Bourns has developed what it says is the industry’s first planar signal transformer for battery management systems, meeting the need for planar technology that can provide reliable and safe communication in a growing group of high voltage electric vehicle and other high energy storage systems. In another recent product introduction, the manufacturer of electronic components for power, protection and sensing solutions has developed a compact new power inductor with a metal alloy powder core and low magnetic field radiation for EV battery charging.
The SM91806 Planar Signal BMS Transformer meets basic electric insulation requirements per IEC 60664-1, IEC 61558-1 and IEC 62368-1 standards. It features a working voltage up to 1000 VDC and a partial discharge level up to 1200 V for ESS usage.
Planar-style signal transformers have been introduced to increase design flexibility and robustness. They are also known to deliver cost efficiency and reliability advantages over conventional wire wound transformer designs due to their multilayer PCB isolation and full automation, notes the company. While the geometric differences (mainly in the total height of the finished product) can be seen, planar type geometries can offer several design advantages. Planar cores typically have a larger cross-section area of the center core leg. This leads to a reduced number of wire turns needed to achieve a desired magnetizing inductance. Finished planar magnetic devices are assembled using printed circuit board windings, interleaved helical-wound or ring-stamped flat wire or key sheet style windings. Each of these forms to create wire turns in the device all but eliminate the need for a bobbin or coil former to wind wire around.
It also has introduced a compact, low profile form factor product extension to its SRP3212 Series high current shielded power inductor family. The new model measures 3.2 x 2.5 x 1 mm and is manufactured with a metal alloy powder core and shielded construction featuring high saturation currents, high heating currents, and low magnetic field radiation. This inductor is part of a reference design with certain Texas Instruments battery chargers. Due to its flat wire construction that improves efficiency, it offers a significant reduction in DCR compared to other similarly sized power inductors that use conventional wire, well-suited for DC-DC converters and consumer electronics. See www.bourns.com.
