With the pressure on governments to reduce carbon emissions continuing the interest in battery electric vehicles (BEV) continues to grow as part of the solution to this challenge...
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SiC-based Power Modules cut costs for battery powered vehicles - issue 3/2018 May, 17 2018
Demand for plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles is growing significantly, driven by, amongst other things, stricter emission regulations....
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Impact of Ultra-low On-resistance SiC MOSFETs on electric vehicle drive-train - issue 4/2017 August, 29 2017
Three market/technology forces are moving in concert to create an opportunity for SiC MOSFETs to be an enabling technology in the battery powered electric vehicle (BEV)...
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Multilayer Ceramic capacitors in automotive - issue 2/2017 April, 28 2017
Modern EV's, HEV's and PHEV's are sparking a revolution in the capacitor technology used in the control electronics...
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Dual Battery Require Bi-directional DC/DC controllers - issue 1/2017 February, 28 2017
With fuel economy regulations tightening and autonomous-driving capability with connectivity proliferating, the old-fashioned 12V automotive electrical system has reached its usable power limit...
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Automotive Opportunities for Power GaN - issue 4/2015 July, 15 2015
This article includes studies of the market opportunity, current performance and projected performance of very large area GaN devices that have applicability to the automotive market....
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MLC capacitors in automotive power electronics - issue 1/2015 February, 13 2015
The demand for better economy and lower CO2 emissions is driving automotive electronics in directions not previously experienced in this field...
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A Two-Phase interleaved one cycle control PFC for charger applications - issue 7/2014 November, 10 2014
The electrification of cars is bringing new challenges to the power electronics designers, AC/DC and DC/DC converters are now also needed in the automotive world and car manufacturers and OEMs are striving to address this need in an economical and efficient way...
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Silicon Carbide in Automotive - issue 3/2014 May, 29 2014
Some of the first markets to use SiC include the server, industrial, telecom, lighting and induction heating power supply markets. Since then, SiC has also penetrated the solar, UPS inverter, drives and avionics markets...
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Bond Wireless Building Blocks Provide a New Approach to Power Modules - issue 2/2013 April, 02 2013
In the latest edition the article 'COOLiR2DIEtm Bond Wireless Power Packaging for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles' took a look at how the advent of the Hybrid Electric Vehicle was bringing along new opportunities for power semiconductor packaging and in particular those without bond wires....
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Bond Wireless Power Packaging for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles - issue 1/2013 February, 26 2013
Traditional industrial motor drive modules are generally based on 600V or 1200V IGBTs and diodes in a wire bonded package. However, there are several limitations with wire bonding: multiple wires are needed to carry higher currents, therefore more complex and costly assembly processes are needed...
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Designing Automotive LCD Panel Backlight Applications - issue 6/2012 October, 10 2012
LEDs are increasingly used as backlight for LCD panels in automotive applications. But under power line surges, electronic modules for automotive applications may suffer from an input voltage of 5 to 7 times higher than normal...
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Automotive Environments Demand Robust Power Conversion - issue 1/2012 February, 28 2012
Automotive and heavy equipment vehicle environments are very demanding for any type of power conversion devices. wide operating voltage ranges coupled with large transisnts and wide temperature excursions combine to make reliable electronics system design difficult...
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Cutting vehicle emissions with advanced power electronics - issue 2/2011 May, 05 2011
As car designers seek greater fuel efficiency to meet ambitious government-imposed emissions targets, improvements in power electronics and packaging technology canhelp to increase the number of kilometres travelled in exchange for the carbon dioxide emitted...
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Numerical simulation to accelerate (H) EV battery development - 8/2010 December, 20 2010
The lithium-ion battery is a preferred candidate as a power source for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV) due to its outstanding characteristics such as high energy density, high voltage, low self-discharge rate and good stability. However, the HEV and EV market requires much larger lithium-ion batteries than those available in the market for consumer electronics...
