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An Electrifying Discovery: Wondom’s $12 Internal UPS for Small System Designs

This article isn’t about a new product. It’s just new to me. The product is Wondom’s BCPB2, a charger, battery management system (BMS), and battery holder for three 18650 lithium-ion cells. I discovered this product while considering ways to repair the battery subsystem in a Keithley 197 Microvoltmeter made around 1991 that I recently bought on eBay. The original battery in this 30-year-old product is a 12V … Read More → "An Electrifying Discovery: Wondom’s $12 Internal UPS for Small System Designs"

Have You Got the Spark? How SparkCharge is Changing the EV Charging Landscape

EV charging takes center stage in this week’s podcast! My guest Adam Urban (Director of Engineering – SparkCharge) joins me to chat about how SparkCharge is changing the EV charging landscape. We dig into the details of their Roadie mobile DC fast charger, what their SparkCharge Out of Charge (OOC) Program is all about, and where Adam sees EV charging heading in the future. Also this week, I investigate … Read More → "Have You Got the Spark? How SparkCharge is Changing the EV Charging Landscape"

Honey, I Shrunk the Switching Regulator (into a 2.2 x 1.6 mm footprint)

Shrink rays are a common trope with a long history in science fiction. The first time I saw one “in use” was in the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage and Isaac Asimov’s book based on the film’s screenplay. In Fantastic Voyage, movie and book, the shrink ray is used to miniaturize a submarine named Proteus so that it can be injected … Read More → "Honey, I Shrunk the Switching Regulator (into a 2.2 x 1.6 mm footprint)"

Boosting the Efficiency and Performance of Silicon Chips with a Special Epitaxial Layer

Did you ever see the Doctor Who episode “Vincent and the Doctor”? This starts with the Doctor and his companion, Amy, visiting a Vincent van Gogh exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. When they spot an alien creature in one of Vincent’s paintings, they travel back in time to find out what’s happening and sort things out. 

< … Read More → "Boosting the Efficiency and Performance of Silicon Chips with a Special Epitaxial Layer"

Open Silicon Photonics and How OpenLight is Changing the Future of Photonic-Electronic Integration

This week’s Fish Fry podcast is all about photonic-electronic integration! My guest Dr. Adam Carter (CEO – OpenLight Photonics) and I discuss why there is a growing need for greater photonic-electronic integration, the role that PICs and on-chip optical amplification play in LiDAR applications, and the details of OpenLight’s open silicon photonics platform with integrated lasers. Also this week, I investigate a new experimental laser therapy that was … Read More → "Open Silicon Photonics and How OpenLight is Changing the Future of Photonic-Electronic Integration"

All Charged Up! Grid Forward Plots a Path to Electric Grid Modernization

My guest this week is Bryce Yonker, Executive Director of Grid Forward – an industry association dedicated to electric grid modernization through advanced technology, policy progress and business innovation. Bryce and I discuss Grid Forward’s mission, main activities, the variety of members involved in this organization and why they chose to schedule their EV-Grid symposium at the same … Read More → "All Charged Up! Grid Forward Plots a Path to Electric Grid Modernization"

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featured blogs
Mar 18, 2024
Innovation in the AI and supercomputing domains is proceeding at a rapid pace, with each new advancement heralding a future more tightly interwoven with the threads of intelligence and computation. Cadence, with the release of its Millennium Platform, co-optimized with NVIDIA...
Mar 18, 2024
Cloud-based EDA tools are critical to accelerating AI chip design and verification; see how NeuReality leveraged cloud-based chip emulation for their 7NR1 NAPU.The post NeuReality Accelerates 7nm AI Chip Tape-Out with Cloud-Based Emulation appeared first on Chip Design....
Mar 5, 2024
Those clever chaps and chapesses at SiTime recently posted a blog: "Decoding Time: Why Leap Years Are Essential for Precision"...
chalk talks
ROHM Automotive Intelligent Power Device (IPD) — ROHM Semiconductor and Mouser Electronics  Modern automotive applications require a variety of circuit protections and functions to safeguard against short circuit conditions. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and Nick Ikuta from ROHM Semiconductor investigate the details of ROHM’s Automotive Intelligent Power Device, the role that ​​adjustable OCP circuit and adjustable OCP mask time plays in this … Read More → "ROHM Automotive Intelligent Power Device (IPD) — ROHM Semiconductor and Mouser Electronics"
Trends and Solutions for Next Generation Energy Storage Systems — onsemi and Mouser Electronics  Increased installations of DC ultra fast chargers, the rise of distributed grid systems, and a wider adoption of residential solar installations are making robust energy storage systems more important than ever before. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton, Hunter Freberg and Prasad Paruchuri from onsemi examine trends in EV chargers, solar, and … Read More → "Trends and Solutions for Next Generation Energy Storage Systems — onsemi and Mouser Electronics"
Current Sense Shunts — Bourns and Mouser Electronics  In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and Scott Carson from Bourns talk about the what, where and how of current sense shunts. They explore the benefits that current sense shunts bring to battery management and EV charging systems and investigate how Bourns is encouraging innovation in this arena. Click here for more … Read More → "Current Sense Shunts — Bourns and Mouser Electronics"
Peak Power Introduction and Solutions — MEANWELL and Mouser Electronics  In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and Karim Bheiry from MEAN WELL explore why motors and capacitors need peak current during startup, the parameters to keep in mind when choosing your next power supply for these kind of designs, and the specific applications where MEAN WELL’s enclosed power supplies with peak power … Read More → "Peak Power Introduction and Solutions — MEANWELL and Mouser Electronics"
Data Connectivity at Phoenix Contact — Phoenix Contact and Mouser Electronics  Single pair ethernet provides a host of benefits that can enable seamless data communication for a variety of different applications. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and Guadalupe Chalas from Phoenix Contact explore the role that data connectivity will play for the future of an all electric society, the benefits that single … Read More → "Data Connectivity at Phoenix Contact — Phoenix Contact and Mouser Electronics"
Silence of the Amps: µModule Regulators — Analog Devices and Mouser Electronics  In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and Younes Salami from Analog Devices explore the benefits of Analog Devices’ silent switcher technology. They also examine the pros and cons of switch mode power supplies and how you can utilize silent switcher µModule regulators in your next design. Click here for more information about … Read More → "Silence of the Amps: µModule Regulators — Analog Devices and Mouser Electronics"