Wave Technology List of News Articles

This report introduces the features of ballast power supply control. A ballast power supply is a device that stabilizes the discharge state of lamps, which are light sources such as car headlights and LCD projectors. Unlike general power supplies that operate under constant voltage or constant current control, to keep the lamp lit stably, it is necessary to understand the lighting characteristics of each type of lamp and control the power output according to the lamp's condition. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

The Power Supply Design Department designs various types of switching power supplies, such as AC-DC converters and DC-AC inverters, and also conducts various evaluations and tests specific to power supplies. Among these tests, there are rigorous assessments known as "abnormal tests," which evaluate safety during component failure. One of the important devices that protects the evaluation equipment during such harsh tests is the "circuit breaker." Many may be more familiar with the term "breaker." This report will introduce that breaker. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces the A/D converter related components mounted on the microcontroller of the control board, which is central to power converter control. The importance of noise countermeasures for the ADC used in the circuit is extremely high, as any deviation in conversion values due to noise can adversely affect subsequent control. We discuss the issues related to ADC noise and their countermeasures, so please take a moment to read it. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalog below.

You may casually use linear regulators and DC-DC converters, but when you turn on the power, they output the desired voltage as if it were a matter of course. Have you ever wondered, "Why is that voltage output stable?" In this report, we will introduce the reference voltage sources found in power ICs such as linear regulators and DC-DC converters. Please take a moment to read it. For more details, you can refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces measures for dealing with equipment failures related to the PC98. The customer's inquiry was about a printer connected to the PC98 used for controlling test equipment that had broken down, making it impossible to print data. They were asking if there was any way to resolve this issue. Our company also responds to measures for dealing with failures and extending the life of aging tools, devices, and equipment surrounding production facilities, so please feel free to consult us if you have any concerns. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces distributed constant circuits. It explains distributed constant circuits, where the distances and dimensions of wiring and components are finite, and the signal transmission time is also finite, as well as concentrated constant circuits, which are the opposite concept where the distance of wiring is zero, using diagrams. Please take a moment to read it. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report is a continuation of the discussion on controlling illumination with Arduino mentioned in Shirutoku Report No. 58, and this time it incorporates screen display and button operation. We will explain the LCD display method and button operation method, along with actual photos. Our company undertakes the development of various embedded devices and IoT devices using a variety of microcontrollers. If you have any inquiries, please feel free to contact us. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces illumination control using Arduino. For those who want to add or change their favorite lighting patterns, we present examples of DIY projects using microcontrollers and modules with simple and convenient features. Please take a moment to read it. You can find more details in the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces the electrical evaluation related to switching power supplies. A key feature of the evaluation of power circuits is that it includes many aspects to confirm whether they can operate safely (i.e., whether there are any hazards). There are also specific aspects that may be unfamiliar to those who are not involved in power supply design or evaluation, so I would like to take this opportunity to explain them. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces the requirements for insulation and noise countermeasures. In electrical circuits, insulation may be used for safety reasons, such as preventing electric shock, or to avoid unexpected current breakdowns. Common items we handle include communication interfaces like LAN and isolated power supplies. It is common to use optocouplers or transformers for the transmission of signals and power across insulated sections. If you are having trouble with noise countermeasures, please feel free to contact us. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces the ideals and realities of circuit diagrams. The circuit diagram includes electronic components such as capacitors, inductors, transistors, diodes, and resistors, each treated as ideal elements. However, in real circuits, there are not only these elements but also parasitic components such as capacitive, inductive, and resistive components, which can cause various adverse effects and hinder the intended operation of the designer. Our company has many engineers who are well-versed in parasitic components and can perform circuit design accordingly, so if you are interested, please feel free to contact us. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report will introduce an important invisible element, "impedance," in addition to parasitic components that are not visible on the circuit diagram. Impedance refers to AC resistance, which is often specified as 50Ω for single-ended and 100Ω for differential. In high-frequency circuit design, impedance becomes a critical issue. Even parasitic impedance that is not shown in the circuit diagram can be discerned by professionals. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces a method to quantitatively confirm the magnitude of circuit inductance. In order to improve the measurement environment for evaluating the switching of power semiconductors, it is sometimes necessary to reconsider the wiring. However, it is actually difficult to make improvements if the magnitude of the circuit inductance in the measurement system is not quantitatively understood. By using the measured circuit inductance values during simulations, results closer to the measured waveforms can be obtained. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces the switching evaluation of power semiconductors such as power devices and power modules. The ideal switching operation is a state where there is no delay time for current and voltage during the ON/OFF transition, meaning there is no occurrence of power loss. However, during the switching operation of power devices, some delay time is inevitably generated. Our company has engineers with expertise in switching evaluation, so if you require evaluation of various power devices, please feel free to consult us. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report focuses on circuit verification using "SPICE," which allows for various validations. Using a filter as an example, we will present a verification designed to reduce the number of components by modifying the configuration, along with a diagram showing the attenuation characteristics at 10MHz. Our company also conducts validity checks of designs through simulations based on customer requests. We encourage you to read it. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

