333 results found, displaying items 81 - 100

The LM3445 from National Semiconductor enables a full 100:1 range of offline, uniform, flicker-free dimming for high-brightness LEDs with a conventional TRIAC forward or reverse phase-control wall dimmer. It also can maintain more than 1 A of constant current for large strings of LEDs in a variety of residential, architectural, commercial, and industrial applications.

The FDMA1024NZ and FDMA410NZ dual n-channel and single n-channel MOSFETs from Fairchild Semicondcutor extend battery life in space-constrained applications such as cellular handsets, electric toothbrushes, and shavers. Available in a thermally enhanced 2- by 2- by 0.8-mm MicroFET micro-leadframe package (MLP), these devices offer excellent power dissipation and ultra-low R_DS(ON) to conserve battery life, according to the company.

Virtually all battery-based power-management designs depend on the associated battery, so design starts by picking the specific battery type. The battery may be the non-rechargeable primary type or the rechargeable secondary type. The most widely used rechargeable battery-based systems may employ nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion), or Li-ion polymer, though silver-zinc batteries are now emerging.

The simplest protection method for battery packs is a fuse that opens if the system draws excessively high current. A more complex protection circuit is found in some battery packs. The battery-protection ICs prevent excessive current, which could lead to high heat. Cells in a lithium-ion (Li-ion) pack may need independent voltage monitoring. The more cells connected in series, the more complex the protection circuit.

Plextek’s low-cost Ultra Narrow Band (UNB) telemetry platform targets automatic remote meter reading and smart metering applications. It eliminates the complex and costly need for a mesh network or the use of cellular backhaul. The UNB system also includes a low-cost, low-power module for integration into the customer’s meter and a cost-optimized basestation.

Claimed as the first device of its kind, the Series 6610 appliance outlet from Schurter Inc. uses IDC technology, enabling wires to be bussed across the terminal, thereby connecting common terminals all at once. Traditional outlets require wiring of individual quick-connect or solder terminals. The 6610 suits use in power-distribution units and other equipment where multiple outlets are banked in series.

Operating from an input voltage range of 5.5 to 28 V or 5 V ±10%, the MAX15023 from Maxim Integrated Products is a dual, synchronous step-down controller that generates two independent output voltages. Each output is adjustable from 85% of the input voltage down to 0.6 V and supports loads of 12 A or higher.

Three new hot-swap managers from Texas Instruments help protect against overcurrents for voltage rails between 3 and 20 V and an operating current of up to 5 A. The TPS2420 comes in a tiny 16-pin quad-flat no-lead (QFN) package, and the TPS2421-1 and TPS2421-2 come in 8-pin small-outline IC (SOIC) packages. All three offer more than twice the current throughput of existing hot-swap managers with integrated FETs in the same voltage range.

“Figure of merit” (FOM) is a way of evaluating FETs. It takes into account both their conduction losses and their switching losses. Commonly, it’s calculated as on-resistance (R_(DS)ON) times gate charge (Q_G).

International Rectifier developed a gallium-nitride (GaN) based power-device technology platform that promises figure-of-merit (FOM) performance that’s at least an order of magnitude better than existing silicon MOSFETs. In addition to disclosing the benefits of the new GaN-based power devices versus silicon and silicon-carbide (SiC) FETs, this article also examines new dc-dc converters enabled by this device technology and its overall impact on efficiency, density, and cost-effectiveness.

Ever since Porsche introduced the first direct-type tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) in 1997, manufacturers have been struggling to solve two major technical challenges: developing a TPMS that requires as little power as possible to operate (either from a battery or an energy scavenging technique or both) and a form factor that better suits a tire’s shape. On top of that, the need for a low-cost manufacturing approach overshadows both of these issues.

The MAXQ610 16-bit RISC microcontroller from Maxim Integrated Products is designed for low-power applications such as sensor and data logging where extended battery life is critical. It typically draws only 200 nA in stop mode and 3.75 mA while delivering 12 MIPS of performance.

The MAX17065 power-management IC (PMIC) from Maxim Integrated Products includes a step-up dc-dc converter, an inverting dc-dc converter, regulated positive and negative charge pumps, and a low-dropout linear regulator (LDO). This one IC integrates all the power functions required for the active-matrix, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays used in cell phones, digital still cameras (DSCs), MP3 players, and other consumer products.

The devices in the Advanced Power Solutions PA1008D series of 8-W desktop power supplies measure just 2.28 by 1.30 by 1.06 in. All models are EISA/Energy Star/CEC Level-IV compliant to accommodate a wide range of applications. The series consists of 11 output models ranging from 3.3 to 30 V dc with 8 W of output power.

The LT3509 dual-channel, step-down dc-dc converter has two internal 36-V, 1-A power switches and comes packaged in a 14-lead 3- by 4-mm package. Each channel of the current-mode pulse-width modulation (PWM) converter can deliver up to 700 mA of output current with efficiencies up to 88%. Device input ranges from 3.6 V to 36 V, with transient protection to 60 V.

To help designers quickly and easily create energy-efficient and ultra-low-power applications, Texas Instruments has expanded its development-kit offerings with three tools for TMS320C2000 32-bit real-time microcontrollers (MCUs) and one for the 16-bit MSP430F5xx ultra-low-power MCU series.

Often, a technological breakthrough can lead to new products and even new applications that had previously been considered fantasy. Developments in low-power, low-noise readout ASICs could open new opportunities for microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) sensors, particularly in medical monitoring, implantable devices, and military/sports monitoring.

A team of MIT undergraduate students has invented what they call a shock absorber that harnesses energy from small bumps in the road, generating electricity while smoothing the ride more effectively than conventional shocks.

Under real-world testing of a type of computing that thrives on random errors, Rice University scientists have unveiled a microchip that uses 30 times less power while running seven times faster than the best existing technologies.

On Semiconductor’s NCP1081 and NCP1083 integrated Power-over-Ethernet Powered Device (PoE-PD)/dc-dc converter controllers meet the upcoming IEEE802.3at PoE+ standard for high-power communications applications. Both devices comply with the current IEEE 802.3af standard. The University of New Hampshire Interoperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) also has verified them for the recent draft IEEE 802.3at (D3.1) standard, which includes a test of the two-event physical-layer classification.

• Build A Smart Battery Charger Using A Single-Transistor Circuit
• Efficient DC-To-AC Inverters Charge Equipment Racks
• DC-AC inverter targets electroluminescent applications
• Easy-To-Build AC Power Meter
• Voltage-To-Current Converter Works From A Single-Supply Rail