Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are an essential part of modern motor controller design, enabling precise regulation of AC motor speed and torque. They operate by converting fixed-frequency AC power from the grid into DC, then inverting it back into AC at the desired frequency and voltage. 

Engineers designing for medical imaging and high-frequency applications need components that ensure minimal power loss, high signal integrity, and zero magnetic interference.

Knowles’ new FM2 range of Non-Magnetic X7R Low Loss Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs) is engineered to deliver superior RF efficiency and uncompromised reliability. These MLCCs provide lower equivalent series resistance (ESR)/higher Q factor compared to standard X7R capacitors, making them ideal for MRI systems and low-noise amplifier (LNA) applications. 

More than 3 million people in the United States alone rely on a pacemaker to regulate their heart rhythm. While the battery may be the most recognizable component in the system, capacitors are just as essential to ensure these implantable devices function safely and reliably over time. 

In high-voltage, high-reliability applications, safety is non-negotiable, which is why safety capacitors are essential. These passive components are engineered to mitigate the risks associated with transient voltages and electrical interference, helping protect both users and equipment from hazards, even in the event of component failure.

Powering everything from pulsed lasers to experimental fusion reactors, pulsed power systems demand fast, controlled energy delivery. High-performance capacitors are key to this capability. 

In an AC/DC converter, power factor correction (PFC) circuits are required to ensure the input current is in phase with and proportional to the input voltage, improving power quality and efficiency. But the high-frequency switching that occurs in the PFC circuit can generate significant electromagnetic interference (EMI). To prevent this noise from disrupting nearby electronics or violating regulatory limits, EMI filters are essential. This blog post provides a comprehensive guide for selecting the appropriate safety capacitors to perform EMI filtering in the PFC stage of an AC/DC converter.

Electronic devices power our world and allow us to communicate. In all applications requiring signal integrity and accurate power amplification, blocking capacitors are used to provide clean waveforms and correctly amplified voltages.

From EVs and industrial automation to renewable energy and smart logistics, power systems are becoming increasingly complex. As a result, they’re increasingly dependent on reliable, high-speed energy storage too. Enter supercapacitors, a critical technology bridging the gap between traditional batteries and real-time power demands.  

As discussed in the first post in our safety capacitor series, safety capacitors are designed to help safeguard users and equipment from electrical hazards, even in the event of failure. When selecting a safety capacitor for your application, you typically have two choices in dielectric material – ceramic and film. To select the right technology for your application, it is important to both understand your requirements and the differences between what each material has to offer.

Improving overall system performance starts with foundational component selections. Growing demand for high-energy, reliable and compact converters in electric vehicles (EVs) and other industrial and energy applications is encouraging development in components likemultilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). MLCCs are known for their excellent electrical properties, reliability, and compact size; however, the demands they face only continue to grow.