Phase compensation in power circuits refers to the technology that controls the phase shifts caused by the numerous capacitors (C) and inductors (L) implemented on the power supply board, in order to stabilize the circuit's operation. This report will introduce examples of the phase of voltage and current, as well as the transfer function of feedback circuits, using diagrams. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

The avalanche tolerance measured in the avalanche test refers to the amount of energy that a power device can withstand before it begins to conduct current rapidly and ultimately fails when a voltage exceeding its breakdown voltage is applied. This report explains avalanche breakdown and the UIS test circuit and waveforms using diagrams. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report is a continuation of the avalanche tolerance testing of MOSFETs discussed in Shirutoku Report No. 52. It explains the relationship between the transient thermal resistance of the device and the losses and time during avalanche operation using diagrams and graphs. When selecting a device, comparing devices measured under different conditions is not very meaningful. It is recommended to measure in an environment as close to actual operation as possible, rather than relying solely on data sheet values. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces battery-compatible systems. Using solar power generation as an example, it explains the combination of system operations over a single day. By setting the operating modes for each product, various conditions under which the battery charges/discharges, and whether it operates when buying from (or selling to) the grid, can vary widely. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

In recent years, with the rapid increase in solar power generation, the balance between supply and demand has been disrupted, and it has been pointed out that supply (generation) may exceed demand. This report includes information on output control functions. When it is anticipated that the supply of electricity will exceed demand, power companies will need to reduce the generation of renewable energy. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

"Partial" means "some" or "partial," and partial power down refers to a state where the power is turned off partially. This report explains the important Ioff function during partial power down. During partial power down, there is a mixture of circuit blocks that are powered on and those that are powered off, so caution is required during design. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

This report introduces representative methods of isolated switching power supplies that use transformers among the circuit configurations of switching power supplies. It includes circuit diagrams and features of the forward method, flyback method, push-pull method, and full-bridge method. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

Feedback refers to the control method that operates the output according to a target by returning the output to the input side for control. This report explains feedback control, which is closely related to power circuits, as well as open-loop control. Power circuits can have their characteristics significantly altered when various external loads are connected or when the input voltage fluctuates greatly, making feedback control very important. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

A power conditioner (power con) is an inverter device that converts renewable energy, such as solar power, into commercial alternating current used in households. Speaking of power conditioners, do you know what kind of "evaluations" are being conducted? This report includes information on power conditioner evaluations, such as certification testing of developed products, performance evaluations of products, and system testing of products. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

When evaluating power supplies, you may have experienced situations where "the output oscillated at low temperatures!" In such cases, it is necessary to diagnose the frequency characteristics of the power supply more quantitatively and implement countermeasures. This report explains the performance of power supplies using conceptual images, diagrams, and graphs without using mathematical formulas. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs below.

