Power Management
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Optoisolation for intelligent power modules
- 05.21.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
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For many years, insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) have combined the advantages of bipolar transistors with the ease of control of MOSFETs. Read More...
What's your battery shelf-life experience?
- 05.17.2013 ·
- type: Blog ·
- 19 Comment(s) ·
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I found some alkaline batteries which worked fine 10 years after their "best use by" date, and I was definitely impressed. Read More...
Why bypass caps make a difference - Part 4: Op amp macromodels: A cautionary tale
- 05.16.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
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Part 4 of this series on power-supply decoupling and bypass capacitors offers a cautionary tale on using op amp macromodels - what you see in your simulation is definitely not always what you get. Read More...
Some thoughts on DC/DC converters, part five
- 05.15.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- 2 Comment(s) ·
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The following is Chapter 4, part five of a five part series "Some thoughts on DC/DC converters" by the late Jim Williams and Brian Huffman from Linear Technology's Volume II book entitled, "Analog Circuit Design-- Immersion in the Black Art of analog design" by Bob Dobkin and the late-Jim Williams published by Elsevier/Newnes. Read More...
Power control, cheap and good
- 05.08.2013 ·
- type: Blog ·
- 4 Comment(s) ·
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What you can get in a power controller for $20 (retail) is pretty impressive, as a look at a basic heating pad shows. Read More...
Power interface for an ultracap in HEVs
- 05.07.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
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Ultracapacitor power energy storage cells have been introduced into the marketplace in relatively large volumes since 1996 and continue to experience steady growth. In recent years ultracapacitors have become more accepted as high power buffers for industrial, and transportation applications in combination with conventional lead-acid batteries, as standalone pulse power packs, or in combination with advanced chemistry batteries. Read More...
Managing inrush and system protection for electrical systems
- 05.07.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- 4 Comment(s) ·
- Save & Follow
The methods of protecting electronics from circuitry failures and managing inrush current at power on has evolved significantly from a simple fuse and maybe a P-channel FET to much more sophisticated solutions. Read More...
Linear Technology 5A step-down µModule with 1mV output ripple
- 04.30.2013 ·
- type: Product Review ·
- 2 Comment(s) ·
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The LTM8028, is a 1mV output ripple µModule (micromodule) regulator designed to power data converters and high speed transceivers. Read More...
A circuit simplification for AC power supply surge protection devices
- 04.30.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- 4 Comment(s) ·
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An attempt is made to simplify the circuit of the traditional surge protective device installed on single-phase AC power supply lines of electronic systems while still retaining comparable performance. Read More...
Some thoughts on DC/DC converters, part four
- 04.30.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- Save & Follow
The following is Chapter 4, part four of a five part series "Some thoughts on DC/DC converters" by the late Jim Williams and Brian Huffman from Linear Technology's Volume II book entitled, "Analog Circuit Design-- Immersion in the Black Art of analog design" by Bob Dobkin and the late-Jim Williams published by Elsevier/Newnes. Read More...
Why bypass caps make a difference - Part 3: Op amps and supply variation
- 04.29.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- Save & Follow
This updated multipart series attempts to quantify what's happening on the supply line of a representative analog amplifier circuit with regulated supply rails and decoupling capacitors. Read More...
Why bypass caps make a difference - Part 2: Power supply excitation and ringing
- 04.26.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
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This updated multipart series attempts to quantify what's happening on the supply line of a representative analog amplifier circuit with regulated supply rails and decoupling capacitors. Read More...
Recover the leakage energy of a flyback transformer
- 04.18.2013 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
- 15 Comment(s) ·
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This design can recover the leakage energy of a flyback transformer and minimize over-voltage stress to the switching device. Read More...
Gate-drive transformer eases multi-output, isolated dc/dc-converter designs
- 04.12.2013 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
- 1 Comment(s) ·
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Use this small transformer to produce four isolated outputs of about 1W each. Read More...
Three-channel white-LED driver uses simple step-down dc/dc converter
- 09.13.2012 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
- 7 Comment(s) ·
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Drive multiple LEDs with current mirrors from a single step-down converter. Read More...
Inverting level-shift circuit has negative potential
- 07.24.2012 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
- 1 Comment(s) ·
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Shift clock logic levels to match the requirements of the driven device. Read More...
Use a transistor and an ammeter to measure inductance
- 04.05.2012 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
- 11 Comment(s) ·
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Bipolar junction transistors transfer a current from a lower-resistance emitter to a higher-resistance collector. You can use this property to measure inductance. Read More...
Use an op amp as a set/reset flip-flop
- 05.24.2012 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
- 6 Comment(s) ·
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Eliminate a flip-flop package by using a spare op amp for an SR latch function. Read More...
Perform the XOR/XNOR function with a diode bridge and a transistor
- 05.24.2012 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
- 6 Comment(s) ·
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Remember DTL? These discrete DTL-like circuits let you implement the XOR and XNOR operations with a minimum of components. Read More...
