A most integral appliance in any home is a washing machine. Washing machines have helped make the chore of cleaning clothes quite effortless. Like many modern appliances, washing machines today use a variety of sensors to ensure proper, safe, and energy-efficient operation. Littelfuse’s magnetic sensor products help make these appliances as reliable as ever.

  Appliances like refrigerators, freezers, and wine coolers traditionally consume significant amounts of energy, thus not being very environmental-friendly. Like many modern appliances, refrigerator and freezer microprocessor based controllers allow the use of a variety of sensors to ensure proper, safe, and energy-efficient operation.

  The completion of Littelfuse acquisition of IXYS Corporation has been announced. IXYS is a global pioneer in the power semiconductor market with a focus on medium- to high voltage power semiconductors across the industrial, communications, consumer and medical device markets.

Littelfuse has introduced two series of SIDACtor protection thyristors optimised to protect equipment located in high exposure environments from severe overvoltage transients. The Pxxx0MEL 5kA series and Pxxx0FNL 3kA series SIDACtor protection thyristors offer enhanced reliability through multiple high energy surge events.

  Clothes dryers have had a history of being energy inefficient ranked only behind the refrigerators and freezers.

  In applications such as uninterruptible power supplies, HVAC, smart meters, power inverters, and three phase AC/DC power supplies, high voltage AC power lines require robust overcurrent protection - the kind that high voltage AC fuses can deliver. Circuit designers now have a new, compact, fast-acting option for these applications.

  The kitchen is said to be the most important room of a home, while cooking is the centre and focal point when using the kitchen. The design of ranges, which includes the stove and cook top have improved with better cooking features and efficiencies. Electric ranges are the most popular while gas controlled ovens are also available.

  Keeping both business and personal communications moving depends on our ability to recharge devices quickly and safely. However, without the right circuit protection, charging cables and connectors can be damaged by the heat generated by faults within the cable connector or port.

  SiC high voltage MOSFETs and diodes are wide bandgap devices that ensure low conduction and low switching loss. Maximising their performance requires more than just plugging them into your application.

How would your next power electronics application benefit from higher efficiency, greater robustness, and reduced need for thermal management? With negligible reverse recovery, the new LSIC2SD120 Series of SiC Schottky Diodes reduces switching losses dramatically to boost system efficiency. They also support large surge currents and have a high maximum junction temperature of 175°C.

Approximately 25% of global energy consumption goes to lighting applications, so making lighting more efficient could have a dramatic impact on overall energy usage or make more power available for other uses. Legislation designed to discourage the use of incandescent lamps has been a significant factor in the growth in demand for LED lighting equipment. At the same time, both consumers and industrial users are incre...

  Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are fast becoming the most popular lighting option. Industry forecasts anticipate the market will continue to expand at an annual rate of 20% from 2011 to 2016, with the greatest growth coming in the commercial and industrial lighting sectors.

  Does your phone often struggle to survive day-to-day use? Constant tweeting draining your battery? Not enough charge to send a picture of a dachshund to your best friend? 

  Dishwashers are one of the most improved appliances for the kitchen over the last few years. Upgrades include more thorough cleaning/washing cycles while still lowering water usage and energy consumption.

  Over 6 billion devices are connected today in the Internet of Things (IoT), and this number is expected to rapidly grow for years to come. All of these connected devices require a power source and means of connectivity, which, if left unprotected, could be failure points when exposed to electrical threats.

  Thanks to the data transfer speeds (10Gbps or higher), power capabilities (up to 100W), a smaller size, and reversible fit, USB Type C is becoming the preferred connection method for smart phones, tablets, & many other mobile devices which use Li-ion batteries.

  In this video, Littelfuse explores the advances and challenges of the Li-on revolution. Discover more and learn how to manage the risks.

  In this video, Corey Deyalsingh, Director Power Semiconductor, Electronics at Littelfuse explains the concept of ‘The Total Product Ownership Experience’. 

Littelfuse's goal is to make appliances easier to use; these things include being self-sufficient, self-running, safer, smarter and more user friendly. These things translate to making life easier. The company is driving miniaturisation and longevity, long term reliability.

It is highly unlikely that anyone reading this article is unfamiliar with the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). This disruptive power transistor, first commercialised in the early 1980s, has had an enormous positive impact on the power electronics industry, enabling innovative converter design, improved system efficiencies, and worldwide energy savings. Indeed, some estimates suggest the IGBT has helped forestall 75 trillion pounds of CO2...