How to Design Ultra-Low-Power Smart Thermostats without a C-Wire
Smart thermostat designers are tackling the long‑standing power‑delivery problem of two‑wire HVAC systems by adopting load‑powered latching solid‑state relays. These relays switch with a brief pulse and maintain state without continuous current, enabling the thermostat to harvest energy directly from the HVAC line. The result is a battery‑free, two‑wire solution that eliminates the costly C‑wire retrofit while reducing component count, board space, and overall power consumption. Littelfuse’s CPC1601M exemplifies this approach, supporting up to 2 A at 24 VAC with sub‑microamp standby draw.
Near-Zero-CTE Dielectric Targets 224 Gb/S AI Links
Advanced Chip and Circuit Materials, Inc. introduced two new PCB dielectric materials, Celeritas HM50 and HM001, targeting AI and high‑speed digital designs. HM50 features a negative coefficient of thermal expansion (‑8 ppm/°C) while HM001 is engineered to be near‑zero CTE, both...
APEC 2026: Infineon Addresses AI Data Center Power Density Challenges with TLVR Quad-Phase Module
At APEC 2026 Infineon unveiled the TDM24745T, a TLVR‑based quad‑phase power module designed for AI server point‑of‑load applications. The 9 × 10 × 5 mm³ device delivers up to 320 A peak current with a current density over 2 A/mm², integrating power stages, a TLVR inductor and...
Modular DAQ System Supports GPS and PTP Synchronization
B&K Precision has launched the DAS1820, a portable high‑speed data acquisition system that uses a dual‑slot modular architecture compatible with its D18 plug‑and‑play ecosystem. It can sample up to 1 MSa/s per channel across eight channels, handle ±1500 VDC/1000 Vrms with CAT III/IV safety...
How Are Accelerated Life Tests Changing for High-Voltage EV Power Electronics?
Accelerated life testing for high‑voltage EV power electronics is moving away from static qualification standards such as AEC‑Q101 toward a mission‑profile‑oriented reliability workflow. The new process translates vehicle driving cycles (WLTP, NEDC) into detailed electro‑thermal models that predict SiC MOSFET...
Molded Shielded Inductors Rated to 50 A in 5.6 × 5.2 Mm Footprint
Coilcraft has launched the KTA5050 series of molded shielded power inductors, packaged in a 5.6 × 5.2 × 5.0 mm footprint. The line offers inductance values from 65 nH to 600 nH and can handle up to roughly 50 A for the lowest‑inductance parts. Optimized composite cores deliver...
APEC 2026: Menlo Micro Brings MEMS-Based Power Switching on the Strength of Navy Program Milestone
Menlo Micro showcased its Ideal Switch MEMS power‑switching technology at APEC 2026, highlighting a Navy‑backed milestone that completed Task 4 of the U.S. Navy’s 10 MW Advanced Circuit Breaker Development Program. The demonstration featured a 1,000 V, 500 A panel delivering 0.5 MW, built...