ENGtechnica

Tag: ElectronicsInnovation

  • AI-Driven Battery Management: Infineon and Eatron Extend Collaboration

    AI-Driven Battery Management: Infineon and Eatron Extend Collaboration

    Infineon Mobile Robot. Image: Infineon

    MUNICH, Germany, Feb 25, 2025 – Infineon Technologies AG and Eatron extend their existing partnership for battery management solutions (BMS) in automotive to a comprehensive BMS portfolio, including various industrial and consumer applications. Enabled by Infineon’s PSOC microcontrollers, the collaboration brings together the benefits of AI-powered battery optimization software and advanced power semiconductor components to create a solution that minimizes degradation, detects safety issues, and enhances the performance and reliability of battery-powered systems.

    The technology integrates Eatron’s AI-powered BMS software, based on pre-trained models, featuring SOX, RUL, and Safety Diagnostic, with Infineon’s components, including MOSFETs for battery protection and PSOC 6 AI-based battery management system for state-of-the-art machine learning capabilities. Customers can access a range of benefits, including precise forecasts of battery State of Charge (SOC), reduced system costs, and faster market entry. The collaboration meets the emerging need for advanced battery management systems across industrial and consumer sectors, including light electric vehicles, portable electronics, energy storage, robotics, and power tools.

    The battery management and optimization market is growing fast. It is due to a rising need for more energy efficiency, extended battery life, and predictive maintenance. AI plays a key role in enhancing battery performance, making the Eatron-Infineon technology a top choice for various applications. These include robotics, wearables, portable medical devices, smart home devices, battery-operated IoT products, and low-power energy storage systems.

    Eatron’s software has been pre-validated and deployed on Infineon’s PSoC. It has been benchmarked on an application comprising up to 24 cells against traditional techniques that require cell characterization. The evaluation used a commercially available LG Chem INR21700 M50 cell across a broad temperature range (0–45°C), demonstrating comparable results. These findings underscore the strong value proposition of Eatron-Infineon technology.

    “We’re excited to collaborate with Eatron to bring AI-powered battery optimization software to a wide range of industrial applications. Our PSOC microcontrollers, with their advanced machine learning capabilities, are the perfect fit for Eatron’s AI-powered software suite, enabling customers to unlock new levels of performance, reliability, and safety in their battery-powered systems,” said Cuauhtemoc Medina, industrial application manager at Infineon.

    “We are excited to expand our partnership with Infineon, combining our Advanced SoX and predictive diagnostics software, integrated on the PSOC family to provide market-leading battery management and diagnostics in various industrial applications,” said Dr. Umut Genc, CEO of Eatron.

    AI plays a key role in Infineon’s growth. The company strengthens its market position with innovations such as ultra-thin silicon (Si) wafers and 300-millimeter gallium nitride (GaN). It also leads in 200 mm silicon carbide manufacturing technology.

    Source: Infineon

    About Eatron

    Eatron Technologies, founded in 2017, is a technology company headquartered in Warwick, United Kingdom. Specializing in AI-powered battery management software, Eatron aims to unlock the full potential of batteries for vehicle and battery manufacturers worldwide. Their Intelligent Software Layer enhances battery performance, safety, and longevity by providing precise state estimations and predictive maintenance capabilities. Serving automotive, mobility, and energy storage industries, Eatron’s solutions are trusted by global OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. As of December 31, 2023, the company reported an annual revenue of approximately £4.37 million ($5.44 million) and employed 28 people.

    About Infineon

    Infineon Technologies AG, established in 1999 as a spin-off from Siemens AG, is a German semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Neubiberg, near Munich. The company specializes in designing, developing, and manufacturing a wide range of semiconductor products, including power semiconductors, microcontrollers, sensors, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). These products serve various industries, such as automotive, industrial power control, power and sensor systems, and connected secure systems. Infineon’s solutions are integral to applications like automotive electronics, renewable energy systems, industrial drives, consumer electronics, and security systems. As of the fiscal year ending September 2023, Infineon reported revenues exceeding €16 billion and employed approximately 58,600 people worldwide. The company operates 69 research and development locations and 17 manufacturing sites globally, underscoring its commitment to innovation and technological advancement.

  • KYOCERA AVX Launches SpiCAT SpiSCAP for Supercapacitors

    KYOCERA AVX Launches SpiCAT SpiSCAP for Supercapacitors

    FOUNTAIN INN, SC, Feb 10, 2025 – KYOCERA AVX has released a new version of its SpiCAT online simulation software dedicated to supercapacitors.

    SpiCAT online simulation software makes it easy for engineers to identify the unique characteristics of a wide variety of KYOCERA AVX components, including multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), polymer, tantalum, and niobium capacitors, multilayer varistors (MLVs), negative-temperature-coefficient (NTC) thermistors, and – now –  supercapacitors.

    Supercapacitors are electrochemical double layer capacitors that strike a beneficial balance between the capabilities of electronic or dielectric capacitors (such as ceramic, tantalum, film, and aluminium electrolytic capacitors) and batteries – namely excellent pulse power handling characteristics resulting from the combination of high capacitance and low ESR. These large-energy-storage devices can function on their own or be used alongside primary or secondary batteries. They help to increase backup time, enhance battery lifespan, and deliver quick power bursts. Their applications include power backup, energy hold-up, energy harvesting, peak power support, pulse power and battery applications in various sectors such as industrial, energy, telecommunications, automotive, transportation, and medical industries.

