Hybrid Electric Vehicle Power Systems Receive Major Upgrade

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Power Systems Receive Major Upgrade

A leading company specializing in the design and production of materials for electronic thermal management, now uses AlSiC (Aluminum Silicon Carbide), a metal matrix composite ideally matched for base plates material for insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), used in power control, high-power traction, fly-by-wire applications, and Hybrid Electric Vehicle power systems.

The low isotropic coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) value of AlSiC-9 (8 ppm/°C: 30 – 100°C) is compatible with the thermal expansion value of the substrate or die used in IGBT power modules. The AlSiC CTE match lowers the mechanical stresses on IGBT die and substrates that are introduced by thermal power cycling, improving dependability of substrate attachment and reducing die cracking failures.

The device compatible AlSiC CTE removes the need for stress compensation material layers which are required in Copper (CTE = 17ppm/°C) baseplate assemblies. Removal of stress compensation materials simplifies baseplate assembly and decreases thermal resistance for AlSiC systems, meaning AlSiC systems have equal or improved thermal dissipation over Copper baseplate assemblies.

In high power applications (> 1200 V/ 400 A), IGBT modules assembled with AlSiC baseplates are found to have a service reliability of many times more thermal power cycles over Copper equivalent systems.

AlSiC is a lightweight material (1/3 that of Copper), which makes it an ideal cooler material for the weight-sensitive IGBT applications. AlSiC has higher strength and stiffness than Copper, which, combined with its lightweight nature, makes AlSiC assemblies more tolerant to shock and vibration.

The CPS AlSiC near net-shape fabrication process both produces the composite material and fabricates the product geometry, creating the design of IGBT base plates with a dome profile. This geometry improves thermal interface contact with cold plates and coolers. CPS fabricates standard of 190 mm x 140 mm, 140 mm x 130 mm and 140 mm x 70 mm base plate formats (shown) as well as custom formats.

Author: Darren Kincaid

Four Shots With Lomography

For those who want to go creative. For those who simply are looking for something that is totally new. For those who would want to deviate from the usual. For people who love photography. This is what you need. Lomography.

Well, of course, you would need the right equipment or tools to be able to do lomography. Sure you may have your digital camera to take photos however there would not be much of that kind of effect that you have been looking for. That is unless you get yourself some new lenses that would allow you to give more than what a usual digital camera would offer. Now that would mean extra money to shell out.

However, if you had a lomographic camera like the Actionsampler Flash that is available at Gadget Epoint, then you surely would not have to worry about getting new lenses. See, this camera has been designed mainly to allow you to do lomography. It is a camera that looks like your ordinary camera but allows you to take really cool pictures - those that digital cameras would have difficulty to achieve.

The Actionsampler Flash is going to give you tons of ways to show off your creativity. Just imagine, with just one click, you would be able to capture one moment in four different ways. See, this gadget has four lenses which would automatically capture that moment once you click that button. So you would be getting four images in just one photo. Now, how many of those ordinary cameras in the market have this special feature such as this?For a camera that has the power to do such a thing, the Actionsampler Flash only runs on two AA batteries. Plus, you would also be having a field day taking photos because this gadget is very handy. Just the kind of camera you would need for lomography.

Author: Paula James

Astronomy, a Lifelong Hobby

The enjoyment of astronomy can be lifelong or just a whim but a lot hinges on how you have your first experience. The mysterious and divine beauty of the universe that you can discover could lead to many hours of pleasure but if there is no proper guidance, there can be many hours of disappointment. So it is essential that you get the right and best telescope that you can afford.

When you are just starting out, do not attach too high an expectation that the universe will open up to your inquisitive nature. Those that you see in fancy science magazines are attributable to high level telescopes that only scientist and astronomer get access to. The sparkling stars that we see at night are just the tip and astronomy can offer many insights to our fabulous universe.

As a beginner, be circumspect before you look to acquire as some cheap telescopes have optics that verge on the worst, offering you hardly any view. But with a decent telescope, you can see the rings of Saturn and the disc of Jupiter. As you get more experience, you can make more sightings but don’t set too high expectations such as able to pinpoint planets that you find in glossy magazine.

Before you probe deeper into astronomy, try to read magazines for instant “Sky and Telescope” to get an idea of how it is like. Astronomy is a joy and each finding add to your knowledge and satisfaction that our mysterious universe offer.

To the absolute beginner, you can start with binocular and then advance to a full telescope. The portability and price tag is added attraction for anyone who is just beginning to learn astronomy. The basic telescopes usually come in reflecting and refracting types but reflecting types are less costly and enable you to view galaxies. Refracting telescope, on the other hand allow you to observe planets and stars but considerably more costly.

As telescope is bulkier, you can mount it on a tripod. When you are more experienced, you can try out different telescopes and find one that is suitable for you. Getting a used telescope can build you from the ground up and the alternatives are many. Choose one that you are at ease with and you will be on your way to a lifelong hobby that astronomy can offer. The universe is vast and mysterious and astronomy offers the opportunity to appreciate more of the existence of life and many of the inexplicable things that we are still trying to figure out.

Author: Jhye

The Asus Multimedia Laptop and the Philips Cineos LCD TV

This year, laptops and LCD TVs

have been very popular purchases with customers and with so many to choose from it can be difficult to make the distinction between them all. Here are two of the most impressive gadgets around that may help entice you into making a decision about what you would like to own more. The first of the two electrical gadgets up for discussion is the Asus M70. This laptop

in the Asus range has been described as an ultimate multimedia laptop and it’s easy to see why when you look at its specs. It has an incredible, and almost unheard of, one terabyte of storage (TB), and to really show why it’s an ultimate multimedia device, it has a built-in Blu-ray drive that can be used for watching high definition films when you are on the go. These specs really do make this machine stand out from other laptops that are on the market at the moment and on top of those already mentioned the laptop also has an Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor, a 17-inch light-sensitive high definition (1920 x 1280) screen, built-in Altec lancing speakers and subwoofer for a more powerful and defined sound and an ATI HD3650 graphics card with 1GB VRAM and also 4GB of DDR2 memory. These impressive features mean that this laptop is essentially unrivalled in its capabilities and it also uses innovative technology in its mouse pad which doubles as a control panel which assists finger tip system control when using the laptop. An LCD TV that seems to tick all the boxes and is also very impressive to look at, with its smooth edges and glossy appearance, is the Philips Cineos, well the Philips Cineos 42PFL9703 to be precise. This TV is another one of Philips’ sets that uses the Ambilight technology. The idea of lighting the wall behind the TV is not to everyone’s taste but for many it is a very popular asset. However, this TV has a different form of the Ambilight, rather than forward-facing lights, it has a third light strip that is situated at the top of the unit. This promises to immerse you even further into the film that you are watching. However, this 42-inch TV has far more to offer its owner than this alone. The Philips Cineos also produces a really crisp sound. The speakers are designed to give out a high frequency sound without any obstruction, making your viewing experience even better.

The Asus M70 in the Asus range of laptops has been described as an ultimate multimedia laptop and it’s easy to see why when you look at its specs. These specs really do make this machine stand out from other laptops that are on the market at the moment. An LCD TV that seems to tick all the boxes and is also very impressive to look at, with its smooth edges and glossy appearance, is the Philips Cineos.

Author: Gill Critchley