Cover Story
Power Regeneration: For Trains and Automobiles and Consumer Goods as well
Power regeneration technology, used to recycle the excess energy generated by electronic devices as electricity, is finding its way into low-output devices such as hybrid vehicles, bicycles and DC power supplies.We explore the cutting edge of power regeneration technology as it advances on home appliances and computers.
Overview
Power recycling is growing in popularity, spurred by CO2 emission restrictions
Power regeneration technology, used to recycle the excess power generated by electronic devices as electricity, is currently a hot topic.The technology was originally developed for large motors with an output of more than 100kW, for example, in railway carriages and machine tools, but has recently been employed in devices with a low output of only several hundred watts.In addition to vehicle applications such as in hybrid cars and power-assisted bicycles, the technology is spreading even to AC-DC converters.As the entire world calls for reductions in CO2 emissions, regenerative power is offering hope for energy savings.
Case Examples
The scope of application is potentially diverse—encouraging additional value in products
The scope of regenerative power application continues to expand.But even though the technology offers energy savings and helps to reduce CO2 emissions, incorporating regenerative systems into equipment inevitably increases the product’s overall cost.This makes it even more important to come up with highly-appealing products.More and more manufacturers are starting to commercialize the technology by adding unprecedented value to their products.
Special Feature
CEATEC JAPAN 2007: From a Numbers Competition to Emphasizing Uniqueness
Manufacturers are breaking away from simply copying what their rivals do, competing overscreen size and image resolution, and are delving deeper into their own individual technological strengths, trying to enhance the experience and amazement consumers gain from their products.The changing approaches of consumer electronics manufacturers became clear during CEATEC JAPAN2007.Prime examples: Sony Corp. has selected organic electroluminescent display technology to help it develop a television so thin it takes up barely any space.Sony is up against Sharp Corp. and Hitachi, Ltd. who have chosen to refine their liquid-crystal expertise.The focus has now shifted on to how the companies will exploit their own technologies to enhance the interface between device and consumer.
Special Feature
ICNS-7: GaN Devices Aim for Broad Use from Projectors to Automobiles
The world’s largest gathering relating to nitride semiconductors, the 7th International Conference of Nitride Semiconductors (ICNS-7) was held September 16-21, 2007 in the United States.Presentations were made on next-generation LEDs and semiconductor lasers employing gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors; RF devices used in power amplifier circuits for wireless base stations; and switching devices for power supply circuits that will be employed in the white goods and automobiles of the future.The wavelength of nonpolar lasers, seen as a leading contender in enabling green semiconductor laser technology, has been extended to more than 450nm; the luminous efficiency of high power white LEDs has reached 134 lm/W; the power output of RF devices has reached 143W; and a large number of “normally-off” power supply circuit elements were introduced.
Guest Paper
Developing Measurement Technology for Hand Motion Compensation
Image stabilization is now a standard feature in digital cameras and camcorders.However, the actual stabilization effect differs from model to model,and they function better or worse depending on the exposure conditions.Previous attempts to quantify those differences have been difficult, but measuring technology developed by Associate Professor Kazuki Nishi of The University of Electro-Communications offers one solution to this problem.His method allows three-dimensional tracking of blurring caused by camera shake when correction is active and inactive.In other words, the image stabilization quality of products can be compared through statistical processing.The method is also very simple, requiring no special equipment besides computer software.The technology will likely be used to improve image stabilization performance and to develop image stabilization functions suited to the photography style of the individual user.
Documentary
Confessions of a Veteran Engineer (Part 3): “Why Did It Operate?”
Keyword
GMR (giant magnetoresistance)
Key Person
Acrodea, Inc., Junya Tsutsumi: “A Software Developer and a Novelist Are the Same”
NE Interview
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TSMC), President and CEO, Rick Tsai: “What Is the Future of the Foundry?”
Tutorial
Protecting Devices from ESD: The Reasons for Malfunctions Can Pass Immunity Tests (Second Half)
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. has urged consumers to stop using its older electric fans after an accident in which a fan manufactured more than 30 years ago caught fire. Accidents caused by products used over long periods of time are expected to rise. The final installment in this series describes methods for designing products with excellent safety characteristics.
Tutorial
Introduction to Mobile Power Electronics (Part 12): A Control System Utilizing the Special Characteristics of Electronic Components
Functional components found in automobiles are successively becoming electronic. The characteristics of electric-powered components, with their high accuracy, make it relatively easy to achieve a high level performance previously unattainable using just mechanical systems. In this installment, we describe motion control systems in terms of enhancing driving ease and driver assistance.
Watcher / Samsung
Staking Survival on “Manufacturing Management,” the Focus Is on Successors in Personnel
News
- Fire Erupts at Matsushita Battery Industrial’s Li-ion Secondary Battery Testing Area
- Toshiba Develops High Performance RF CMOS Technology for Bluetooth and Wireless LAN
- Alps Electric Employs Model-based Development for Automobile Software
- Rohm Creates a Prototype SiC Inverter Module Capable of Operating Even at 200ºC
Staking Survival on “Manufacturing Management,” the Focus Is on Successors in Personnel
