International Rectifier is offering a new family of highly integrated, ultra-compact, patent pending µIPM™ power modules for high efficiency appliance and light industrial applications including compressor drives for refrigeration, pumps for heating and water circulation, air-conditioning fans, dishwashers, and automation systems. By utilizing an innovative packaging solution, the µIPM family delivers a new benchmark in device size, offering up to a 60% smaller footprint than existing 3-phase motor control power ICs.

Ultra-compact at 12x12x0.9mm in a PQFN package, the µIPM family comprises a series of fully integrated 3-phase surface-mount motor control circuit solutions. IR's innovation is utilizing PCB copper traces to dissipate heat from the module, providing cost savings through a smaller package design and even eliminating the need for an external heat sink. By using standard packaging QFN technology, assembly is simplified by eliminating through-hole second pass assembly and improving thermal performance compared to traditional dual-in-line module solutions.

IR’s µIPM product family features a common pin-out and package size and is available in from 2A to 4A and voltages of 250V and 500V.

International Rectifier will showcase the company’s latest power management solutions at the Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC) which is being held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Florida, February 5-9, 2012.

IR engineers will demonstrate IR’s latest energy-savings and high power density enabling technologies and products at Booth 501. In addition, IR’s power management experts will participate in the following conference events:

• Wednesday, February 8, 2012
  • Technical Session: EMI ; Track: System Integration
  • Session Chair: Dave Divins
  • Location : Fiesta 7-8

• Technical Session: Power Electronics Applications I ; Track: Power Electronics Applications
  • Session Chair: Cahit Gezgin
  • Location: Fiesta 1-2

• Technical Session: DC-DC Converters: Bidirectional ; Track: DC-DC Converters
  • Session Chair: Peyman Asadi
  • Location:  Coronado A/B

• Thursday, February 9, 2012
  • Technical Session 32:  Power Electronics Applications II
  • Presenters: Hemal Shah, Heratch Namagerdi, Steve Oknaian
  • “Evaluating Dynamic Reliability of Power MOSFETs in Low Voltage Hard-switched Applications”
  • Location:  Fiesta 1-2, 2:00PM-5:30PM

• Industry Session:  IS1.5.7
  • Participant: Tim McDonald, Vice President, IR’s Emerging Technologies Group
  • “IR’s GaNpowIR and the inherent performance advantages of GaN-based HEMTS”
  • Location: Fiesta Ballroom 5, 2:00PM-5:30PM

• Technical Session:  Lighting II; Track:  Power Electronics Applications
  • Session Chairs:  Cahit Gezgin, Donald Boughton
  • Location:  Coronado C/D

• Technical Session:  DC-DC Converters:  Modeling; Track:  DC-DC Converters
  • Session Chair:  Peyman Asadi
  • Location:  Coronado A/B

• Technical Session:  Power Electronics Applications II; Track:  Power Electronics Applications
  • Session Chair:  Eric Persson
  • Location:  Fiesta 1-2

• Technical Session:  DC-DC Converters:  Control II; Track:  DC-DC Converters
  • Session Chair:  Amir Rahimi
  • Location:  Fiesta 9-10

Calnetix Technologies has relocated its corporate headquarters, engineering and manufacturing facility to Cerritos, California. The building has been renovated into a state of the art test facility and has special testing capabilities for Organic Rankine Cycle (“ORC”) systems.

Since founded in 1998, Calnetix owns numerous patents related to magnetic bearings, motors, generators, power electronics and system integration technologies.

Nextreme Thermal Solutions new WPG-1S converts heat into electricity for a variety of self-powered wireless applications, using solid-state thin-film thermoelectric technology.

The company''s ThermobilityTM eliminates the need to use traditional wired power sources or replaceable batteries. When paired with wireless transmitters, the technology can provide electric power for years of maintenance-free operation, expanding the possibilities for new wireless sensor and security applications in industrial control, transportation, automotive and building management.

The WPG-1S uses the INFINERGY D-MPM101, a development micro power module from Infinite Power Solutions (IPS) that provides efficient battery management, near loss-less energy storage, and output regulation. The D-MPM101 integrates IPS’ ultra-thin and rechargeable THINERGY® solid-state micro-energy cells (MECs) to supply up to 2.0 mAh of stored energy for use by an application during periods when the heat source is not available or is intermittent. Reliable power output of up to 200 mW at 25°C is possible at a regulated 3.3V.

The WPG-1S is about the size of a golf ball and consists of a pin-fin heat sink, a custom circuit board, Nextreme's eTEGTM HV56 thermoelectric power generator module and a metal attachment plate that is applied to the desired heat source.

The WPG-1S also incorporates a Linear Technologies LTC®3108 ultralow voltage step- up converter and power management chip to provide up to 1mW of electrical power, and operates at temperature differentials as low as 15-20 degrees K relative to ambient. Larger temperature differences can generate significantly more power.

An WPG-1S evaluation kit is designed for ease of use with any flat-surface heat source and can be customized for pipes and other non-flat surfaces. For simple bench-top testing, the WPG-1S can be placed directly on a laboratory grade hotplate with temperature control. For evaluation with other surfaces, the attachment plate can be mated with either thermal grease for normal horizontal application or double-stick thermal pad for vertical mounting.

Electrical power output connections can be made using the on-board 6-pin connectors or a two-wire pigtail connected to the 6-pin connector. The 6-pin connector mates directly to the Texas Instruments eZ430 wireless target board, making the WPG-1S an ideal wireless power source for the eZ430 development platform.

ABB is exhibiting a portfolio of charging solutions for electric cars (EVs) at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show (March 3-13), including a fast charger that expands the range of electric vehicles by recharging them at more than 10 times the speed of a standard charger.

Since the prototype fast charger presented at Geneva in 2010, ABB has developed its first generation commercial product and obtained certification under the global CHAdeMO standard for fast charging using direct current (DC). ABB’s DC chargers are now operational in pilot projects in Europe and Asia, providing rapid charging facilities for the first electric vehicles capable of rapid charging, including the Protoscar Lampo, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Peugeot Ion, Citroen Czero and Nissan Leaf.

At the Motor Show, ABB is also presenting its prototype standard charger based on alternating current (AC), which is designed for installation at home and at other locations where cars are typically parked for longer periods (offices, shopping centers, etc.). These units fully recharge a car battery in about eight hours.

By cutting charging times to less than 30 minutes, fast chargers enable longer trips and are expected to play a crucial role in the spread of electric vehicles.

An ABB representative said, "Improvements in electric vehicle charging equipment are helping to bring mass-consumer adoption of electric transportation closer to reality. The key to lower emissions and quieter, less polluted cities is innovation that supports the large-scale adoption of electric cars."

In January, ABB invested $10 million in ECOtality, a San Francisco-based developer of charging stations and power storage technologies, to enter North America’s electric vehicle charging market.

As part of the agreement, ABB will supply ECOtality with both standard and fast chargers for a US Department of Energy-funded project to set up 15,000 charge points to support the deployment of 8,300 electric vehicles in cities across the US.

ABB’s charging stations in Geneva are located in the “Essais Verts” in Box E 11, where they are available to fast-charge CHAdeMO standard compatible electric vehicles at the ride-and-drive exhibit along with the standard AC charging of the Smart ED.