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Step On Board with Advanced Technology – Powered by the ER1D-AQ Superfast Rectifier

With the help of solar panels, you can travel on the water even more independently and improve safety at sea. Electronic systems play an important role in navigation, steering, radar detection, marine communications, and everything from climate control to marker lights. Like in a car or truck, these electronics are supplied from a 12 V or 24 V battery, charged from the combustion engine. But what if that engine fails? Then the battery will be discharged quite quickly, which is a nightmare when you are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is good to know that the solar panels can still charge the battery in such a case.

The ER1D-AQ by Diotec Semiconductor is a superfast recovery rectifier, qualified to AEC-Q101 and assembled in a DO-214AC/SMA package. It is an output rectifier in a maritime DC/DC converter, transforming the 24 V battery level to the 5 V required from the onboard electronics. Its superfast switching time reduces power losses, the 200 V of reverse voltage provides a high safety margin, and the qualification according to AEC-Q101 ensures outstanding reliability.

Charging the battery on the move – Powered by Diotec's DI100N10PQ-AQ

Enjoying the coffee with a view of a sparkling lake in the morning?

Use solar energy on the road with your RV. Solar panels on the roof or portable solar modules that you can open and close charge your battery and provide you with the power you need, so you will not have to worry about being stuck in the dark at night.

The Power MOSFET DI100N10PQ-AQ in QFN5x6 package is the ideal choice for DC/DC converters, which are required to convert the voltage level of the solar panels to the caravan's battery voltage. Its low on-resistance and fast switching speed help to save power losses. As such, solar energy is transferred at high efficiency to the storage batteries. Its low thermal resistance reduces device temperature, which increases device lifetime. The slim package height of just 1 mm allows for space-saving electronic assemblies.

Demo Board Wide Input Linear Voltage Regulator LDI55-ADEEN

This board is used to demonstrate the functionality of the LDI55-ADEEN linear regulator. It has wide input range up to 50V, low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulators with enable function and provides up to 1A of output current. Only two small ceramic capacitors are needed to implement the linear regulator solution. The features of low quiescent current as low as 3 µA to 5µA and almost 0.5 µA disable current is ideal for powering the battery equipment to a longer service. Simple device measurements such as line and load regulation, dropout, can be demonstrated with just a single voltage source, a voltmeter, an ammeter, and load resistor.

Stay Powered on the Go: Protected USB port on the motorcycle with the LDP01-28AYD2-AQ from Diotec

As spring arrives and the days get longer, many motorcyclists take their bikes out of storage and hit the road. A smartphone is a must-have accessory, as there are apps available to help bikers navigate, find the best and cheapest fuel stops, and provide weather information for the route.

On longer journeys, the smartphone battery may run out. You can easily charge your smartphone using the USB port in the cockpit. Like all electronics in a vehicle, it must be protected against load-dump events. These are voltage peaks on the board mains, occurring typically in the case of a jump start. When the supplying battery is disconnected under load, the jumper cables act like an ignition coil. Here, the Load Dump Protector LDP01-28AYD2-AQ by Diotec Semiconductor comes into play. According to ISO 16750-2 load dump curves, it offers protection and clamps its peaks to safe levels. The device is fully AEC-Q101 qualified and comes in the powerful D²PAK case outline.

Smart Garage Door Opening. Motor Drive Supplied by Energy Saving Bridge GBI25J-LXN

Remote opening of the garage door is a feature no driver wants to miss anymore, especially on rainy days. But also, bikers or cyclists enjoy the comfort of opening the garage without getting off the bike, which is a time-saving benefit to daily routines. Up-to-date systems communicate via Bluetooth with smartphones or smartwatches. As soon as the user presses the "open" button on the app, a signal is sent to the garage door system, which in consequence starts the electric motor of the door opener. Smart home systems like KNX offer wired or wireless devices where the garage door is opened remotely using voice commands or again by smartphone app.

The garage door system stays on standby 24/7, and though the power demand in this mode is rather low, the circuit has to fulfill rules like "ENERGY STAR," allowing for a maximum of 0.5 W in standby. When the electric motor starts to open or close the door, the peak current demand is rather high, requiring a powerful rectifier bridge at the AC input of the drive circuit. The GBI25J-LX elegantly combines both: The typical forward voltage drop of the four rectifier diodes is 0.90 V, saving energy during standby operation. Repetitive peak forward current can reach up to 60 A, powerful enough at any time when the motor starts to pull the door. Its single-inline case outline allows for easy heat sink and printed circuit board assembly.

Portable Speakers in Different Designs: Bringing the music on the go with our LDI55-ADEEN

The best sound quality on the go. Whether you are on holiday, at a meeting, or outside with your friends, these tiny portable speakers deliver great sound anytime, anywhere. A good Bluetooth speaker should offer double-digit battery life, regardless of size and price point.

The LDI55-ADEEN from Diotec is an adjustable low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator providing output voltage up to 15V with +/- 2% tolerance at up to 1000 mA of output current. It is assembled in an ESOP-8 case outline and offers an integrated heat pad, very low drop-out voltage, Low quiescent current with thermal overload, and short circuit protection. As such it is the ideal voltage conditioner for portable devices like Bluetooth speakers. 

SiC MOSFET Family

Find out about Diotec Semiconductor's SiC MOSFET Family which components are highly suitable for EV charging systems for electric vehicles, solar inverters, and other power supply applications in the automotive, industrial, and commercial sectors.

The specifications of these silicon carbide MOSFETs are low switching losses, high voltage levels (1200 V), maximum 53 mΩ to 23 mΩ on-state resistance (RDSon), low gate charge (from -8 V to 22 V continuous gate-source-voltage (VGSS)) and more.