    The new SpiCAT SpiSCAP online simulation software for KYOCERA AVX supercapacitors makes it easy for engineers to evaluate and select SCC and SCM Series supercapacitors optimized for their applications’ discharge requirements. Based on criteria including:

    • Initial and end-of-life capacitance values, the latter of which is defined as exhibiting 70% of rated capacitance and 200% ESR
    • Initial and final voltage
    • Constant current, constant power, or constant resistance modes
    • Power (W)
    • Duration time

    Users can identify recommended supercapacitor solutions ranging from single cells and modules to series and parallel combinations of parts and enjoy one-click access to detailed information about the proposed solutions, including physical and electrical characteristics, input values, part number explanations, and even interactive voltage and current vs. time graphs.

    KYOCERA AVX supercapacitors, including SCC and SCM Series supercapacitors and supercapacitor modules, provide engineers with a number of practical advantages, such as:

    • Capacitance values extending from 0.47F to 3,000F, depending on the series
    • High pulse power and large energy storage capabilities
    • Low ESR and low leakage current ratings
    • Reliable performance and long lifetimes when designed-in
    • Support for series and parallel configurations capable of achieving custom working voltage and capacitance ratings
    • Faster charge/discharge cycles, better performance over a wider range of rated operating temperatures (-40°C to +65°C at rated voltage or +85°C with appropriate derating), and superior cycle life compared to batteries
    • The ability to extend primary and secondary battery lifetimes by a minimum of 2x on average
    • The option of bent leads, custom wiring, connectors, and solder/weld terminals
    • Rugged designs, including high-reliability, moisture-resistant models and automotive-grade options qualified to AEC-Q200
    • Competitive pricing
    • Favorable lead-times
    • Manufacturing ownership and supply chain confidence
    • Highly experienced engineering and technical support services

    These unique characteristics also enable broad application suitability. KYOCERA AVX supercapacitors are ideal for emergency memory and power backup, battery supplement, peak power assist, and pulse power applications in

    • Automation, robotics, and smart metering equipment
    • Engine and motor starters
    • Uninterruptible power supplies
    • Wind turbines
    • Mobile communications (GSM), radio (GPRS), telemetry, wireless alarm, emergency lighting, and hybrid systems
    • Handheld controllers and scanners
    • Electronic locks
    • Wearables

    “Supercapacitors, like our SCC and SCM Series, provide a number of unique advantages over both electric and dielectric capacitors and batteries and help engineers in the industrial, energy, automotive, transportation, telecommunications, commercial building, and consumer electronics markets overcome common power challenges. So, we’re very excited to release the new SpiCAT SpiSCAP online simulation software to help them evaluate and select supercapacitor solutions optimized for their unique application demands,” said Jiri Machanicek, product manager, KYOCERA AVX Components – Europe.

    About KYOCERA AVX

    KYOCERA AVX, established in 1972, is a global manufacturer and supplier of electronic components, including capacitors, inductors, resistors, filters, sensors, controls, connectors, and antennas. Serving industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, consumer electronics, industrial, and military, the company is dedicated to accelerating technological innovation and building a better future. Headquarters in Fountain Inn, SC, KYOCERA AVX operates research, development, and manufacturing facilities across more than 15 countries. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera Corporation, the company benefits from shared resources and technical expertise. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, Kyocera Corporation reported consolidated sales revenue of approximately $13.3 billion.

    Source: KYOCERA AVX

  • Nanopower Names Svein-Egil Nielsen as Chair of Board

    Nanopower Names Svein-Egil Nielsen as Chair of Board

    KRISTIANSAND, NORWAY, Feb 7, 2025 – Nanopower Semiconductor AS has appointed ex-Nordic Semiconductor chief technology officer (CTO) Svein-Egil Nielsen as the chair of its board of directors. Nanopower is a Norwegian fabless semiconductor manufacturer of the nPZero power-saving IC that reduces the power consumption of battery-powered applications by up to 90%.

    Svein-Egil Nielsen

    Nanopower CEO Tore Irgens Kuhnle said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Nielsen as the new Chair of our Board of Directors. His extensive track record and deep expertise in the semiconductor industry make him an invaluable addition. With his leadership, we are poised to accelerate both our commercial success and product innovation.’

    Svein-Egil Nielsen spent almost 20 years at Nordic Semiconductor, including 11 years as CTO after having also been the Sales & Marketing Director. Nielsen played a key role in Nordic’s development into a top global company, generating over $500 million in annual sales, offering a wide range of products.

    Nielsen said: “I am really excited to join Nanopower because I can see the combination of a unique product and a talented team all pulling in the same direction.”

    The appointment signifies Nanopower’s ambition to expand globally as it commences production of its nPZero power-saving integrated circuit. Nanopower is set to start supplying samples of nPZero to customers this quarter and is accepting orders for its nPZero evaluation board.

    Founder and departing chairman, Odd Harald Hauge, is satisfied with being succeeded by Nielsen: “Svein-Egil Nielsen brings exactly the right competence and a clear sense of mission about the difference that Nanopower can make to the world.” Odd Harald Hauge will continue on the board of Nanopower.

    Svein-Egil Nielsen’s appointment as non-executive chair of the board is effective immediately.

    About Nanopower

    Nanopower Semiconductor AS, founded in 2017, is a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Kristiansand, Norway, with additional operations in Porto, Portugal. The company specializes in ultra-low-power integrated circuits (ICs) designed to significantly reduce energy consumption in battery-powered devices. Their proprietary nPZero technology enables devices to operate in the nanoampere range during periods without wireless communication, thereby extending battery life. Nanopower serves industries such as the Internet of Things (IoT), industrial automation, and sensor networks, focusing on sustainable and scalable electronic solutions. Nanopower secured a grant of approximately $2.68 million in June 2023 to further its development efforts.

    Source: Nanopower