Power supplies

Practical Realization of GaN’s Capability

June 20, 2022 by John Stevens; Tom Ribarich; Stephen Oliver

The system-level value of wide bandgap power semiconductors of higher efficiency, smaller size and weight, and more sustainable energy usage in our power supplies and motor drives is being demonstrated now. Gallium nitride (GaN) power FETs are replacing silicon (Si) power MOSFETs in applications from 48 V to 800 V. Silicon carbide (SiC) is replacing legacy IGBTs in applications … [Read more...] about Practical Realization of GaN’s Capability

Driven by Density, Efficiency at Low Cost, Power Integration Reaches New Heights

March 1, 2022 by Ashok Bindra

For decades, miniaturization has been the trend in the power supply world. Consumers have been demanding more functions from smaller systems with better performance and reliability at lower cost. Such advances are evident in today’s laptops, tablets, smartphones, industrial drives and a host of other consumer and industrial applications. To meet these demands, the power supply … [Read more...] about Driven by Density, Efficiency at Low Cost, Power Integration Reaches New Heights

Power Electronics Hardware Design for Manufacturability

December 1, 2021 by Grant Pitel and Adam Pitel

With a small, diverse team of engineers, Magna-Power Electronics can offer over 160,000 different configurations of programmable power supplies and electronic loads, spanning current levels up to 10,000 Adc, voltage levels up to 10,000 Vdc, and power levels up to 3,000 kW. This feat is made possible through tightly integrated engineering and manufacturing teams, minimizing … [Read more...] about Power Electronics Hardware Design for Manufacturability

White Hot: Is Your Power Supply Hacker Proof?

December 1, 2021 by Robert V. White

It is a sad fact that our digital connected world is under constant attack from malicious parties. Most of the time those bad actors are trying to steal money through fraud or extortion (ransomware attacks). Some of those malicious actors though have a bigger goal of attacking or terrorizing a nation by disrupting or crippling critical infrastructure such as power generation, … [Read more...] about White Hot: Is Your Power Supply Hacker Proof?

Meeting the Power and Magnetic Design Challenges of Ultra-Thin, High-Power Density 48 V DC-DC Converters for Ultra-Thin Computing Applications

September 1, 2021 by Michael de Rooij and Quentin Laidebeur

Over the past decade computers, displays, smart phones and other consumer electronics systems have become thinner while also becoming more powerful. As a result, the market continues to increase its demand for thinner power supply solutions with greater power density. This article examines the feasibility of adopting various non-isolated dc-dc step-down topologies for an … [Read more...] about Meeting the Power and Magnetic Design Challenges of Ultra-Thin, High-Power Density 48 V DC-DC Converters for Ultra-Thin Computing Applications

A technology revolution is unfolding around us as every major mode of transportation is in some stage of electrification, whether on land, sea, or in the air. All of these transportation modes depend on electric machines that play critical roles in both propulsion systems as well as in a wide variety of accessory equipment. Fuel economy and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants are major driving forces for electrified transportation. Despite the significant differences between these varied transportation modes, they all share strong motivations to make their electric machines and adjustable-speed drives smaller, lighter, and more efficient. An excellent example of this trend for the power electronic drives is provided by comparing the drive units in the Tesla S (2012) and Tesla 3 (2017). As shown in the side-by-side views provided in Figure 1, the drive unit shrank in size from an enclosure that matched the size of its main traction motor to a much smaller unit that, at first sight, appears to be a non-descript end-bell attached to one end of the motor. Rather than focusing here on how this impressive reduction in mass and volume was achieved (addressed later in this article), the key point here is that similar technology trends are under way in many of the other transportation modes as well, making electrified transportation increasingly appealing and competitive in the process.