Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1483624
NOVEMBER 2022 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 55 try out this solution for your next project. We think you will be happy with the results. e benefits speak for themselves: fewer fail- ures, a more consistent product, and happier customers. DESIGN007 Matt Stevenson is the VP of sales and marketing at Sunstone Circuits. To read past columns, click here. Download The Printed Circuit Designer's Guide to... Designing for Reality by Matt Stevenson. Implementing the Design e most efficient way to implement this is to make it part of your package definition— making it uniformly applied to all similar parts. Unfortunately, many CAD packages do not support the direct addition of vias and copper planes to package designs. One workaround is to create square SMD pads to act as the top and bottom copper sinks, as well as small plated through-hole pads to act as the vias. ese can then be configured as unconnected pins in your component definition. You may also have to create custom paste and solder masks for these pins. If you are running into failures that may be caused by solder problems with thermal pads, The new IDTechEx report, "Electric Cars 2023- 2043," provides a deep dive into future automotive markets and identifies five key trends: Advanced Li-ion Battery Cells & Packs Li-ion batteries based on graphite anodes and layered oxide cathodes have come to dominate large parts of the electric vehicle markets. However, as they start to reach their performance limits and as environmental and supply risks are highlighted, improvements and alternatives to Li-ion batteries become increasingly important. Power Electronics In automotive power electronics (inverters, onboard chargers, DC-DC converters), key advance- ments are being made to improve powertrain effi- ciency, allowing for either battery pack capacity reduction or improved range. One of the key ave- nues to achieving greater efficiencies is the transi- tion to silicon carbide MOSFETs and high voltage vehicle platforms at or above 800V. Electric Motors Electric motor markets are still evolving today with new designs improving power and torque density. These are not just incremental improvements either, with developments such as axial flux motors and various OEMs eliminating rare-earths altogether. Fuel Cells Opportunities for fuel cells in car markets are limited, although markets are still growing, under- pinned by government support. The deployment of fuel cells within vehicles is not a new concept. Major OEMs have invested large sums over the past 30 years in advancing the technology. Autonomy "Autonomous vehicle" is an umbrella term for the six levels as defined by the SAE. Today, most new cars are arriving with the option of level 2 function- ality, and the industry is technically ready for level 3 once regulatory hurdles clear. (Source: PRNewswire) IDTechEx Reports on Five Key Trends for Tomorrow's Electric Car