★★Shirutoku Report: Useful Information You Should Know★★ What kind of measuring instruments do you use when evaluating the electrical characteristics of semiconductors such as MOSFETs and bipolar transistors? While there are dedicated testers, curve tracers that allow for easy evaluation are also convenient, right? However, when using a curve tracer, have you ever thought, "There are so many evaluation items, operating it manually is a hassle..." or "There are so many evaluations to do, it would be great if it could be operated more easily..."? If these requests can be met, you would be freed from the enormous evaluation time. Therefore, we would like to introduce the 'Automatic Measurement System for Curve Tracers.' For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs.

★★Shirutoku Report: Useful Information You Can Benefit From★★ The Structural Design Department primarily focuses on "structural design of metal and plastic enclosures using CAD" and "front-loading development using thermal fluid simulation/structural simulation technologies." *There are various names for this, including structural analysis, structural CAE, stress analysis, and FEM analysis.* In this report, we will briefly introduce our efforts in structural simulation, followed by a discussion on the analysis of rubber products (which play a significant role in waterproof design, among others). For more details, please refer to related products and catalogs.

★★Shirutoku Report: Useful Information You Should Know★★ The "Custom Measurement Service" is a service that provides the functions required in your research and development environment in the form of a tailor-made "Custom Measurement System." Are you thinking, "But a tailor-made solution seems too high-end..."? At WTI, we collaborate with partner companies to relatively easily build systems by combining them with existing equipment. In this report, we will introduce this service based on case studies. For more details, please refer to the related products and catalogs.

★★Shirutoku Report: Useful Information You Can Benefit From★★ How do you compile reports from data collected from various measuring instruments during evaluation analysis? Many of you might be manually and patiently rearranging data or creating graphs. When the volume becomes enormous, it can take a lot of time and be inefficient. If there are mistakes, you might have to start all over again. It would be great to have something that anyone can use, doesn't take much time, and doesn't lead to errors. That's why we would like to introduce our company's 'Data Analysis Tool.' For more details, please refer to related products and catalogs.

★★Shirutoku Report: Useful Information You Can Benefit From★★ I mainly design matching circuits for high-frequency power amplifiers used in commercial radio equipment. In this report, I will share my experiences regarding the discontinuation of capacitors (EOL: End Of Life). For more details, please refer to related products and catalogs.

★★Shirutoku Report: Useful Information You Can Benefit From★★ In recent years, while products have become more compact, thermal issues have continued to worsen, and we have seen an increasing trend in inquiries from customers regarding thermal analysis. The content of these inquiries varies, but in this report, we will briefly explain the thermal resistance of semiconductors, which is essential for thermal analysis. For more details, please refer to related products and catalogs.

This report introduces the examination of microcurrent measuring devices. Previously, I created a microcurrent measuring device for work. There are various methods for measuring microcurrents, but the one used this time is called the "feedback method." I will explain the basic circuit of this method. You can find more details in related products and catalogs.

This report introduces the multi-channelization of automatic measurement. "Multi-channelization" refers to the process of enabling a measurement device that originally has only one channel to measure multiple points with a single trigger by continuously connecting a switching circuit. Through multi-channelization, we can address challenges such as "wanting to automatically measure a large number of samples at once" and "being unable to perform automatic measurements due to the need to switch connections." You can find more details in related products and catalogs.

This report introduces DRC. DRC stands for Design Rule Check, which is a function of PCB CAD that verifies whether the design adheres to the set design rules and can automatically detect violations of those rules. The advent of PCB CAD has reduced labor costs and improved the quality of PCB design. While DRC is very convenient, it is crucial to set the design rules correctly for the PCB CAD to accurately identify rule violations. You can find more details in related products and catalogs.

This document introduces the circuit operation of a power converter (power conditioning system) that converts the direct current (DC) generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) for commercial power systems. It includes examples of circuit configurations such as chopper circuits and inverter circuits, as well as unexpected inductance that may not appear in circuit diagrams. You can find more detailed information in related products and catalogs.

