Be it carbon nanotubes, silicon carbide MOSFETs, or ideal diodes, you will find it here in Electronic Design’s One Powerful Issue. We occasionally dedicate an issue to one topic like power management, which includes everything from battery technology to examining how advanced material-processing techniques using copper/carbon-nanotube composite can lower resistivity and deliver higher current capacity.
The challenges for developers is gaining a good understanding about the options and what characteristics will be important to their particular design. Even battery selection can be difficult given the range of chemistries, packaging, and products available. For example, popular lithium-based solutions utilize different chemistries, from lithium-polymer cells common in smartphones and mobile devices to lithium iron phosphate used to drive industrial vehicles like forklifts (see figure).
Choosing a power source is no easy task, but it’s only one part of power management within a system. Systems are employing greater power-density solutions while trying to cram them into smaller spaces. Everything from thermal dissipation to noise on the output can affect an application. Developers need to understand the tradeoffs and advantages to determine which approach works best for them. Sometimes a simple voltage regulator plus a capacitor may suffice or a complex design incorporating ideal diodes and eFuses may be needed.
One new addition to our website is the TechXchange. These are digital issues that collect together articles, webinars, eBooks, and videos around topics raging from antenna design to chip packaging. Power-related issues are in the queue, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out this One Powerful Issue in print or online.