Electronic Specifier is pleased to announce the June '23 issue of ES Design. • Comment: Beam hopping satellite • Women in Tech: Mother figure of engineering • Aerospace: SpaceX Starship launch • E-Mobility: Fast charging stations
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June 2023 | Volume 13, Issue 06
How autonomous vehicles will improve agriculture
NEWS
AEROSPACE
E-MOBILITY
MOTHER FIGURE OF ENGINEERING WOMEN IN TECH
BEAM HOPPING SATELLITE
SPACEX STARSHIP LAUNCH
FAST CHARGING STATIONS
EVERY BEE IS SAVING OUR PLANET! Now every order saves bees We support beekeepers and bee programs all around the world with
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COMMENT/ THE TECTONIC PLATES OF TECHNOLOGY ARE SHIFTING AT LONDON TECH WEEK, PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK URGED TECH LEADERS TO GRASP THE OPPORTUNITIES OF AI 04 NEWS/ BEAM-HOPPING ONEWEB SATELLITE A NEW SATELLITE THAT USES ADVANCED UK TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN LAUNCHED INTO SPACE 06 WOMEN IN TECH/ THE MOTHER FIGURE OF ENGINEERING SHI MARCOS IS A PRODUCT ENGINEER AT ONSEMI WHERE SHE HAS WORKED FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS 08 STEM SPOTLIGHT/ COVID GRADUATES TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS ARE AMONGST THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING 12 POWER: PCIM REVIEW/ ECOSYSTEMS PUT DOWN ROOTS THE HALLS OF PCIM WERE BUZZING WITH UPDATES ON GAN AND SIC DEVICES 16 T&M: SIGNAL CONVERSION/ POWER-SAVING CONVERSION THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS A LOW POWER ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER SOLUTION 20 T&M: NICONNECT/ BATTERY LAB SOLUTION NI HAS LAUNCHED A SOFTWARE-DEFINED BATTERY LAB SOLUTION AT NICONNECT 22
T&M: NICONNECT/ CLOUD-BASED CAPABILITIES ADDS EDGE NI INTRODUCED THE WIDESPREAD AVALIABILITY OF SYSTEMLINK ENTERPRISE 24 A&D: DRONES/ DRONES PLAYING NEW ROLES IN UKRAINE WAR DUE TO TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS, THE USE OF DRONES IN CONFLICTS HAS INCREASED 26 A&D: DESIGN/ SPACE APPLICATION DESIGN CHALLENGES ELECTRONICS INTENDED FOR SPACE MISSIONS FACE UNIQUE CONDITIONS AND CHALLENGES 30 A&D: SPACE/ ELON MUSK’S SPACEX STARSHIP THE MAIDEN LAUNCH OF STARSHIP WAS ONE OF THE KEY EVENTS IN THE SPACE SECTOR FOR 2023 34 E-MOBILITY: CHARGING/ ENABLING FAST CHARGING STATIONS CHARGING STATIONS NEED TO BE READILY ACCESSIBLE BUT ALSO CAPABLE OF CHARGING VEHICLES QUICKLY 44 E-MOBILITY: EVS/ HOW DOES COLD WEATHER AFFECT EVS? WINTER CAN HAVE A BIG EFFECT ON YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE’S PERFORMANCE 48 E-MOBILITY: E-TRACTORS/ HOW AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES WILL IMPROVE AGRICULTURE THIS ARTICLE LOOKS AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL TRACTOR IMPLEMENTS AND EMERGING ELECTRIC TRACTORS 50 A&D: CYBERSECURITY BEST PRACTICE TO IMPROVE CYBERSECURITY WITH SOFTWARE BECOMING INTEGRAL TO ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, CYBERSECURITY HAS BECOME A GREATER PRIORITY THAN EVER BEFORE 38
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EDITOR’S COMMENT
The tectonic plates of technology are shifting
At London Tech Week this month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged tech leaders to grasp the opportunities of AI. Speaking at the launch of the tenth London Tech Week, the PM said that the UK must act quickly if we want to retain our position as one of the world’s tech capitals. He argued that as the “tectonic plates of technology are shifting”, the UK must harness innovation to become the best place for tech businesses to invest and grow, in turn growing the economy and creating jobs. With world-leading universities, more tech unicorns than France and Germany combined, and one of the most digitally literate societies in the world, the Prime Minister made clear that the UK is starting from a position of strength, outlining how Government will work with businesses to capitalise on the opportunities presented by transformative technologies, such as AI. From building one of the most pro-investment tax regimes, to committing almost a fifth of our entire capital budget to R&D – the highest level this country has ever seen – and investing record sums in building our quantum capability, the Prime Minister underlined his commitment to creating the right conditions for innovators to thrive. The Prime Minister told tech leaders: “We must act – and act quickly – if we want not only to retain our position as one of the world’s tech capitals but to go even further and make this the best country in the world to start, grow and invest in tech businesses.
