Smartphones

Due to their ability to store and transfer energy while on the go, batteries have become a commonplace item that can be found in almost all electronic products we use daily. Batteries save lives when portable medical equipment is required, and provide plentiful everyday uses in applications such as headphones and portable power tools. Rechargeable batteries can rely on power banks to be charged wh...

Battery-powered devices are integral to modern technology, and have revolutionized our ability to take devices with us anywhere and everywhere. Medical devices such as glucose meters and pacemakers allow people to thrive with minimal inconvenience, and devices such as portable power tools and radios can be used to coordinate efforts for disaster relief. In our day-to-day lives, we use battery-powe...

Due to the lighter and thinner features of new battery-powered mobile devices — such as smartphones, tablets, and ultra-thin notebooks — USB Type-C charging interfaces have been widely adopted by portable device manufacturers. Moreover, the European Commission (EC) approved a mandate in June 2022 requiring the next generation of portable devices to be compatible with USB Type-C charging connectors...

For battery-powered applications, an excellent user experience depends on a long battery life and high-performance terminal devices. Quiescent current (IQ) is an important parameter to consider when optimizing these applications; in particular, an improved IQ increases battery life. This article will describe the difference between a boost converter’s IQ and shutdown current (ISD) to provide a de...

In June 2022, the EU parliament approved a mandate that will require the next generation of portable devices to be compatible with USB Type-C charging connectors. Manufacturers have until fall 2024 to make their products compatible with USB Type-C cables by adding a USB Type-C connector. Affected industries include mobile phones, digital cameras, handheld video game consoles, portable speakers, ke...

Rotary dials are used in diverse applications for human-machine interfaces (HMI). Touch interfaces include the buttons, knobs, and dials on everyday devices, from automobiles and white goods, to the touch screen on your mobile phone. These devices not only translate human input into an electrical signal, but they also provide an important feature — haptic feedback. This is especially useful for sa...

The design requirements of today’s switching power supplies are driven by efficiency requirements not only at full load, but also under sleep mode or no-load conditions when the cable is disconnected. Power system integrators have to meet new regulations from agencies such as Energy Star, 80 Plus, and the European Commission’s CoC, regardless of the power supply’s load condition....