Modern technology has been revolutionised by the use of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, but they still have some significant drawbacks that, as yet, are unresolved, write two specialists at Withers & Rogers. From electric vehicles to mobile phones, Li-ion batteries are used across many industry sectors. However, as they near the end of their life, the battery cells can rapidly degrade ...
Power
PCIe 5.0 connectors offer power and signal pins
Mouser is offering PCIe 5.0 cable-to-board connectors from Molex that provide 12 power pins and four signal pins. “These connectors comply with the latest PCIe CEM 5.0/6.0 specifications and support devices requiring AIC [ampere interrupting capacities] of up to 675W”, according to the distributor. The 600V (dc or peak ac) 9.5A power pins have 5mΩ resistance and suit 16 AWG ...
Lithium-sulphur batteries get a boost
Researchers (pictured) from KERI (Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute) have developed large-area, high-capacity lithium-sulphur battery prototypes that deliver an energy density eight times higher than a lithium-ion battery. The researchers created a system that controls the dissolution and diffusion of lithium polysulfides which had been a hurdle in the development of lithium-sulphur batteries on a commercial scale. Lithium polysulfides are produced ...
BLDC motor driver for humanoid robot hands
EPC is specifically aiming at designers of humanoid robots with its EPC91104 7A 48V brushless dc motor driver evaluation board, built around GaN power transistors. Measuring 72 x 75mm and operating across 14 to 80V with peaks up to 20A, it implements only the power stage, needing a separate signal generator board to work, as well as heatsinking. The company ...
Preventing self-destruction in zinc-ion batteries
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are one potential solution to cost-effective grid-scale energy storage, as the raw materials are cheaper than needed for lithium-ion cells, and the extra weight of zinc is not much of a penalty in static applications. However, as zinc-ions electroplate onto and off of the anode, several destructive processes can occur, including the growth off needle-like ‘dendrites’ (think ...
ABLIC IC enables replacement of multiple NiH batteries with one lithium battery
ABLIC’s S-19161A/B claims to enable automotive manufacturers to significantly miniaturise backup power systems by allowing the replacement of multiple NiH batteries with a single lithium battery in emergency backup power systems. The IC operates across a temperature range of -40°C to 125°C, exceeding conventional 85°C limits. It features industry-leading overcharge detection accuracy of ±15mV with three-level discharge overcurrent protection. Designed ...
Relay breaks 200A to compete with contactors
Omron has designed a relay that can interrupt 200A at 500V, aiming to displace contactors from dc electric vehicle chargers, batteries and solar inverters. “A proprietary gas-less design cools arcs without the need for any special parts or materials in the manufacturing process, while eliminating the possibility of gas leakage,” according to the company. Gas-less? “G9EA, G9EC, and G9EH relays ...
Performance gets a reboot with partitioning using Reram
Embedded NVM such as ReRAM, coupled with smart memory partitioning, can improve the energy efficiency of battery-operated and energy-harvesting ICs, observes Ilan Sever. Low power consumption is a key design consideration, especially for battery-operated IoT devices with Bluetooth Low Energy or energy-harvesting technology, and for medical devices such as wearables and implantables. These devices must ensure that data gathered by ...
Electronica: Video Interview – Qoitech Otii optimising battery life in IoT and embedded
At Electronica 2024 we caught up with Maria Hernández, Senior Product Manager at Qoitech, as part of our promotional coverage for the event. This interview explores how the Otii Product Suite from Qoitech empowers engineers to optimize battery life in IoT and embedded devices. We cover key steps, from device consumption profiling to battery profiling and emulation, helping teams achieve ...
1,700V GaN transistor serves HV industrial supplies
What is claimed to be the industry’s first 1,700V GaN transistor has been announced. Steve Bush interviews Andy Smith, company director of Power Integrations, to find out more about it. The transistor is integrated within Power Integrations’ latest series of InnoMux 2 branded multi-output flyback ac-dc converter ICs, in this case it is intended to work from 1,000V rails in ...
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