“That is my goal. And I feel a sense of urgency and responsibility to make sure we seize it.” Following his announcement that the UK will host the first major global summit on AI safety later this year, the Prime Minister also stressed the UK’s leadership as a democratic AI power – already home to top AI labs, including DeepMind. This has been recognised globally by like-minded countries and partners, who have agreed to work together to mitigate the risks through internationally coordinated action. The UK’s expert taskforce on AI foundation models, backed by £100 million in Government funding, will lead on cutting-edge AI safety in the UK. During his speech, the Prime Minister outlined the opportunities AI presents as well as the need to ensure its development remains safe and responsible. That includes bringing together academia, leading tech companies and Government to deliver the benefits that will improve people’s lives. The Prime Minister said: “Already we’ve seen AI help the paralysed to walk; and discover superbug-killing antibiotics – and that’s just the beginning. “The possibilities are extraordinary. But we must – and we will – do it safely. “I want to make the UK not just the intellectual home, but the geographical home of global AI safety regulation.”
Stay tuned for more AI news and stories!
Paige West, Managing Editor
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NEWS
NEWS
ELECTRONICS NEWS
Beam-hopping OneWeb satellite soars into space
different places on Earth up to 1,000 times per second has been launched into space. Nicknamed ‘JoeySat’ (after a baby kangaroo) for its ability to beam hop, it will help improve broadband Internet connectivity from space by adapting rapidly to changing demand from users, supporting OneWeb’s next-generation
satellite constellation in low Earth orbit.
Taking off alongside 15 other OneWeb satellites from the Vandenberg launch pad in California at 2:16pm (BST) on 20th May, JoeySat was developed with £52 million funding from the UK Space Agency awarded to UK satellite technology firms through the European Space Agency’s Sunrise Programme. The Young Driver scheme provides driving lessons to children throughout the UK in safe areas, off the public motorway. Through government- approved instructors, the aim is to give young learners a head start and enable them to become safer drivers. Originally, the scheme provided lessons to children aged between 10 and 17, but following demand from parents, 10 years old wasn’t young enough.
A new satellite that uses advanced UK technology to switch coverage between
The electric car giving driving lessons to children According to the Department for Transport, young drivers, including those between 17 and 24 years old,
are more likely to be involved in an accident compared to other age groups. Young drivers also have relatively higher injury rates in road collisions. The need to make driving a safer experience for the young was the motivator for Ian Mulingani in his leadership of Young Driver.
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NEWS
Wisk Aero and Japan Airlines (JAL) are partnering to bring Wisk’s self- flying, all-electric air taxi services to Japan. Additionally, Wisk and JAL Engineering (JALEC) will work closely together to develop plans for the maintenance and operation of Wisk’s autonomous air taxis. Japan Airlines, a highly-respected leader in aviation both in Japan and globally,” says Brian Yutko, CEO of Wisk. “Wisk and Japan Airlines share a commitment to safe, accessible transportation and to ensuring that our services provide long- term benefit to the communities that we serve. We look forward to working together to bring autonomous everyday flight to Japan and to further advancing Advanced Air Mobility in the broader APAC region.” Bringing autonomous flight to Japan “We are excited to be partnering with
Verge Motorcycles launches electric superbike
F1 legend and two-time World Champion Mika Häkkinen has designed the signature model of a new electric superbike in collaboration with Verge Motorcycles. Just one hundred signature models will be produced, making it an extremely exclusive rarity. “I know from experience what it takes to develop a vehicle that embodies speed, precision, and elegance. I wanted to design the bike right down
to the smallest detail rather than just picking the colour. Each bike is numbered and features an exclusive signature. This electric superbike represents the future of riding and is a testament to a life lived to the fullest!” says Mika Häkkinen. Mika Häkkinen and Verge Motorcycles teamed up at the beginning of the year, when Häkkinen was appointed to the company’s Advisory Board. Häkkinen is also one of the investors in Verge Motorcycles. The signature model that
Häkkinen and Verge have designed together demonstrates the best of two leading players in their field.
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W OEMV EBNAITNI T ET RE ICEHS
Shi Marcos is a product engineer at onsemi, an intelligent power and image sensing technology company, where she has worked for the past 15 years – spending her first seven years in the Philippines before transitioning over to the US. The mother figure of engineering
P rior to venturing into the world of But with her growing hunger for knowledge and discovery, it meant that her mind was constantly looking for new avenues to explore and would always question ‘what else is out there?’. Moving from an academic career where Shi had been offered an Assistant Professorship in the Science Department at her university was a big step – but one Shi couldn’t ignore – to an industry career with onsemi was “a culture shock, or a shock in general when switching from academia to industry, but it wasn’t bad. It was mostly interesting – like the discovery of new things and meeting industry, the award-winning engineer had her feet firmly placed in academia. new people with different backgrounds [from my own]. It was a good fit for me.”
