How to Use an SMU Instrument in Charge/Discharge Cycling for Battery Characterization

Mary Anne Tupta
Keithley Instruments, a Tektronix Company

Rechargeable batteries power a rapidly expanding range of electronic devices, from laptops and tablets to mobile phones and wearable health-monitoring devices. When purchasing these devices, consumers typically take a hard look at battery life and recharge times; operating time is often a deciding factor in the purchase of a mobile device. As a result, researchers are studying ways to increase battery life and decrease the cost of rechargeable batteries. Read more about How to Use an SMU Instrument in Charge/Discharge Cycling for Battery Characterization

Protecting Batteries that Protect Your Power System

Wally Vahlstrom, Director of Technical Services
Emerson Network Power, Electrical Reliability Services

According to the US Department of Energy, reported electric emergency incidents and disturbances are on the rise with approximately 23 percent more events reported last year as compared to 2013. These outages or disturbances can cost facilities thousands or even millions of dollars if their emergency power systems do not immediately switch on and provide back-up power. Read more about Protecting Batteries that Protect Your Power System

Five Building Blocks of Self-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes

Niranjan Pathare, Battery Management Solutions Marketing,
Will Cooper, MSP Microcontroller Product Marketing
Texas Instruments

Today, autonomous sensors are in use for a variety of applications. Typically found in smart buildings and factories, these sensing applications include humidity, temperature, and chemical gas monitoring. They are often placed in remote locations where line power is unavailable, so rely heavily on battery power to function. In order to provide dependable operation, batteries have to be changed often, adding to the total cost of ownership. Ownership cost includes expensive labor needed to change the batteries during routine maintenance. Read more about Five Building Blocks of Self-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes

Wearable Medical Devices Embrace Lithium Polymer Cells

Jeffrey VanZwol, VP, Business Development
Chris Turner, VP, Technology
ICCNexergy, Inc.

During the past few years, there has been an increase in demand for wearable devices from an audience both young and old. Some medical devices provide preventative functions, such as monitoring disorders, enabling early intervention and avoidance of complications. Other devices are reactive and can detect if an elderly patient has fallen, needs emergency assistance, has wandered outside a specific perimeter, or needs a reminder to take prescribed medications at the appropriate time of the day. Still other wearables allow consumers of all ages to monitor their own health and fitness, whether to help them lose weight, reach exercise/fitness goals or sleep better. Read more about Wearable Medical Devices Embrace Lithium Polymer Cells

Tesla’s iPhone Moment: How the Powerwall will Change Global Energy Use

Isidor Buchmann, CEO and Founder
Cadex Electronics Inc.

The Tesla battery that Elon Musk announced gets much media attention, and rightly so. The Powerwall, as the Tesla battery is called, can store energy from renewable sources from solar panels and wind turbines to supplement energy needs and reduce the electrical bill. According to Musk, “Our goal is to fundamentally change the way the world uses energy.” This is a noble endeavor at a time when humanity draws more resources than our mother earth can give. Read more about Tesla’s iPhone Moment: How the Powerwall will Change Global Energy Use

Battery Demands for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Gale Kimbrough, Technical Services Manager
Interstate Batteries

Many years ago, a vehicle’s cranking cycle demanded a longer duration (five to 30 seconds) due to non-electronic ignition systems and carbureted engines. Some carbureted engines required multiple accelerator hits prior to cranking, while others required only one depression. Read more about Battery Demands for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow