Electrical Industry News for January 2024
Smaller and more efficient power converters have been the trend of the last decades. And it is expected to remain so in the future. This is achieved using new topologies, new materials, and new integration processes. New materials integration was the focus of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Project as it funded the GaNonCMOS project. The project was aimed at the dense integration of GaN and Si at different levels (PCB, stack, and chip), developing new soft magnetic materials suitable fo...
One of the main challenges in designing a successful energy-harvesting system is simply getting started. In the beginning, there are often too many unknowns to contend with and it can be overwhelming. Which energy source to use – photovoltaic, thermoelectric generator, electric field, flow-based or vibrational? How big should the storage element be? Should users use a supercapacitor or a rechargeable battery? What about energy security - do users need a backup battery or will they scaveng...
A new logistics system has recently been launched at the RAI, aimed at better spreading logistics traffic to and from the RAI during the day. From now on, all suppliers for the set-up and breakdown of events must register online for a time slot, during which they can pick up or unload cargo at the RAI. Quality of life We expect that this will reduce the pressure of logistics traffic in the vicinity of the RAI" The RAI expects many benefits from this new way of working. Wim Braakman, Manager...
The buck converter has been in use for a century and is an indispensable part of the current electronic circuits. This article describes how a crude electromechanical component has evolved into a miniature assembly that can process hundreds of watts of power. buck converter The buck converter converts an input voltage to a lower output voltage. Its basic elements are shown in Figure 1. Initially, the switch SW1 is closed; that is, current flows into the coil L1. Since the coil is a differ...
The electronics industry is one of the fastest-growing industries of the last half-century, and the amount of information generated by this industry can be mind-numbing. If the user is an electronics design engineer who utilizes product datasheets and user guides, they will very well know the challenges of finding accurate and consistent information across different manufacturers, product categories, and even product lines. design cycle Product information sharing has been revolutionized with...
RECOM, the well-known manufacturer of AC/DC and DC/DC converters, has launched an AC/DC power supply with 1.2 kW power, the RACM1200-V. The AC/DC converter has all approvals for medical applications. RECOM developed the converter in Austria and manufactured it in Europe. The manufacturer is thus making its contribution to sustainability, as transport routes and supply chains are thus shortened. Applications in robots An example of the need for a power supply with more than 1kW are robots. The...
Electromobility charging stations are often positioned in exposed places, where particular environmental conditions like transient overvoltage can occur. They have to fulfill high safety standards. In a world that has to reduce its carbon footprint, electronic vehicles are the future of traffic. They need charging stations whose power levels are in the region of several kW. They are equipped with the latest semiconductor technologies and they are being improved continuously. AC/DC access...
Under the watchful eye of Alderman Victor Everhardt, RAI CEO Paul Riemens, together with 55 other parties in the Zuidas, signed on behalf of the RAI the ambition statement Green Business Club Zuidas 2021-2025, containing concrete ambitions for the coming years. The Zuidas of natural gas, a largely emission-free fleet, 25,000 m2 water-storing green roof, a plan for more greenery and nesting boxes up to a Zero Waste Zuidas. With this signature, the RAI endorses the importance of and work on both...
As devices get more powerful and compact, optimal thermal management of electronics has been a continuous battle for engineers in nearly every industry. While there are many creative solutions for moving heat away from high-temperature components, such as fans, liquid coolers, heat pipes, and so on, many advances are being made to the components themselves to optimize a system’s thermal performance at the ground level. To better understand how to optimize components and thermal management...
The existing USB standards permit a maximum charging current of either 500mA (USB 1.0, 2.0) or 900mA (USB 3.0), with a fast charging current limit of 1.5A. The amount of power the charging device can safely deliver is identified by placing either fixed voltages on the D+ and D-lines or by fitting a resistor between these two data line connections, which tells the portable device that it is connected to a Dedicated Charging Port (DCP). Unfortunately, different manufacturers have different specif...
Swedish start-up Starbit has been awarded two major contracts in the Nordic region for its Smart Retail and Smart Cities hi-tech solutions. Scandinavian retail chain, Coop Norden, will be piloting Starbit’s latest smart queuing system with AirSwipe technology along with a payment card-reader upgrade on their self-service solutions across its 850 stores. Starbit’s smart queuing systems make businesses more efficient by reducing manual workload for staff and streamlinin...
EG Electronics, a group of dedicated companies specializing in offering products around the world to meet customer requirements in various market sectors, is pleased to announce the introduction of high-voltage products, thanks to an exclusive European partnership with EBUSBAR. EG Electronics and EBUSBAR form European partnership EG Electronics, will be able to sell the company’s product portfolio, including its innovative High Voltage Power Distribution Units, connectors, relays and har...
Visitors at the Light + Building trade fair in Frankfurt will have the chance to explore CP Electronics' range of lighting control innovations between 18th-23rd March. CP Electronics will be showcasing their latest lighting controls solutions including: KNX Presence Detectors, the worldwide standard for unifying all communication between intelligent devices High Bay Presence Detectors, specifically designed for warehouse and high-level applications New GESM-AC Co...