“Product engineering is like a hodgepodge of so many things. It’s like we're the first line of defence and also the last line of defence, doing everything when clients don't know what to do; they always ask the product engineers. We have so many hats we put on. “In the Philippines, I managed a product engineering team for seven years – which mostly concentrated on manufacturing. Then I transferred to the US where I have been doing product engineering work for eight years; mostly for new product introduction, and cost capacity improvement projects, as well as customer support for returns, if there’s an undecided customer, we work on that together with our quality department and engineers who mostly handle customer concerns.” Shi manages a product from infancy – during the development stages – up to
By Sheryl Miles, Associate Editor, Electronic Specifier
Product engineering – bringing it all together
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WOMEN IN TECH
maturity – when manufacturing is wrapped up and that product reaches its end of life. In doing this, Shi must work closely with a number of other departments, from project and product managers to design engineers and test engineers, to ensure that she and her team achieve the best possible product outcomes for the clients, the business, and the manufacturability and sustainability of the materials used. “My role is making sure that we have that balance of pleasing the customer, but also making sure the product is manufacturable enough when we release it to production. Once it’s in production that’s when I look for ways to [refine it] and get more throughput. And then of course, ensuring the quality of the product.” In recounting the many hats Shi does indeed wear, she quips: “I think a product engineer is kind of a mother figure for products.” An industry rich in friendship and discovery When asked what it is about the semiconductor industry that Shi enjoys the most, her immediate response is the people, and you can hear the smile in her voice as she talks. “So, first off, the people are awesome. My colleagues are awesome and so are the friends that I’ve made. They share their knowledge. The science, engineering, and technology industry is rich enough that when you get in, there are so many resourceful people that you can interact with and talk to. It’s a good experience, talking to these people and accomplishing projects with them – it’s fulfilling. “The knowledge learned is also enriching, the experience of learning in the field and actually discovering what it’s like to be an engineer, rather than just reading it from books. It’s all enriching. That's how I feel
about the engineering world.”
Share your story of discovery Despite winning internal technical and excellence awards, including Best Paper in ‘Correlation effect of ATE transfers’ Shi insists that, whilst they are lovely accolades, they aren’t something that she has thought about. “It’s not something that drives me. It’s rewarding to be recognised, but [the award] is not important. What is important is when you have this opportunity to tell a story of how you solved a problem or made a discovery, that you tell that story. “That is what science and engineering is about. That you share this knowledge. So, getting rewarded for that is good, but it’s important for scientists and engineers to do their part in telling their stories of discoveries and solutions.” Being a bridge for female representation Talking about her greatest achievements to
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I see plenty of women leaders already pressing up in this industry – because with more representation comes even more representation, and I think eventually people will have more to emulate in terms of seeing how their career path can go, in spite of their [personal] circumstances. They’ll be able to understand all their possibilities through different representations of themselves out there.” Shi considers herself fortunate not to have encountered any form of overt discrimination. “I guess I was a bit lucky when I entered the industry because I did not encounter any style of discrimination, in terms of my work or in terms of being a woman. I think science and engineering, in my honest opinion, is genderless.” Trust in yourself Shi encourages anyone considering entering the world of engineering to just do it. Trust in yourself and know that there is a lot of help, support, and encouragement along the way. “I took the leap, so my advice is to just take the leap because the semiconductor companies that we have right now have very well-established support and training structures. I know fresh from college you might doubt yourself that you might not have enough skills to go on, but that's not necessarily true. Because once you get into the semiconductor companies, they have this support and training structure for you. So, you can use it for your career growth. “This industry, engineering, science, all of it. It is vast. You will never get bored of it. The learning continues. It will never stop. You will make new discoveries, and new products are always coming out. And, I think, with more interest and support coming from the government this industry will grow, and in being a part of that, it will be quite an experience for anyone joining the industry.”
date within the semiconductor industry, Shi believes that it is simply being a woman in a typically male-orientated environment, and that just by being present in a career that she loves, she is helping to tip the scales of inequality. “My greatest achievement in my career is penetrating this barrier. Because I know in engineering women are a marginal group … it is already an achievement for me to be recognised by my peers as an equal and to be asked my opinion, especially as a woman and an immigrant in the main onsemi site in the US, I think that’s quite a significant part of my life.” Shi believes that having representation, rather than role models, of all people within the engineering industry is something that is important. “I think role model is an outdated term for me. I think it should be representation. When we view the word role model, we think of a perfect person, but in this day and age that’s not a good thing. But it is important to recognise people that are a representation of yourself. “My mentor in academia is a woman. I think that shaped me … she was my advisor, and mentor, and I know how strong she is … I recognise how she deals with double standards. And so, I carried that with me when I entered the industry. I think she is a good representation of women in science and engineering.
“Coming into the semiconductor industry,
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COVID graduates struggling with teamwork The impact of the pandemic:
By Harry Fowle, Assistant Editor, Electronic Specifier & Student Circuit
Deloitte and PwC are just two examples of companies providing their younger generation of staff with extra coaching to develop skills that they may have lost due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. Teamwork and communication skills are amongst the highest priorities for this additional training, two traits hit the hardest by the pandemic.