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Power Density and performance improvement of new Automotive power semiconductor packages March, 24 2010
Steadily but surely automotive manufacturers are looking to design out the engine-driven auxiliary loads such as fuel, water, brake and power steering pumps with electric driven motors. Here MOSFETs are the devices of choice to power such applications......
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Driving Improvements in Motor Control Design December, 14 2009
Electrically actuated automotive systems offer greater convenience for users, as well as enabling car makers to reduce the size, weight and cost of the equipment fitted to modern vehicles. New driver and power stage technologies for automotive BLDC motors can enhance performance, shorten time to market and reduce costs for vehicle comfort and convenience features. ISSUE 8/2009
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Power Semiconductor Solutions for Micro-Hybrid Systems December, 14 2009
Current Carbon Dioxide discussion and the need for the higher efficiency lead to the highly growing market share of the hybrid automotive systems. One of the significant agenda points is so-called micro-hybrid cars. ISSUE 8/2009
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Automotive Applications Benefit from Multiphase Boosters October, 19 2009
Multiphase operation results in lower component stresses, smaller input and output capacitance, smaller solution size, better thermal management, and lower output noise. With its programmability up to 12 phases using multiple daisy-chained controllers, the new LTC3862 serves the needs of step-up power supplies from 100 to 1000W in automotive fuel injection systems and high power audio amplifiers.
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Analysing the Hot Spots in Automotive Circuits September, 22 2009
Automotive electronics have to perform in temperatures up to 140°C and to avoid thermal issues or, even worse, potential system failure under extreme operating conditions. Thus, it is vital to simulate the operational environment and analyse thermal performance of power devices in transient and worst case scenarios prior to implementing system design-in.
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Micro-Transformers Provide Signal and Power Isolation for Hybrid Electric Vehicles May, 21 2009
Hybrid Electric Vehicles have gained increased popularity in recent years as consumers look for alternative fuel vehicles to conserve energy and reduce CO2 emissions. Electric motors are more energy efficient than conventional combustion engines running on gasoline, and they can dramatically reduce emissions.
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Resonant Motor Drive Topology with Standard Modules for Electric Vehicles May, 22 2008
Automotive Power - Resonant Motor Drive Topology with Standard Modules for Electric Vehicles. Issue 5 2008
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Semiconductors in Hybrid Drives Applications May, 06 2008
Automotive Power - Semiconductors in Hybrid Drives Applications2. Issue 5 2008
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Automotive Current Sensing March, 21 2008
Automotive Current Sensing - Current Sensing Solutions for Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Issue 3 2008
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Active Charge Balancing for Li-ion Battery Stacks March, 14 2008
Battery Management - Active Charge Balancing for Li-ion Battery Stacks. Issue 3 2008
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Benefits of P-Channel PowerMOSFETs in Automotive Applications May, 15 2007
Automotive Electronics - Benefits of P-Channel PowerMOSFETs in Automotive Applications. Issue 5 2007
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Solder-Free Pressure Contact Modules for Automotive Applications May, 01 2007
Automotive Electronics - Solder-Free Pressure Contact Modules for Automotive Applications. Issue 5 2007
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System Integrated Drive for Hybrid Traction in Automotive April, 04 2007
Automotive Electronics - System Integrated Drive for Hybrid Traction in Automotive. Issue 4 2007
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Power Semiconductor Module Design for Hybrid Electric Vehicles February, 20 2007
Hybrid Electric motors - Application Focused Power Semiconductor Module Design for Hybrid Electric Vehicles Issue 2 2007
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Hydrid Electric Vehicles - The Next Leap for Electronics February, 19 2007
Hydrid Electric Vehicles - The Next Leap for Electronics Issue 2 2007
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Power Integration for a Smoother Hybrid Driving Experience 3/2012
Hybrid cars provide an important stepping stone between the conventional combustion engine and full electric propulsion. Engine start-stop technology is a key component of the major hybrid powertrains in the market today, and will benefit from greater power electronic integration to improve performance and reliability. David Jacquinod, Application and Marketing Manager, Automotive Business Unit, International Rectifier Corporation, USA.
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