• Home >
  • Back Issues >
  • Electronic Design Library >
  • This Week in PowerBites

    • This Week in PowerBites

    This is a regular article series written by Lee Goldberg targeting power-related topics, technologies, and products.
    Tony Vitolo/Electronic Design
    powerbitesnew
    March 18, 2025
    This week’s PowerBites features two advances in battery technology plus a look at how electric marine propulsion is changing the shipping industry. And don’t forget to check out...
    Tony Vitolo/Electronic Design
    powerbitesnew
    Feb. 10, 2025
    This edition of PowerBites presents insights on how competition continues to drive growth in the cleantech sector and a motor-centric sampler of the latest power-related products...
    Tony Vitolo/Electronic Design
    powerbestlanding
    Jan. 24, 2025
    Electronic Design's Lee Goldberg chronicles a year of remarkable advances in power, power-conversion and power-management ICs, and packaging technology with a baker’s dozen of...
    Tony Vitolo/Electronic Design
    powerbestnew
    Jan. 24, 2025
    Innovations in cool-running packaging technologies and embedded passive networks are enabling power devices to run at higher power densities and frequencies.
    Tony Vitolo/Electronic Design
    powerbestnew
    Jan. 24, 2025
    Higher levels of integration and ingenious power-conversion architectures are enabling simpler, denser, more efficient solutions for EVs, data centers, and other critical applications...

    More content from This Week in PowerBites

    Tony Vitolo/Electronic Design
    powerbestnew
    Jan. 24, 2025
    SiC and GaN advances used improved device structures and higher levels of integration to support higher voltages and power densities while reducing solution cost. Meanwhile, silicon...
    Tony Vitolo/Electronic Design
    powerbitesnew
    Jan. 8, 2025
    This edition of PowerBites is packed with surprises, including technologies that should lead to smaller, faster, cooler-running power devices.
    Tony Vitolo/Electronic Design
    powerbitesnew
    Oct. 29, 2024
    Will a new breed of thin-film amorphous solar cells deliver double the efficiency at half the cost of their silicon-based competitors? Can a new lifecycle analysis software platform...
    Tony Vitolo/Electronic Design
    powerbitesnew
    Sept. 24, 2024
    Innovative reference designs help streamline the development cycles of everything from USB PD products to high-efficiency motor drives. Meanwhile, GM is the first North American...
    Tony Vitolo/Endeavor Business Media
    powerbitesnew
    Aug. 20, 2024
    This edition of PowerBites reports on new reference designs for EV charging stations and USB-C supplies, smarter power protection devices, and a high-end eBike that’s the model...
    Electronic Design
    July 23, 2024
    Mixed-signal fever hits the power controller community while power densities reach new highs, and magnetic packaging helps shrink power-module size. Plus, another round of open...
    June 26, 2024
    Could a Linux-based open-source platform for EV charging stations help accelerate deployment while helping cure the industry's pesky interoperability problems?
    May 17, 2024
    This week's PowerBites looks at advances occurring in less-obvious regions of the power sector, plus surprising news about the quiet boom occurring in grid-scale energy storage...
    April 23, 2024
    PowerBites offers insights on two new rare-earth-free electric-motor architectures, the latest power components, and news that California's grid is now spending significant periods...
    March 22, 2024
    This edition of PowerBites brings you new developments in hybrid-electric aircraft and a V2G standard, MOSFET moves, silicon and SiC advances, plus more.
    Feb. 22, 2024
    A bumper crop of automotive power components, an innovative approach to electric motor recycling, and some surprising news about EV sales await you in this issue of PowerBites...
    Jan. 24, 2024
    Have SiC power devices (finally) become just as simple to use as their silicon counterparts? Could nickel-rich cathodes provide a cost-effective boost to Li-ion battery life and...
    Jan. 19, 2024
    Electronic Design's Lee Goldberg attempts to chronicle a year of remarkable advances in power technology with an overstuffed baker's dozen of 2023's most notable products in three...
    Jan. 18, 2024
    Electronic Design's Lee Goldberg attempts to chronicle a year of remarkable advances in power technology with an overstuffed baker's dozen of 2023's most notable products in three...
    Jan. 17, 2024
    Electronic Design's Lee Goldberg attempts to chronicle a year of remarkable advances in power technology with an overstuffed baker's dozen of 2023's most notable products in three...
    Dec. 20, 2023
    Will hybrid-electric aircraft give airlines a practical low-carbon alternative to today's turboprops? Will the United Kingdom's £541 million gamble to gain domestic EV battery...