M any junior-level employees who spent a section of their time at school or university in pan- demic-enforced isolation have found it considerably harder to integrate and adapt to workplace environments. This has resulted in a lack of skill in key day-to-day activities such as performing presentations, speaking up in meetings, or working as a part of a team. Jackie Henry, UK Managing Partner for People & Purpose at Deloitte, commented: “This means that there is a greater need for employers to provide training on basic professional and working skills. That wasn’t necessary in prior years.” This is exactly what Deloitte and PwC, two of the UK’s largest recruiters of graduate and apprentice students, are undertaking with their own businesses, directly addressing the long-term impact that pandemic lockdowns have had on individuals. “It’s understandable that students who missed out on face-to-face activities during COVID may now be stronger in certain fields, such as working independently, and less confident in others,” says Ian Elliot, UK
Chief People Officer at PwC. He went on to note how some individuals in this group were “less confident” in their abilities to present and talk at meetings, collaborate with work colleagues, and network effectively. Beyond just the skills concerns, Henry noted that Deloitte is “seeing more candidates wanting to defer their professional exams, and people who are struggling with stress in a way we haven’t seen before.” It can be argued that the implementation of the hybrid working approach has only worsened the problem, limiting opportunities for young workers to learn through observing more experienced colleagues. Addressing the problem PwC has made efforts to try and address these concerns, not just for the current affected generation, but to future-proof business models. The plan includes providing long-term employees with coaching so that they, in turn, can provide improved guidance to junior colleagues in
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STEM SPOTLIGHT
What this highlights As we emerge from almost a two-year stint of being indoors and limited face-to-face interactions, many students who are now transitioning into the working world have found it profoundly harder than the generations before them. Limited job opportunities, disrupted career plans, delayed career progression, and the transition to a new method of digital work are all immediate concerns. Other problems such as mental health impacts and interpersonal skill gaps are also prominent. Despite these challenges, graduates and apprentices have demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Many have been able to embrace online learning, upskill themselves, and move into remote work opportunities to enhance their skills and increase employability. The pandemic has worked to emphasise the importance of resilience, flexibility, and the ability to navigate uncertain circumstances for students entering the job market. It is now up to the employers to help with these challenges and the transition into this new world of work.
regard to career development, wellbeing, and performance. This not only improves the working environment for junior staff but also opens the doors for employees to pursue formal career coaching qualifications. Deloitte has formulated a new induction programme for graduates and apprentices entering the business to help plug the skills gap created by the pandemic. This programme includes training on building professional networks, teamwork, and presenting both online and in person. Beyond the skills concerns, the wellbeing of new joiners is also a priority for these companies, with additional training programmes surrounding “mental resilience, overcoming adversity, and the importance of mindset,” says Henry. Given the uptick in work-related stress since the pandemic, such a programme is crucial in enabling a smooth transition from the student world to the working world. The firm is also encouraging younger staff to integrate with colleagues, to learn through observation and collaboration with more experienced members of the company.
Student Circuit, a free online learning platform and engineering community for those undertaking further education within the world of electronic and electrical engineering, is proud to sponsor ESD’s STEM column. At the heart of Student Circuit is the drive to inspire and encourage the next generation of engineers, achieved by encouraging students to participate in online quizzes, share project ideas, write about topics that interest them, and read
the latest industry news.
Are you an electronics engineering student? Join the journey and subscribe:
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W O SMPEONNI NS OTREECDH
In the rapidly evolving world of electronics, the need for efficient and flexible testing and measurement tools has never been greater. As technology advances and designs become increasingly complex, traditional benchtop oscilloscopes are facing competition from PC-based instruments, including PicoScope with the latest PicoScope 7 user interface. Leveraging the power and versatility of personal computers, PC-based instruments offer several benefits that are revolutionising the way engineers debug and validate their electronic systems. PicoScope: revolutionising electronic system debugging and validation
I nductive charging, using 30kHz to 30MHz time varying magnetic fields is the most common method of wireless power transfer (WPT). These frequencies are impervious to air, water, ice, concrete,
wood, plastics, and other common non-metallic materials and too low to damage DNA or cells.
PC-based instruments harness the processing power and graphical
capabilities of personal computers, providing engineers with versatile platforms for complex debug
hardware, saving both physical space and cost.
By utilising existing PCs, engineers can significantly reduce
and measurement tasks. PicoScope hardware, from the entry-level 2204A through to the high-performance 6000E Series products, connect to the users’ PC via a USB interface. PicoScope 7 software provides powerful oscilloscope functionality plus a Spectrum Analyser, Protocol Analyser, Function Generator, Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) and, on MSO models, a Logic Analyser, and more. PicoScope models typically offer increased memory depth, higher resolution, and wider bandwidths, compared to traditional benchtop oscilloscopes at a given price point. A major advantage of PC-based instruments is their cost and space efficiency. Unlike benchtop instruments, PC-based solutions eliminate the need for bulky and expensive
their equipment expenses and optimise their workspace – ideal for the laboratory or working at home. Furthermore, as PCs become increasingly powerful and affordable, the performance-to-cost ratio of PC-based instruments continues to improve. Furthermore, due to their compact size, products such as the PicoScope 2000, 3000, and 5000 Series fit in a laptop bag and are readily portable to wherever they are needed. PicoScope 7 provides unmatched flexibility and scalability. The software can easily adapt to address a broad range of testing challenges by selecting the appropriate software application for a specific task. This flexibility allows for seamless transitions between different measurement types,
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such as switching from an oscilloscope to a spectrum analyser with a couple of clicks or running both instruments in parallel. Additionally, PicoScope 7 software benefits from regular free-of-charge software updates that eliminate the need for hardware replacements and ensure compatibility with future technologies. Recent examples include addition of new serial protocol decoders such as I3C and CAN XL, on top of the 30+ decoders already included. Features such as mask limit testing allows the comparison, in time- or frequency-do- mains, of live signals against known good signals. Results can be stored and displayed in up to 10,000 waveform buffers, showing all waveforms or just those that violate the mask, which is ideal for finding intermittent faults. Failure counts can be recorded to help with statistical analysis of a design performance. Actions are things that PicoScope can be programmed to do when certain events occur, including mask failures. Actions include ‘Stop the capture’, ‘Save waveform to disk’, ‘Play a sound’, ‘Trigger the signal generator’, and ‘Run an external application’. Taken together, these tools enable engineers to perform extended testing and deep analysis of a circuit before signing it off as ‘good to go’.
