"Magnetics and electronics designs have a close connection"
( 01 Jul 2006 )
by Kirtimaya Varma, Editor-in-Chief
EDN Asia interviewed Karl-Heinz Wichmann, Managing Director of Vacuumschmelze Asia, about the impact of magnetic technology on electronics designs. Excerpts.
How has magnetic technology impacted electronics design? Karl-Heinz Wichmann: Magnetic technology, especially components based on amorphous or nanocrystalline core materials, offer a unique combination of properties that led to significant miniaturization on the one hand, and paved the way to innovative solutions in high-tech areas such as automotive, power generation and distribution, and digital telecommunication on the other.
What are the greatest challenges that magnetic technology is facing today? How will these challenges be overcome? Karl-Heinz Wichmann: One great challenge is the increasing raw material cost of key elements such as nickel or cobalt. We are confronting this with long term strategic purchasing activities, productivity improvement programs and reduced material content through innovation of our alloys.
What changes are taking place in magnetic technology that an electronics designer should be aware of? Karl-Heinz Wichmann: Over the past years the magnetic properties of soft-magnetic and permanent magnetic alloys have been continuously improving thereby opening new design possibilities to our customers. Improving magnetic properties continues to drive the R&D efforts in magnetic technology.
How will these changes affect electronics design? Karl-Heinz Wichmann: New materials or materials with improved properties offer electronics designers further miniaturization of their designs as well as performance enhancement of their products.
Which new applications are emerging in electronics using magnetic technology? Karl-Heinz Wichmann: Modern automotive technology is increasingly using electronics for a variety of applications. A few examples are passenger comfort systems, active safety systems (ABS, ESP, ASR) and engine monitoring systems. These systems are driven by control units which require space- and weight optimized electronics components with high reliability and long life properties.
What new magnetic materials are being developed that could significantly impact electronics design? Karl-Heinz Wichmann: Magnetics and electronics designs are in a close relation and are influencing each other in many variations. Driving factors are technology trends like higher power densities, smaller and lighter devices and the ubiquitous cost factor. Ideally, “high-tech” should come along with cost savings. A good example are EMC chokes with nano-crystalline magnetic material, which enable smaller designs and can, in many cases, even reduce the number of filter stages.
Can you say something about new products and technologies that Vacuumschmelze is working on? Karl-Heinz Wichmann: Vacuumschmelze’s focus is on competitive products with advanced magnetic materials like nanocrystalline alloys for applications like EMC chokes, current transformers and current sensors for drives, UPS and welding. All products are developed in order to make efficient use of the superior magnetic properties to enable our customers to design cost-competitive and differentiated products.
What perceptions does Vacuumschmelze have of Asia as a design and development base in magnetic technology especially with regard to its use in electronics design? Karl-Heinz Wichmann: Materials and magnetic technology design and development of Vacuumschmelze will remain at its HQ in Germany. With regards to applications designs for inductive components, we see a trend to move these activities closer to our customers in key geographical markets.
EDN Asia interviewed Karl-Heinz Wichmann, Managing Director of Vacuumschmelze Asia, about the impact of magnetic technology on electronics designs. Excerpts.