    Nov. 16, 2023
    Can GaN really support 1250-V applications? Could hydrolysis of seawater become a practical source of hydrogen? And what the heck is a nomogram? Check out this edition of PowerBites...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Oct. 20, 2023
    Will grid-forming inverters be the game changer for sustainable power grids? What's new in USB-C? Can you really design a high-efficiency, printed BLDC motor/controller system...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Sept. 18, 2023
    Are IGBTs still relevant? Two new IGBT families prove that this mature technology still has room for innovation. And what's going on with America's "moonshot" program to create...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Aug. 16, 2023
    Will rising EV demand trigger a global copper shortage? Can mixed-signal Spice accelerate power product development and still tame those pesky sand worms? Tune in to this month...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    July 14, 2023
    STMicro teams with Airbus to advance electric aviation, two wireless power leaders combine forces, plus a look at some of the latest power products.
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    June 15, 2023
    In this issue of PowerBites, we look at two developments that make designing with GaN easier, near-production-ready single-chip ac direct dc power-delivery tech, and why the DoE...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    May 17, 2023
    If Formula E electric racecars are nearly silent, and don't emit heady exhaust fumes, can they be as exciting as their fossil-fueled F1 counterparts? Can EV batteries really enjoy...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    April 18, 2023
    This week's lineup includes tutorials on magnetics design and soft-switch power conversion, a highly versatile BMS, and rugged-self-healing dc link capacitors. And don't miss ...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    March 16, 2023
    This week's PowerBites includes a plethora of high-octane power products, plus news of a U.S.-based factory scheduled to begin making advanced Li-ion cells at gigawatt-scale by...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Feb. 16, 2023
    This week's edition of PowerBites includes new products for nearly application space, our first sneak preview of APEC, and a surprise from one our favorite motor innovators.
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Jan. 25, 2023
    New SiC devices enable more efficient converters, wireless chargers, and solar farms, while solid-state batteries move closer toward commercial reality.
    Powerbes Tbattery Storage
    Jan. 18, 2023
    Electronic Design’s 2022 PowerBest Awards celebrate last year's most significant innovations in power conversion, power storage, and power device technology.
    Powerbes Tpower
    Jan. 13, 2023
    Electronic Design’s 2022 PowerBest Awards celebrate last year's most significant innovations in power conversion, power storage, and power device technology.
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Dec. 22, 2022
    PowerBites' holiday stocking is full of surprises. Share your thoughts on EVs with your fellow readers and check out Electronic Design’s pick for the best geek gift of 2023!
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Nov. 22, 2022
    PowerBites' coverage of the world's first electric airliner emphasizes the growing demand for advanced power semiconductors and flight-worthy battery technologies. But don't worry...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew Version2
    Oct. 4, 2022
    PowerBites invites you to explore the trends and challenges of ongoing electric-vehicle technology, speculate on sulfur storage batteries, and witness the wonders of Weigand power...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Sept. 15, 2022
    The PowerBites “Back to School” edition features three "powerful" online seminars, innovations in power ICs, and circuit protection. Plus, how California plans to fight drought...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Aug. 23, 2022
    A production-ready reference design for a smart embedded motor controller, a robust SiC MOSFET, an advanced USB-C PD controller, and a new development that may usher in a dark...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    July 19, 2022
    Who says passive components are boring? PowerBites' bi-weekly sampling of the power sector's hottest innovations includes several surprises. And we top it off with a bit of hopeful...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    July 6, 2022
    This edition of PowerBites includes a pair of innovative BLDC controllers, a great article on meeting the challenges of wireless power, and a follow-up story about a promising...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    June 15, 2022
    In this week's PowerBites, we bring you a sampling of the latest power-related innovations, look at the upcoming African Energy Forum’s Youth Energy Summit, and explore the mysterious...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    June 2, 2022
    This week's PowerBites includes two innovations that simplify designing USB PD devices, top products from the recent PCIM conference, and how solar power is being used to build...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew2
    May 23, 2022
    How do you cover a technical revolution singlehandedly, especially one that's rapidly changing the world? ED's Lee Goldberg did it by creating PowerBites, a quirky blog that brings...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    May 17, 2022
    This edition of PowerBites looks at innovative research into a salt-based battery that could “freeze” excess power for a long duration, as well as multiple SiC-based advances ...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    May 3, 2022
    We look at two credible alternatives to Li-ion batteries and a pair of innovative motor controllers. And what are 15 teams of engineering students going to do when they compete...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    April 18, 2022
    Drones assist Japanese first responders and a new family of single-chip power devices promises the benefits of GaN with MOSFET-like drive characteristics. Plus don’t miss the ...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    March 21, 2022
    Beyond the latest power products, this week's PowerBites brings you news about a conference on sustainability, a free electronics-oriented enrichment program for STEM educators...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Feb. 17, 2022
    This issue of PowerBites focuses on recent developments in current sensors and buck converters. And just for fun, we take a quick look at a powerful Battlebot and the first Nigerian...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Feb. 4, 2022
    The optocoupler continues to evolve to meet increasingly stringent requirements emerging from power-conversion apps, where safety is a top design driver. This week's PowerBites...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew January
    Jan. 20, 2022
    Looking for innovative reference designs? We've got three in this issue. Going to APEC? ED's Power Management editor, Lee Goldberg, will be there, too—and he's inviting you to...