Dual regulator handles two input voltages
- 03.15.2012 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
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Use a pair of MOSFETs to switch between 3.3 and 5V regulated voltage. Read More...
Use a boost regulator beyond its rated voltage
- 01.05.2012 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
- 1 Comment(s) ·
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Use an external FET in a common-gate cascode configuration. Read More...
A few added components make a self-contained controller for 100A load
- 12.15.2011 ·
- type: Design Idea ·
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Add a few components and you have a stand-alone piece of test gear. Read More...
Analog Devices 5-Channel Integrated Power Solution
- 05.22.2013 ·
- type: Product Review ·
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Femtocell infrastructure power is a prime area in telecom for this integrated power solution. The ADP5050 combines four high performance buck regulators and one 200 mA low dropout (LDO) regulator in a 48-lead LFCSP package. Read More...
CUI’s next generation 500 mA DC switching regulator series
- 05.16.2013 ·
- type: Product Review ·
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CUI Inc implemented improvements in its non-isolated switching regulator series with the 2nd generation that is rated at 500 mA. Read More...
Touchstone Semiconductor TS3300 ultra low-power, load independent, high-efficiency boost
- 05.15.2013 ·
- type: Product Review ·
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A switching regulator coupled with an LDO in the same package is a very versatile component. Touchstone has enhanced such a function with the capability to use supply voltages down to 0.6V while still being able to deliver a 75 mA output current. Read More...
LED power supply features programmable LED dimming
- 05.14.2013 ·
- type: Product Brief ·
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A compact, high-efficiency DC/DC converter for hand-held LED devices by Bear Power Supplies incorporates a microprocessor for programming LED dimming. Read More...
Smaller charger designs enabled by Super Barrier rectifiers
- 05.07.2013 ·
- type: Product Brief ·
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The 15A rated SBR15U50SP5 Super Barrier Rectifier (SBR) from Diodes Inc. has been introduced to meet the needs of next-generation smartphone and tablet chargers. Read More...
Linear Technology 5A step-down µModule with 1mV output ripple
- 04.30.2013 ·
- type: Product Review ·
- 2 Comment(s) ·
- Save & Follow
The LTM8028, is a 1mV output ripple µModule (micromodule) regulator designed to power data converters and high speed transceivers. Read More...
Renesas at DESIGN West 2013
- 04.25.2013 ·
- type: Product Review ·
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I stopped by the Renesas booth and found some really clever designs using Renesas products. Read More...
Tektronix releases first power analyzer
- 04.12.2013 ·
- type: Product Review ·
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The PA4000 power analyzer boasts dual internal spiral shunts in each module. Read More...
Tektronix precision multi-phase power analyzer
- 04.10.2013 ·
- type: Product Review ·
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Tektronix, Inc.announced its new precision multi-phase Power Analyzer. Featuring the industry’s first Spiral Shunt™ design (patent application submitted), the Tektronix PA4000 Power Analyzer gives power electronics engineers stable, precise current measurements even on highly distorted power waveforms common in many applications Read More...
Maxim Integrated energy measurement processors at APEC 2013
- 04.05.2013 ·
- type: Product Review ·
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Fully autonomous processors add simple, utility-grade energy measurement and diagnostics to existing designs. Read More...
Teardown: Cell-phone charger: nice idea done right
- 03.19.2013 ·
- type: Teardown ·
- 3 Comment(s) ·
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The Mophie juice pack powerstation mini smartphone and USB-device battery charger demonstrates the ability to provide more than twice the battery life to your smartphone while still keeping a low-profile shape that slips right into your pocket. Read More...
Teardown: Samsung Galaxy S4
- 04.29.2013 ·
- type: Teardown ·
- 3 Comment(s) ·
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TechInsights examines the innards of Samsung's latest and greatest smartphone. Read More...
Cell-phone charger: nice idea, bad implementation
- 11.26.2012 ·
- type: Teardown ·
- 10 Comment(s) ·
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Now and again you come across a device that’s so simple, useful, and functional that you’re glad to add it to your already-overladen workbag; that is, until it breaks, for the dumbest of design reasons. Read More...
Teardown: The power inverter - from sunlight to power grid
- 01.13.2012 ·
- type: Teardown ·
- 23 Comment(s) ·
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This teardown of a solar inverter card traces the path of harvested DC power from the photovoltaic panel, through boost conversion, power inverter and massive filtering of the created AC power signal required by the power grid. Surrounded by monitoring and microcontroller magic along with safety standard adherence, we uncover the mysteries of solar energy harvesting electronics. Read More...
Evaluate your application's energy-harvesting vibrational profile with a Slam Stick
- 10.20.2011 ·
- type: Teardown ·
- 2 Comment(s) ·
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To know whether your application is suitable for vibrational energy harvesting, you must determine its vibrational profile. Mide Technology's Slam Stick data logger and open-source software can ease your profiling task. Read More...