PicoScope facilitates collaboration among engineers, even across different geographical locations. As well as local control of a PicoScope, remote users can access and control instruments, share data, and collaborate on projects using third party client-server networking. This feature is particularly valuable for distributed teams and remote work scenarios, enabling seamless cooperation and knowledge sharing. Conclusion PC-based instruments are rapidly transforming the landscape of electronic system debugging and validation. By leveraging the computational power, flexibility, and scalability of personal computers, engineers can overcome the limitations of traditional benchtop oscilloscopes. With cost and space efficiency, integration and automation capabilities, and the ability to collaborate remotely, PC-based instruments provide a new level of flexibility, productivity, and adaptability. As technology continues to advance, the adoption of PC-based instruments is expected to grow, driving innovation, and further enhancing the efficiency of electronic system design and testing processes.
The integration of PicoScope with software development tools and automation systems is a game-changer for engineers. Operating in the same Windows, Linux, or Mac platforms that designers have used to create their systems, PicoScope engineers can quickly execute complex measurement sequences, perform data analysis in real-time, and integrate the results into their overall design flow. This integration streamlines the debugging and validation process, improves efficiency, and enhances productivity.
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The halls of PCIM Europe were buzzing with updates on GaN and SiC devices for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications. Caroline Hayes reports on the ecosystems bringing wide bandgap semiconductor technology to market. Ecosystems put down roots for the power industry
A ddressing GaN developments first, at this year’s show, EPC showed its latest GaN-based inverter reference design. Based on its EPC2302 eGaN FETs, the EPC9186 reference design demonstrates the suitability of GaN for high power motor applications in equipment, vehicles, and drones, says the company. The reference design is for motor system performance, range, precision, and torque in high power applications, such as electric scooters, small electric vehicles, agricultural machinery, forklifts, and drones. The 150A RMS three-phase BLDC motor drive inverter uses four EPC2302 eGaN FETs and the reference design supports a wide input range of 14 to 80V, suitable for the high power applications in machinery and high power drones, advises EPC. The reference design showcases the benefits of a GaN-based motor drive, such
as lower distortion for lower acoustic noise, lower current ripple for reduced magnetic loss, lower torque ripple for improved precision, and lower filtering to lower the cost of the final design. EPC also offers the GaN Power Bench cross reference tool to help designers interested in replacing silicon MOSFETs with a GaN device in a design project. Suggested replacements are based on a design's operating conditions.
EPC's inverter reference design
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POWER: PCIM REVIEW
HEMTs in 8.0 x 8.0mm DFN packages. The InnoGaN HEMTs switch at a higher frequency, with efficiencies of 99% allowing a reduction in the size of the filter and therefore the converter. It also negates the need for snubber capacitors or SiC diodes, reducing system cost, says the company. Data centre power At GaN Systems, the stand was divided into four market areas: consumer, industrial, data centre, and automotive. CEO Jim Witham pointed out the evolution of data centre power supplies and the benefits of smaller, efficient power supplies for factors such as operational costs as well as sustainability. Advances in 2023, says Witham, include using the GaN ICs with topologies that optimise heat transfer, daughterboards for heat syncing and reducing the size of transformers, magnetics and capacitors used in power supplies to harness the power of GaN to achieve more power and efficiency in smaller form factors. For data centres, the industry is demanding 50% more power and more efficiency for energy savings, as well as more servers per rack for space savings. “Customers implementing GaN Systems’ power semiconductors in their PSUs are seeing a continual increase in PSU power density from 45W/in3 to 63/in3, 82/in3, and now to 100W/in3,” Witham said. The company has announced its collaboration with xFusion Digital Technologies for what is believed to be
There was an update on Cambridge GaN Devices’ ICeGaN HEMT family, with the second generation of 650V devices. According to Nare Gabrielyan, the company’s Product Marketing Manager, the H2 series of GaN HEMTs features the NL3 (no load, light load) circuit integrated alongside the GaN switch for low power losses. Target applications are consumer products, such as fridges or phone chargers, said Gabrielyan, where they reduce size and weight of the end product by eliminating complex circuitry and delivering a QG that is 10 times lower than silicon parts and QOSS which is five times less to reduce switching losses at high switching frequencies. The smart gate interface virtually eliminates typical e-mode GaN weaknesses to improve robust over-voltage performance, high noise immunity, dV/ dt suppression and ESD protection. An integrated Miller clamp eliminates the need for negative gate voltages, achieving true zero-volt turn-off and improving dynamic R DS(ON) .