This document introduces the most frequently asked questions from customers regarding the development of waterproof products and their solutions. It includes answers and key points to questions such as "What are the structural differences between waterproof and non-waterproof products?" and "What does the evaluation of waterproof products entail?" You can find more detailed information in related products and catalogs.

Our company is involved in the development of implementation technology for semiconductor packages and implementation reliability technology. We primarily focus on packages known as BGA. In this report, we will discuss the daisy chain samples used for evaluating the implementation reliability of semiconductor packages. [Contents] ■ Daisy chain samples for identifying fracture locations ■ Daisy chain samples for identifying fracture locations ・ Case studies from customer inquiries

Power equipment must include components such as electrolytic capacitors, photo couplers (optical communication devices), and relays, which must satisfy the product's lifespan. There are many instances where lifespan verification is conducted through lifespan calculations and electrical evaluations. This report introduces examples of electrical evaluations, so please take a moment to read it. [Contents] ■Electrolytic Capacitors ■Photo Couplers

Printed circuit boards are relatively expensive components among electronic devices, and depending on the quality of the design, the use of the board may change, which can affect costs. While you may look for inexpensive board manufacturers overseas and consider adopting them, the factors that have a significant impact on the cost of printed circuit boards are "board structure/layer count" and "board size." In this report, we will introduce tips for reducing costs, focusing on "board size." [Contents] ■Tips for reducing costs related to board size

This report introduces typical evaluations conducted in the development and design of mobile communication devices, such as drop tests and waterproof tests. The drop test is the first test performed to confirm the strength of the casing. The waterproof test is based on protection ratings defined by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), and it is necessary to select a testing method that suits the product's purpose. In terms of structural evaluation, there are other tests such as pressure tests and key press tests, and WTI is capable of handling a variety of tests. If you have any inquiries about what we can do, please feel free to reach out to us. [Contents] ■ Drop Test ■ Waterproof Test

This report introduces "the structure of substrates." It includes topics such as "classification by substrate structure," "conductor materials and solder resist," and "the importance of initial considerations in substrate structure examination." Our company is also capable of supporting substrate design from initial considerations, including substrate structure. Please feel free to reach out if you need assistance. 【Contents】 ■ Classification by substrate structure ■ Conductor materials and solder resist ■ The importance of initial considerations in substrate structure examination ■ About flexible substrates

The ESP32 is a microcontroller that incorporates Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, manufactured by Espressif Systems, a wireless chip maker headquartered in Shanghai. OTA stands for Over The Air, which allows programming to be written via wireless networks such as Wi-Fi, mobile data communication, and Bluetooth. In this report, we attempted programming using OTA with the ESP32 microcontroller, and we will introduce the details of that experience. [Contents] ■ What is ESP32 ■ What is OTA ■ Boards used ■ Writing the program

In recent years, our company has seen an increase in automotive-related operations and is involved in a vehicle-to-home (V2H) electric vehicle charging and discharging system. V2H stands for "Vehicle to Home," which is an abbreviation for a system that allows the use of electric vehicle batteries at home. This report will introduce V2H. [Contents] ■ What is V2H? ■ What can be done with V2H?

The performance requirements for developed products are increasing year by year, leading to a more challenging thermal situation due to the need to make products thinner and smaller, as well as the addition of circuit functions (such as communication functions), which increases heat sources. In response, our company has decided to offer a service to assess the presence of thermal issues and the difficulty of thermal design early in the design phase (thermal issue preventive diagnosis). This report explains "Product Performance Requirements and Thermal Issues" and "Contents of Thermal Issue Preventive Diagnosis." [Contents] ■ About Thermal Simulation ■ Product Performance Requirements and Thermal Issues ■ Contents of Thermal Issue Preventive Diagnosis

The type of substrate and manufacturing methods (such as subtractive methods, semi-additive methods, etc.) can result in differences between the design values and the finished values for wiring width and layer spacing. This report introduces the various types of substrates available. WTI offers a variety of substrate design and prototyping services. Please feel free to reach out to us. [Contents] ■ Types of substrates and their applications