What's inside a smart meter? iFixit tears it down
- 08.25.2011 ·
- type: Teardown ·
- 15 Comment(s) ·
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When iFixit's Kyle Wiens had the opportunity to tear down an Elster smart meter, he jumped at it—not to come up with a repair manual but to evaluate the health and safety issues that seem to surround the utilities’ installation of smart meters. Read More...
Simple battery technology packs in more features with complex chemistries
- 07.23.2009 ·
- type: Teardown ·
- 1 Comment(s) ·
- Save & Follow
The basic components are the same across all rechargeable lithium-ion cells, the workhorses of portable energy storage. Read More...
Way, way off the grid: Powering the Phoenix Mars lander
- 07.10.2008 ·
- type: Teardown ·
- Save & Follow
Prying Eyes: An inside look at the power-generation, -regulation, and -delivery system for the Phoenix Mars lander. Read More...
Microfuel cell enables ubiquitous computing
- 12.14.2007 ·
- type: Teardown ·
- Save & Follow
Prying Eyes examines a fuel-cell-based power pack for handheld devices, such as cell phones and MP3 players. Read More...
Hybrids mark the end of the stinky city bus
- 05.10.2007 ·
- type: Teardown ·
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Prying Eyes looks inside a hybrid gas-electric bus powered by 288 ultracapacitors. Read More...
How a standard is born: IEEE P1901.2 for narrowband OFDM PLC
- 05.22.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
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This article gives a brief history of how the IEEE Communications Society sponsored the IEEE P1901.21 work group and developed a complete narrowband powerline communication standard. The article summaries the structure of an LF NB OFDM PLC spec and provides specific real-life test data. Read More...
Sub-microsecond interconnects for processor connectivity—The opportunity
- 05.22.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- Save & Follow
This article focuses, not on the raw bandwidths of the interconnect technologies, but rather on the inherent protocol capabilities, supported topologies and latency design targets for each of these interconnects. Read More...
Optoisolation for intelligent power modules
- 05.21.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- Save & Follow
For many years, insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) have combined the advantages of bipolar transistors with the ease of control of MOSFETs. Read More...
Why bypass caps make a difference - Part 4: Op amp macromodels: A cautionary tale
- 05.16.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- Save & Follow
Part 4 of this series on power-supply decoupling and bypass capacitors offers a cautionary tale on using op amp macromodels - what you see in your simulation is definitely not always what you get. Read More...
Some thoughts on DC/DC converters, part five
- 05.15.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- 2 Comment(s) ·
- Save & Follow
The following is Chapter 4, part five of a five part series "Some thoughts on DC/DC converters" by the late Jim Williams and Brian Huffman from Linear Technology's Volume II book entitled, "Analog Circuit Design-- Immersion in the Black Art of analog design" by Bob Dobkin and the late-Jim Williams published by Elsevier/Newnes. Read More...
Today’s LEDs—What’s responsible for the improvements?
- 05.14.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- Save & Follow
Key developments in LED manufacturing including enhanced equipment, improved processes and superior materials, have allowed the latest generation of LEDs to provide a powerful combination of excellent light output, visual performance and space savings. Read More...
Power interface for an ultracap in HEVs
- 05.07.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- Save & Follow
Ultracapacitor power energy storage cells have been introduced into the marketplace in relatively large volumes since 1996 and continue to experience steady growth. In recent years ultracapacitors have become more accepted as high power buffers for industrial, and transportation applications in combination with conventional lead-acid batteries, as standalone pulse power packs, or in combination with advanced chemistry batteries. Read More...
Managing inrush and system protection for electrical systems
- 05.07.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- 4 Comment(s) ·
- Save & Follow
The methods of protecting electronics from circuitry failures and managing inrush current at power on has evolved significantly from a simple fuse and maybe a P-channel FET to much more sophisticated solutions. Read More...
Some thoughts on DC/DC converters, part four
- 04.30.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- Save & Follow
The following is Chapter 4, part four of a five part series "Some thoughts on DC/DC converters" by the late Jim Williams and Brian Huffman from Linear Technology's Volume II book entitled, "Analog Circuit Design-- Immersion in the Black Art of analog design" by Bob Dobkin and the late-Jim Williams published by Elsevier/Newnes. Read More...
Why bypass caps make a difference - Part 3: Op amps and supply variation
- 04.29.2013 ·
- type: How To Article ·
- Save & Follow
This updated multipart series attempts to quantify what's happening on the supply line of a representative analog amplifier circuit with regulated supply rails and decoupling capacitors. Read More...
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Use AVR MCU to design battery fuel gauge
How to design a battery monitor or battery indicator All kinds of rechargeable batteries are more and more popular in our life. Eve Read more...
Connect a 4×3 matrix keyboard to a microcontroller using two I/O pins
To connect a 4×3 keyboard requires seven digital I/O pins. This becomes a problem when the project is based on a low-pin-count MCU or when the MCU being used does not have enough free I/O pins. Read more...







































