This Week in PowerBites: Fun-Forward STEM Education, Mighty MOSFETs, and Chips in Space
What you’ll learn:
- A “fun-forward” approach to STEM education uses low-cost model airplane kits to introduce kids to new skills and technologies, while helping them become fearless, enthusiastic learners.
- Solid-state cooling technologies have the potential to deliver much higher efficiencies and could eventually disrupt the $272B global refrigeration market.
- A new asymmetrical MOSFET architecture offers efficiency and performance that rivals SiC and GaN at a fraction of the cost in 150- to 200-V applications.
- Steady improvements in conventional MOSFETs and IGBTs extend their capabilities and help maintain silicon’s status as the dominant species in many applications.
- Compact inductors benefit from innovative materials and manufacturing techniques.
Technology Features
ProductBites
This month’s ProductBites highlights an innovative MOSFET architecture and several other innovative products that indicate the rumors of silicon’s imminent demise are overstated. We also offer a roundup of space-rated power devices and a tasty assortment of noteworthy passive components.
Mighty MOSFETs and Intelligent IGBTs Keep Silicon Relevant
While GaN and SiC seem to get all of the attention these days, silicon’s continuous evolution helps it remain the dominant species in many power applications. This section leads with an introduction to a new MOSFET architecture that offers unexpected efficiencies and performance for low/mid-voltage applications, and several other evolutionary developments that keep silicon relevant.
Chips in Space
The explosion of commercial applications for smallsats in low Earth orbit has created a demand for “radiation-tolerant” devices that can strike a smart balance between reliability and cost.
Powerful Passives
Passive components are no longer boring! Innovative materials and manufacturing techniques are helping designers meet the demand for smaller form factors and higher power densities without sacrificing performance.
