Power electronic designers are continually trying to decrease overall design size by increasing conversion efficiency. One way they do that is by using Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductor devices.  WBG devices can operate at higher switching frequencies and higher temperatures than traditional semiconductors. Their use allows reducing the size of passive components, bringing an overall more compact design and increasing power density per volume of...

DC-Link capacitors for DC filtering and energy storage are expected to operate at higher temperatures, in more extreme conditions, and for longer lifetimes, than ever before. Automotive applications are leading those demands for better performance, but most existing power box, DC-link film technologies are not suitable for these applications and struggle under those severe conditions. Vehicles primarily use electric compressors in two ways: in...

"We hope that the absolute bottom has been reached!" Engelbert Hopf, Markt & Technik interviewed Rüdiger Scheel, Vice President Mobility at Murata Europe, who assures that Murata can supply the automotive industry with significantly more MLCCs and other passive components - only the missing semiconductors prevent it. In order to be prepared for increasing demands in the future, production is being massively expanded around...