Power

For vehicle functional-safety applications, STMicroelectronics has combined hot-swap, soft-start and ideal-diode OR-ing in an IC intended to work with a pair of external n-channel mosfets over 4 to 65V. Called STPM801, “the ideal-diode controller drives an external mosfet replacing a Schottky diode conventionally used for reverse-input protection and output-voltage hold-up”, said ST. “When a reverse-voltage event occurs, in case of ...

Nexperia has added an 8x8mm package option, and a second 5x6mm option, to its ‘NextPower’ mosfet range which is designed to decrease spiking when switching to reduce EMI. “The Qgate.Rds(on) figure-of-merit has long been a focus for semiconductor manufacturers aiming to improve the efficiency of MOSFET switches,” according to the company. “However, relentlessly pushing this figure ever lower has had ...

Motor inverter maker Vitesco Technologies has signed a silicon carbide component supply deal with Rohm “worth over one billion US dollars until 2030”, according to the companies. This fruit was born of a development partnership started in 2020, leading to two unnamed automotive customers adopting Vitesco inverters built around Rohm SiC components, with “Vitesco supplying a first series project as ...

Tokyo Institute of Technology scientist have discovered a promising proton conductor for protonic ceramic fuel cells. Ba2LuAlO5 “has a remarkably high proton conductivity, even without any additional chemical modifications”, according to the university. Protonic ceramic fuel cells use solid proton-conducting ceramic electrolytes and operate between 300 and 600°C. This compares to over 700°C for better-established solid-oxide fuel cells – where ...

Rohm is aiming at motor drives operating on 24, 36 or 48V with n-channel mosfets rated at 40, 60, 100 or 150V to give some leeway for spikes and noise. There are two series with 13 devices all-told: nine in 5x6x1mm HSOP8 (below left) packaging called RS6xxxx, and four in 3x3x0.8mm HSMT8 packaging called RH6xxxx, with current ratings between 25A ...

Analog Devices has created a pair of 6A buck-boost converters for automotive use. “MAX25239 and MAX25240 small-footprint 2V to 36V converters are the industry’s only 6A automotive buck-boost with integrated H-bridge switches,” according to distributor Farnell, which is stocking the parts. “They provide a fixed-output regulation voltage and an externally adjustable output voltage from 3V to 20V.” The ‘and’ in ...

To get the best out of GaN power transistors, which are far faster than silicon or silicon carbide transistors, microwave design techniques including RF simulation is essential, according to Cambridge start-up QPT. Final assembly, EMC screen partially lifted The alternative is to slow operation until the advantages of GaN fade away, or to risk durability as unseen ultra-fast overshoot and ...

Battery maker Exide Technologies has switched to silicon carbide transistors for a 7kW industrial electric vehicle charger. Its chargers convert 220Vac to between 24 and 80V for lead-acid and lithium-ion powered vehicles. The 7 kW unit uses 750V mosfets (G3R60MT07D) and 1.2kV Schottky diodes (GD10MPS12A) from Navitas, and the same SiC platform is good for 10kW, and could be paralleled ...

Verge Motorcycles has chosen to build the motor of its electric vehicle around the rim of a wheel, and not to have a centre at all – instead guiding the wheel through rim bearings. Versions up to 150kW (200hp) are available. The motorbike has actually been around for a while, but the company has just revealed its latest model, designed ...

P-Duke has announced ultra-wide input isolated 40W dc-dc converters for railway and industrial use. RED40-72xxxU converter will work over 14 – 160Vdc (11:1 range) and comes in a 2 x 1in (~25 x 50mm) footprint package. “Using just one dc-dc converter model for various supply voltages – 24, 28, 36, 48, 72, 96 or 110Vdc – in different regions avoids ...