Innoscience's reference design
A prototype reference, jointly developed with Switzerland’s University of Bern was on display at the Innoscience Technology stand. The multi-level topology reference demo addresses 850V DC applications using 650V GaN in place of 1200V SiC, explained Innoscience’s General Manager, Europe, Dr Denis Marcon. The prototype, for use in e-mobility motor drivers, solar and industrial inverters, EV fast chargers and EV drivetrains, is currently with selected customers and will be available within six months. The three-level active neutral point clamped (ANPC) converter uses six Innoscience INN650D080BS 650V, 80m Ω
GaN Systemand xFusion Digital Technologies
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Electric vehicles Texas Instruments launched the
the first 100W/in3 data centre power supply. The xFusion 3kW power supply with 80 Plus Titanium efficiency uses GaN Systems’ power transistor which have demonstrated an increase in performance for products with power levels from 800W to 6kW. In addition to the high power density and efficiency of 96%, the power supply supports 90 to 264V DC and 180 to 300V AC input, 12V output. It is compact, measuring just 68 x 183 x 40.5mm. For each set of 10 racks in the data centre, GaN-based PSUs can increase profits by $3m, reduce both the cost of operation and CO2 emissions output by more than 100 metric tons per year. Companies designing with GaN are doubling the power density of legacy PSUs, reaching power densities up to 100W/in3 with 96+% efficiency, resulting in power supplies half the size and half the power loss compared to silicon-based power supplies, says GaN Systems. Rohm Semiconductors also highlighted the use of GaN in data centres. The company has begun mass production of 650V GaN HEMTs. The GNP1070TC-Z and GNP1150TCA-Z were jointly developed by Ancora Semiconductors, an affiliate of Delta Electronics. The latest members of Rohm’s EcoGaN range have built-in ESD protection element to improvs electrostatic breakdown resistance up to 3.5kV to improve reliability. The GaN HEMTs’ high-speed switching characteristics also contribute to greater miniaturisation of peripheral components, added Rohm.
UCC5880-Q1 reinforced isolated gate driver, which reduces switching losses to extend an EV’s battery range by seven miles per charge or the equivalent of 1,000 miles per year.
As electric vehicle (EV) design moves towards higher voltage systems (800V) based on SiC, efficient, isolated gate drivers are required for reliable traction inverters to maximise the drive range of vehicles based on high voltage semiconductors, explained Laszio Balogh, Senior Technologist for high voltage power at TI. "Making SiC systems succeed requires an ecosystem, with gate drivers, sensors, all working together," he said. He outlined three key goals of electronics designers to address the charge time of EVs. These are efficiency, reliability - bearing in mind that gate drivers operate at 20kHz frequency or perform 20,000 switching operations per second, power density and design complexity. The UCC5880-Q1 reinforced isolated gate driver complies with ISO 26262 for functional safety to ASIL. The driver's real time variable gate drive IP provides the flexibility when running the SiC to extend the driver per charge. By varying the gate-drive strength in real time, in steps between 20 and 5.0A, designers can improve system efficiency with the UCC5880-Q1 gate driver as much as 2% by minimising SiC switching power losses.
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POWER: PCIM REVIEW
The integrated device also includes SPI (serial peripheral interface), SiC monitoring and protection and diagnostics for functional safety. The SPI programmability and integrated monitoring and protection features can reduce design complexity as well as external component costs, said TI. The company has also introduced an SiC EV traction inverter reference design which includes the UCC5880-Q1, Wolfspeed SiC devices, a bias-supply power module, real-time control microcontrollers and high-precision sensing. Design tools Simulation tools took a step forward when onsemi introduced the online Elite Power Simulator and Self-Service PLECS Model Generator software tools. (PLECS is the software tool for system level simulations of electrical circuits, developed by Plexim but adopted across the power industry.) onsemi announced the tools for its EliteSiC family in order to save designers time in selecting a product by being able to access simulation data. The models are generated based on typical or worst-case conditions and the designer can define application-spe- cific parasitics such as layout, the number of components and inductance information, for example, to generate PLECS models for specific system-level simulations. The tools can be used for designing ASICs, MOSFETs, discrete or module SiCs and are available free of charge and for limitless use. An SiC inverter reference design was showcased by Cissoid. It was jointly
developed with Silicon Mobility as a complete and modular reference design to reduce development time for electric motor drives up to 350kW/850V. At 400 x 400mm, the model was an update from the earlier, bulkier model. It uses Cissoid’s high voltage SiC-based power module, integrated gate driver board and control board with Silicon Mobility’s OLEA T222 field programmable control unit (FPCU), DC and phase current sensors, DC link capacitor and EMI filtering together with integrated liquid cooling. The reference design includes cables and sensors and is customisable with DC fixtures, said Cissoid’s CEO, Dave Hutton. Customers can buy the three-phase SiC inverter reference design from Cissoid with a license to use the Silicon Mobility’s OLEA App Inverter control software and design on top the software application,. Cissoid will provide technical support to integrate the inverter into the final motor drive system before production. The digital PCIM Europe 2023 event will be available online until 30 June 2023 at pcim-europe.com. PCIM Europe 2024 will be held at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre from 11 to 13 June 2024.