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Tech-Savvy Future with E-Bikes, Charged-Up by Diotec's 200 V Schottky

Spring is just around the corner and people are being drawn out into nature again. E-bikes are now standard and make it possible for everyone, from cycling professionals to leisure cyclists, to get out and about. The latest bike models are characterized by intelligent connectivity, efficient motor control, and a sleek design that not only makes it easier to cycle but also to transport goods.

High-end variants use carbon frames instead of aluminum to reduce weight. They come with an 800 Wh battery, a 52 V mid-drive motor with twelve gears, and transfer power via a belt to the gearless rear wheel. An alternative is the crossover e-bike, which is suitable for everyday tasks, long tours, and sporty mountain biking. These bicycles usually have 48-volt batteries with 750 Wh of capacity. For the city and short mountain rides, an all-round bike with a frame-mounted 400Wh 36V battery is a good choice.

Even the 36-volt battery requires a charging device equipped with high-voltage Schottky diodes. As a rule of thumb, its reverse voltage must be five to seven times higher than the DC voltage of the battery. The SBCT30200 by Diotec Semiconductor is a 2x 15 A, 200 V Dual Schottky diode in the TO-220AB package. Ideally suited for the output stage of a forward converter, which requires two diodes in a common cathode configuration, it is a good practice to load the output diodes with just one-third or half of their nominal current value. Power losses and, thus, heat are then reduced to a minimum. At 5 A of output current, even a high-capacitance e-bike battery can be charged up in a few hours only.

Every e-bike is equipped with MOSFETs, which Diotec Semiconductor supplies as components, especially for battery management and connection of intelligent functions. The chips regulate the power supply to the electronic motor, allowing precise control of its speed and direction. They improve efficiency, performance, and connectivity.

"Green Wheels": Sustainable buses in the changing landscape of urban transport

The EU, EFTA, and UK region saw a rise in electric bus registrations, with nearly 7,200 units now registered. ACEA (The European Automobile Manufacturers Association) reported a 39.1% increase in electric bus registrations in Europe last year, with notable growth in the top three markets: France (+221.3%), Spain (+172.4%), and Germany (+37.5%). Although buses powered by alternative sources are gaining popularity, diesel still holds the largest share at 62.3%, down from 66.9% in 2022. Bus and coach manufacturers continuously develop cleaner and greener models to reduce road transport CO2 emissions. However, they cannot overcome the challenges alone. Public transport and coach operators need to invest in and operate new models profitably.

According to ACEA, buses are the most widely used form of public transportation in the EU, accounting for over half of all public transport journeys. They have the lowest carbon footprint of any motorized transport, making them an essential public service and a significant contributor to decarbonization.

Power components by Diotec Semiconductor play an important role when it comes to electric mobility in general and "green" public transportation in particular. Starting from dedicated bypass diodes for solar panels, which can be found nowadays not only on the roofs of bus depots but more and more on every bus stop shelter. While the huge PV installations on bus depots are capable of charging up the bus fleet, the smaller ones at bus stops are used to light up the shelter at night and to run passenger information systems. Charging stations are the next big field where Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices are used. You might have seen already terminal stops with an overhead power connector. Whenever a bus stops over, its pantograph moves up and charges up the battery. The power electronics for charging are either stationary or integrated on-board into the bus. SiC MOSFETs and SiC Schottky diodes by Diotec help in either place to reduce energy losses and improve the performance of the converters. The drive inverter is finally the part that turns the motors and moves the coach forward and in consequence its passengers. Diotec offers a lot of automotive-qualified parts used for auxiliary functions in the battery management system, the drive electronics, oil and cooling water pumps, the passenger air conditioner, and so on.

The Electric Revolution: Rising Demand for Power Fuels the Future of E-Mobility

The increasing demand for e-mobility is driving a surge in electricity consumption. According to the manufacturers, the average energy consumption of an electric car is between 11 kWh and 30 kWh per 100 km, depending on the model. Consumption calculations are therefore usually based on 15 kWh per 100 km. Considering the rapidly growing number of EVs, there is a need for robust energy systems, smart grids, and sustainable power sources to meet evolving electricity demands.

How can we use more electricity from photovoltaic sources? An easy-to-implement solution is solar carports combined with charging piles. Suitable Parking lots are widely available – at companies, supermarkets, leisure centers, apartment blocks, and family homes. A welcome side-effect is the protection of the car against sun heat, hail, and fogged or frozen windshields. The usage of bidirectional charging systems allows the use of EVs even for energy storage and grid balancing.

What does 1 kWh cost at a public charging station? You can usually expect to pay between 0.25 and 0.35 EUR per kWh, resulting in 3.75 to 5.25 EUR per 100 km (at the above-mentioned consumption). A comparable Diesel car would cost 7.50 EUR, taking a consumption of 4.5 l/100 km and 1.70 EUR fuel costs. But are EVs really more sustainable than traditional cars? A recent study by the VDI, the Association of German Engineers, concluded that a typical medium-sized EV becomes "green" after 90.000 km of service life. Over the typical entire lifecycle of 200.000 km, their greenhouse gas emissions will be 55 percent lower than for traditional vehicles with combustion engines.

EV charging systems operate at high voltage levels and must be efficient and small-sized. Power semiconductors based on Silicon Carbide (SiC) are addressing all these needs. They usually come with either 650 V or 1200 V and offer shallow switching losses. As such, they can be operated at very high switching frequencies, which allows for a drastic reduction in the size of magnetic elements such as coils and transformers. The SICW40C120 by Diotec is e. g. a 2x 20 A / 1200 V SiC Schottky diode in TO-247. Compared to a similar device based on silicon, its switching losses are impressively 90% lower.