    Powe Rb Es Tnew Promo
    Jan. 5, 2022
    This year's PowerBest selections recognize electronic power products that help engineers create winning designs and celebrate the people who helped make them possible, despite...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Dec. 6, 2021
    Power solutions for USB-C and battery-management systems dominate this issue of PowerBites, but there's also a new thin-film process that could make solar panels lighter and more...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Nov. 16, 2021
    Semi makers are doubling down on SiC, e-trucks continue to gain momentum, and better batteries loom on the horizon, but will low-pressure hydrogen storage make them obsolete?
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Nov. 2, 2021
    Move over Winnebago! A group of Dutch engineering students just traveled 1,800 miles in a cozy solar-electric camper—could this be the future of RVs? Plus, new dc-dcs for fuel...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Oct. 15, 2021
    This edition of PowerBites spotlights electric-vehicle newsmakers such as a bias-supply module that can help extend driving range and a new EcoCAR competition. Also highlighted...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew Rev
    Sept. 23, 2021
    PowerBites "held the presses" to bring you two technologies that make SiC power devices easier to work with, and two others that simplify driving BLDCs and high-power wireless...
    Powe Rb Ite Snew
    Sept. 2, 2021
    Will wave-powered marine sensors and submersibles usher in the age of "smart oceans?" Can students design eVTOLs for the disabled? This edition of PowerBites answers those questions...
    Powe Rb Ites Augus Tnew
    Aug. 9, 2021
    This issue's products focus mostly on LEDs and EVs, but don't miss previews of two must-attend power design conferences as well as a deep-dive tutorial on dc supply stability....
    Prom Onew
    July 7, 2021
    This issue of PowerBites includes a call for papers to the PowerUP virtual power conference, several novel converters that offer more buck for fewer bucks, and an improved totem...
    Prom Onew
    June 16, 2021
    Current-sensing technology has evolved, and so will your design skills, thanks to TI's latest tutorial. Li-ion batteries are evolving, too, and you can get a glimpse of where ...
    Prom Onew Powerbityes
    June 1, 2021
    Electricity is in the air as this edition of PowerBites brings you two wireless power technologies and a sneak peek at the world's first electric airplane race.
    Prom Onew Powerbites
    May 13, 2021
    While charting a course through the WBG wilderness, can developments in trains, ePlanes, and…air conditioners…help save the planet?
    Promo Goldberg New
    April 28, 2021
    On tap in this edition of PowerBites is an inverter that leverages AI for high efficiency, new high-current-density inductors, sulfur-resistant thick-film resistor arrays, and...
    Prom Onew
    April 15, 2021
    In this edition, power advances cover everything from Form C reed relays, to a novel power/functional-safety ADAS camera solution, to a voltage regulator that achieves the fastest...
    Prom Onew
    March 23, 2021
    A SiC semiconductor selection tool, new 35- to 350-W power supplies, glow-wire-compliant relays, and a fully electric backhoe are some of the wide-ranging highlights in this edition...
    Powerbites Prom Onew
    March 16, 2021
    Half-bridge modules, power FETs, MHEV motor drivers, and “electric underdogs” are some of the latest power-related automotive newsmakers covered in this special edition of PowerBites...
    Prom Opowerbites New
    March 3, 2021
    This latest edition of PowerBites reports on a new energy-harvesting module, precision measurement ICs, and motor drivers with FOC motion control, among other developments making...
    Prom Opower Bitesnew
    Feb. 16, 2021
    This week’s installment of PowerBites offers up a range of new developments, from an ASIL-D DAQ system to a resettable eFuse to Hybrid IGBTs to GaN power ICs, plus more.
    Prom Onew
    Feb. 2, 2021
    This edition of PowerBites delves into designing tougher power systems, student e-racers preparing for a post-pandemic competition, and APEC’s return from cyberspace this year...