Cissoid's SiC inverter
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T&M: SIGNAL CONVERSION
This article presents a low power analog-to-digital converter (ADC) solution for high precision measurement applications. A typical application in electrical engineering is the recording of physical quantities by sensors and forwarding of these quantities to a microcon- troller for further processing. ADCs are needed to convert the analog sensor output signals into digital signals. In high precision applications, either SAR-ADCs or sigma-delta ADCs are used. With low power applications, every mW that can be saved counts. How to Realise Power-Saving Analog- to-Digital Conversion for Highly Accurate Measurements
By Thomas Brand, Field Applications Engineer, Analog Devices
Figure 1. A schematic diagram showing a simplified bridge measurement circuit combined with an in- amp and a SAR-ADC.
so that it can be more easily managed by the ADC. A PGA analog front end (AFE) is required to connect a small voltage with a 10mV output voltage. For example,
Signal conversion with Sigma-delta ADCs Sigma-delta ADCs offer a few advantages over SAR-ADCs. For one, they often have higher resolutions. In addition, they often come integrated with programmable gain amplifiers (PGAs) and general-purpose inputs/outputs (GPIOs). Thus, sigma-delta ADCs are well suited for DC and low frequency high precision signal conditioning and measurement applications. However, due to the high, fixed oversampling rate, a sigma-delta ADC often has a higher power consumption, which translates to a lower lifetime in the case of battery-operated applications. If the input voltage is small - that is, in the millivolt range - it first has to be amplified
to connect small voltages from a bridge circuit to a sigma-delta ADC with a 2.5V input range, the PGA has to have a gain of 250. This, however, leads to additional noise at the ADC input because the noise voltage is also amplified. The effective resolution of a 24-bit sigma-delta ADC is thereby drastically reduced down to 12-bit. However, in some circumstances, there is no requirement to use all codes in the ADC and at some point, further amplification no longer provides a dynamic range improvement. Another disadvantage of sigma-delta ADCs is the usually higher costs resulting from their internal complexity. Benefits of combining a SAR-ADC with an in-amp
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T&M: SIGNAL CONVERSION
A similarly accurate but more cost effective and more efficient alternative is to utilise a SAR-ADC in combination with an instrumentation amplifier (in-amp), as shown in Figure 1. The function of a SAR-ADC can be divided into two phases: the data acquisition phase and the conversion phase. Basically, in the data acquisition phase, the current consumption is low. Most SAR-ADCs even power down between conversions. So, the
Figure 2. Power loss in the AD4003 as a function of sampling rate.
conversion phase draws the most current. The power consumption is dependent on the conversion rate and linearly scales with the sample rate. For power-saving applications for slow-response measurements - that is, measurements in which the measured quantities change slowly (for example, temperature measurements) - a low conversion rate should be used to keep the current draw and thus the losses low. Figure 2 shows the power losses in the AD4003 at various sampling rates as an example. At 1kSPS, the power loss is approximately 10µW; at 1MSPS, it has already risen to 10mW. In contrast to such slow measurements, sigma-delta ADCs have the strengths of oversampling, while using a much higher internal oscillator frequency than the output rate. This allows designers to optimise sampling for higher speeds with worse noise performance or for lower speeds with more filtering, noise shaping (pushing the noise into the frequency band outside the area of measurement interest), and better noise performance. However, that means a lot more power consumption with sigma-delta ADCs compared to SAR-ADCs. The effective resolution and noise-free resolution of many sigma-delta ADCs are mentioned in their data sheets, making it easy to compare the trade-offs. Conclusion Both sigma-delta ADCs in combination
with PGAs and SAR-ADCs with an in-amp are suitable for signal conversion in high precision measurement applications. The solutions both have a similar accuracy. For power-saving or battery-operated measurement applications, however, the combination of the SAR-ADC and the in-amp is better because it offers a lower power consumption and lower costs compared with the solution consisting of the PGA and the sigma-delta ADC. In addition, a PGA with a high gain often limits the performance because the noise is also amplified. This article just covers one possible solution for a SAR-ADC. There are more integrated solutions available such as a sigma-delta converter like the AD7124-4/ AD7124-8 with an integrated PGA. About the author Thomas Brand began his career at Analog Devices in Munich in 2015 as part of his master’s thesis. After graduating, he was part of a trainee programme at ADI. In 2017, he became a field applications engineer. Thomas supports large industrial customers in Central Europe and also specialises in the field of Industrial Ethernet. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Cooperative Education in Mosbach before completing his postgraduate studies in international sales with a master’s degree at the University of Applied Sciences in Constance.
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Battery Lab solution drives down costs At its first NIConnect get together with customers following its acquisition by Emerson Electric, NI (the company formerly known as National Instruments), launched a software-defined battery lab solution.
Drita Roggenbuck: “NI’s Software-Defined Battery Lab offers the step function change needed to improve time to market and battery performance through test systems and test insights.”
