This is the third part of a listing (with links for the full story) of the most read stories on PowerPulse.Net for 2010, thus providing a window into the "pulse" of the trends and interests in the Power Electronics Industry. This series will continue through Monday, culminating with the most read story of the year.
30: Coilcraft Releases Tiny Step-Up Transformers for Energy Harvesting Applications
Coilcraft has unveiled a line of ultra-miniature step-up transformers that are well suited for use with energy harvesting ICs. The LPR6235 family offers turns ratios as high as 1:100 and a coupling coefficient (k) of 0.95 or more in a surface mount package measuring just 6 mm square by 3.5mm high.
The full story can be found here.
29: Konarka’s Power Plastic Achieves 8.3% Efficiency Certification from NREL
Konarka Technologies, Inc., developer of Konarka Power Plastic®, a material that converts light to energy, announced that the National Energy Renewable Laboratory (NREL) has certified that Konarka’s organic based photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells have demonstrated what the company describes as a record breaking 8.3% efficiency. This is said to be the highest performance recorded by NREL for an organic photovoltaic solar cell.
The full story can be found here.
28: CTO Power Summit Opens In San Diego
The Darnell Group’s first-annual CTO Power Summit is under way in San Diego, California. The CTO Power Summit, which concludes tomorrow, is not a tradeshow or similar broad-based event open to everyone and anyone. Instead, it’s an exclusive, invitation-only meeting where CTOs and similar senior technical/engineering executives including Vice Presidents of Research and Development, Vice Presidents of Engineering, Directors of Advanced Technology, and so on, are broadening their perspectives and sharing knowledge with their peers in a relaxed setting.
The full story can be found here.
27: ABB Expands Power Semiconductor Business With Acquisition of Polovodice a.s.
ABB has agreed to acquire the semiconductor business of Polovodice a.s. in the Czech Republic. ABB states that the additional production capacity for high-power semiconductors will help it to cope with the expected rising demand fueled by growth in renewable energy and efforts to improve energy efficiency.
The full story can be found here.
26: Cypress Introduces First Programmable, Flexible Powerline Communication Solution Based on PSoC Architecture
Cypress Semiconductor Corp. introduced what it describes as the world’s first truly programmable solution for data communication over existing power lines. Leveraging the programmable analog and digital resources of Cypress’s PSoC® programmable system-on-a-chip architecture, the new Cypress Powerline Communication (PLC) solution integrates multiple functions beyond communication, such as power measurement, system management and LCD drive. In addition to its flexibility and integration, the company says the new solution offers industry-leading reliability with greater than 97% packet success rates without retries and 100% success rates with retries built into the solution’s coding.
The full story can be found here.
25: GE Smart Home-Energy Panel Tells Consumers What’s Happening with Their Power Profile
GE is introducing an in-home, multi-function energy information panel that will give consumers insight and control to help them manage energy usage and understand costs. The sleek, touch-screen panel will wirelessly connect to a household’s smart meter, appliances and thermostats, via ZigBee® or Wi-Fi®, to gather information, manage usage and deliver the real-time knowledge that empowers smarter energy choices.
The full story can be found here.
24: Schneider Electric, Legrand & Scame join forces for Creation of EV Plug Alliance
Schneider Electric, Legrand & Scame announced that they are forming the EV Plug Alliance, to promote the use of a high safety plug and socket solution for Electric Vehicle charge infrastructure.
The full story can be found here.
23: GE Files New Patent Infringement Complaint Against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
General Electric Company (GE) announced that it has filed a patent infringement complaint against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. In the complaint GE alleges that MHI infringes on two additional patents. Patents infringed by MHI include GE’s patented zero voltage ride through technology system that helps wind turbines remain connected to the electricity grid when grid voltage drops to zero.
The full story can be found here.
22: Ericsson Power Modules & Power-One Enter Agreement On Digital Power Technology
In a worldwide agreement, Ericsson Power Modules has been granted a license on a patent portfolio for digital power technology (DPT) from Power-One Inc. The non-exclusive license agreement provides Ericsson Power Modules with access to Power-One’s portfolio of DPT patents for incorporation in Power Modules series of 3E digitally controlled point-of-load devices.
The full story can be found here.
21: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Institute for Energy & Environment to Speak at Darnell’s CTO Power Summit
Darnell Group’s first-annual CTO Power Summit to be hosted in San Diego, California in February 2010, will feature lunch speakers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Institute for Energy & Environment at the University of California, Berkeley.
The full story can be found here.