    Prom Onew
    Jan. 15, 2021
    In this round-up of the latest news in power tech, highlights include a GaN solution integrating two asymmetric transistors, versatile programmable PMICs, a wireless BMS for ASIL...
    Goldberg Prom Onew
    Dec. 22, 2020
    PowerBites wraps up 2020 with another array of power-related newsmakers, from the ever-evolving world of SiC developments, to cooler GaN half-bridges, to an automotive BMU that...
    Goldberg Prom Onew
    Dec. 10, 2020
    In this week's PowerBites, we're making your job easier with a tutorial on using GaN FETs in automotive apps, drop-in SiC upgrades for Si-MOSFETs, and reference designs galore...
    Powerbites2 Prom Onew
    Nov. 20, 2020
    In this edition of PowerBites, developments range from silicon vacuum tubes and rapid prototyping kits to Li-ion-battery-pack-targeted MOSFETs and an eye-popping electric motorcycle...
    Promo Power Bites
    Nov. 6, 2020
    Does the recent flood of new SiC devices signal its entry into the mainstream market? Will smart passives change power design practices? What's a real physicist's take on nuclear...
    Goldeberg Prom Onew
    Oct. 22, 2020
    Are zinc-based battery chemistries finally displacing lead-acid storage? Will radioactive diamonds power your next smartphone? In this edition of PowerBites, we'll share the answers...
    Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
    Golberg Prom Onew
    Oct. 5, 2020
    Can LED drivers be too smart? Can QJTs become reality? A dc-dc converter that extends battery lifetime by 50%? Find out the answers to these questions in the latest edition of...
    Prom Onew
    Sept. 23, 2020
    Can you design stuff on your smartphone? Does GaN really sound better than silicon? Does he who controls the PSpice really control the universe?
    Goldberg Powerbytes Prom Onew
    Sept. 2, 2020
    What's the best way to define power density? Is 48 V the new standard for personal e-mobility? Paper or pixels? The answers to these and other weighty questions can be found in...
    Power Bites8 15 Prom Onew
    Aug. 19, 2020
    Can the next tier of eco-design requirements be met without going broke? Can upgrades in power-module design help EV makers improve efficiency, reliability, and cost all at once...
    Powerbites Prom Onew
    Aug. 3, 2020
    Will GaN conquer consumer audio? Will electric pickups conquer the truck market? Can a designer ever have enough isolation? The answers to these and other electrifying questions...
    Powrbytes7 15 Prom Onew
    July 16, 2020
    Taking USB-C to the next level…making smart meters smarter…moving EVs to 800 V—these and other developments can be found in this new installment of PowerBites.
    Power Bites6 29
    July 1, 2020
    Is SiC ready to conquer the EV market? Will Hawaiian shirts be required at IEEE's virtual IEDM event? Will hybrid-electric aircraft shorten the road to fossil-free aviation? Find...
    Power Bites June Promo
    June 18, 2020
    What the heck are quantum-tunnel transistors? And what's the best way to power our robot overlords? Find the answers to these, and other pressing questions, in this week's edition...
    Power Bites May 25 29 (power)promo
    June 3, 2020
    This week’s round-up spotlights a GaN audio evaluation kit, low on-resistance power FETs, how to uncover the secrets behind PCB design, smart MOSFET gate drivers, and more.
    Promo Power Bites2nd May
    May 14, 2020
    Two solutions give extra life to coin-cell-powered IoT devices, a new controller makes synchronous rectification practical, and a conference looks beyond the COVID pandemic at...
    Powerbites4 27 Promo wide
    April 30, 2020
    Are decentralized 48-V systems the future of automotive power? And what's that weird yellow thing with the big battery lurking in the back of ED editor Lee Goldberg's garage?
    Promo 200414 Speeder 1new
    April 15, 2020
    Electronic Design serves up the latest products, news, rumors, and innuendo making waves in the power-design community.
    Power Bites Prom Owhitepaper
    April 3, 2020
    Electronic Design serves up the latest products, news, rumors, and innuendo making waves in the power-design community.
    Ape Clogo Copy
    March 18, 2020
    Electronic Design serves up the latest products, news, rumors, and innuendo making waves in the power-design community.
    Ape Clogo Promo
    March 3, 2020
    Electronic Design serves up the latest products, news, rumors, and innuendo making waves in the power-design community.
    Promo Fig 2 Mit Anodes Cathodes 01 (1)
    Feb. 20, 2020
    Electronic Design serves up the latest products, news, rumors, and innuendo making waves in the power-design community.