T his is just the ticket as far as Emerson is concerned. In its announcement of the acquisition, the company cited, amongst other benefits, the ability to be in markets like semiconductor and electric vehicle manufacturing. “NI expands Emerson's reach into the design and validation phase of the lifecycle, providing early access to customers,” says the company. “Overall, NI will increase Emerson's end market exposure in discrete markets to 18% of sales, which will be Emerson's second largest industry segment.” Not forgetting that with 20% of sales in software, NI also increases Emerson's exposure to high-growth industrial software opportunities. Designed for electric vehicle battery validation labs, the software-defined battery lab solution covers the entire, sustainable battery lifecycle from research and development to validation, production, second-life, and remanufacturing.
It supports EV manufacturers and battery suppliers in tackling the pressing challenges of time-to-market, cost, and battery performance. The offering prioritises an open, soft- ware-connected approach to enable flexible, automated, and intelligent test strategies from an individual battery validation workbench to global lab deployment. The software-defined battery lab draws parallels from the concept of software-de- fined vehicles, which is revolutionising how engineering teams bring vehicles to market and continuously improve their performance. “We’re in the nascent stages of the battery revolution,” said Drita Roggenbuck, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Transportation Business Unit at NI. “Companies are faced with driving down battery costs, improving performance, innovating endlessly, and scaling. At a time when new vehicle programs are as short as ever, and battery validation and production must scale immediately and continuously
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T&M: NICONNECT
through the end of the decade, NI’s soft- ware-defined battery lab offers the step function change needed to improve time to market and battery performance through test systems and test insights.” Unlike fragmented or closed-vendor approaches to battery testing, NI’s solution allows battery manufacturers to own their test strategy to maximise capital investment reuse, allow test customisation, and establish vendor independence. The key components of the solution encompass a comprehensive set of software, instrumentation, and services needed to build out robust testing and data management capabilities, including: Battery Test Development and Execution Software: Battery Test Software powered by PAtools streamlines testing processes and helps users to interpret and act on accurate and reliable test results. NI’s Battery Test Software provides proven battery testing capabilities out-of-the-box while also allowing customisation and extensibility through LabVIEW and other common test software. Lab System and Data Management Software: The newly announced NI SystemLink Enterprise software is a scalable enterprise solution for managing labs, improving test operations, and analysing test results to extract meaningful insights from test and measurement data. It offers lab management functionality including: • Test request tracking and scheduling • Tester status, utilisation, and health monitoring • Test software management and deployment • Battery data aggregation, visualisation, and analytics Battery Cycler Offering and Third Party Integration: NI’s extensive battery cycler portfolio offers high-perfor- mance, easy-to-use, safe, and reliable solutions needed for any phase of
Figure 1. NI battery lab
battery development. NI’s newest cycler, HPS-17000, provides up to 150kW power and is ideal for testing in a fast-paced lab environment that needs to be scaled and easily serviced. NI’s open software allows integration with third party cyclers to increase development efficiency and enable reuse. Battery Measurement and Control System: The NI battery measurement and control hardware is built on NI’s software-connected, modular hardware platforms. These systems can be quickly reconfigured and customised to meet rapidly changing test requirements, including integration with third-party components. The real-time operating system provides deterministic operation, while built-in timing and synchronisation allows to easily scale up channel and measurement capabilities. Global Engineering Integration and Support: NI’s global presence of engineering services and extensive partner network ensures local support and solution delivery to meet a wide range of application requirements.
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DESIGN T &WMO: MNEI CNOI N NTE C TH Cloud-based capabilities adds edge to test management
And in other news from NIConnect, NI introduced the widespread availability of SystemLink Enterprise. The company (formerly known as National Instruments) says it will revolutionise how companies use test insights and data to drive product and business performance.
S ystemLink Enterprise allows companies to manage test systems, data collection, and reporting from a central location and to use product-centric analytics for actionable insights.
SystemLink Enterprise’s following capabilities:
• Systems management: Perform operations such as managing system health, comparing systems, and deploying software to multiple systems at once. • Asset management: Track utilisation, calibration information, and locate assets. • Test Insights: Applications to ingest test data and monitor performance and status. • Data tables: Standardise data from multiple formats allowing analysis on all data in a common format. • Dashboards: Monitor live systems and display key performance indicators. • Jupyter notebooks & Routines: Automate analysis, HTML, and PDF report generation. • Role-based access control: Simplify user management and data access in a large organisation. • Kubernetes: A Cloud-ready architecture that enables seamless integration with modern IT architectures for better reliability and horizontal scaling with Helm charts to simplify installation.
Created in partnership with GM, SystemLink Enterprise, built on Kubernetes, centralises the way test systems and data are managed. This standardisation enables increased visibility and control of test processes across an entire organisation simultaneously, giving companies more time to focus on data insights and to increase their production. “By harnessing the power of test insights and data, companies gain competitive advantages through increasing product and business performance,” said Thomas Benjamin, Chief Technology Officer at NI. “SystemLink Enterprise connects test workflows to business performance through linking people, processes and technology across the enterprise, and gives engineers a smarter way to interact with their data, bringing high-quality products to market more quickly.” Companies can ensure they are maximising their use of test equipment through
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