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. 

Knowles’ DSM supercapacitor modules use EDLC cells in series to expand energy storage capacity across a broader voltage range. Their instant charge and discharge capabilities outperform batteries, but without the shipping restrictions, thermal runaway risks, or much shorter lifespans associated with lithium-ion technology. 

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. 

Operating in high humidity settings exposes electronic components to severe degradation risks. Moisture leads to corrosion, insulation breakdown and reduced lifespan over time. Expertly engineered components enable reliable performance under these harsh conditions.

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.

Many applications today increasingly demand miniaturized surface-mount components that can perform reliably at ever-increasing working and testing voltages. As a result, Knowles recently released a new range of X1/Y2 safety-certified surface-mount multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). 

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.