A power amplifier that takes in the low power input with the help of a controller IC and generates a high current gate drive for a power device is known as a gate driver. It is utilized whenever a PWM controller is not able to provide the output current needed to drive the gate capacitance of the power device linked to it.

In the power electronic systems, the gate driver circuit is the most important part. It forms an interface between the control circuits and the high-power electronics and is utilized to drive powerful semiconductor devices. The output from the SMPS and DC-DC converters depends mainly on the gate driver's circuits. This leads to the conclusion that if the gate driver circuit is not able to drive the gate of a power device in the right manner, the output of the DC-DC converter will not be as per the design requirement. Thus, the gate driver circuit’s design is significant in the structuring of power electronic converters.

Gate Drivers Types

1. High Side Low Side Drivers – This kind of gate drivers is utilized in driving 2 switches that are connected in the bridge arrangements (both ground referenced and floating switches).
2. Low Side Drivers - This kind of gate drivers is utilized in driving ground-referenced switches.

Gate Driver Isolation

Gate drive circuits for power converters and inverters commonly require electrical isolation for both safety and functional purposes. Isolation is ordered by administrative and security accreditation organizations to forestall stun dangers. The gate drivers also help in protecting low voltage electronics from any kind of damage caused by faults on the high power side circuit. On the control side, these drivers also provide protection from error due to humans. In the system, due to the electrical separation between several functional circuits, a direct conductional path between them is prevented. Not only this, but it also enables individual circuits to have different ground voltage. Power and signals can still pass between isolated circuits with the help of capacitive, optical, or inductive methods.

Several applications of power devices need an isolated gate drive circuit. For instance, in power converter topologies like the two-switch forward, buck, active-clamp forward, full-bridge and, half-bridge, both the high as well as low switches are present because low side drivers cannot be utilized directly for driving the higher power equipment. This equipment needs an isolated gate driver because the emitter and source of the upper devices are not sitting at the ground potential.

Two things are required for driving high side switches:

• Level shifter - to pass on the PWM control signal to the floating driver circuitry.
• Floating Supply – to support any circuitry by providing power with this floating midpoint potential.

Techniques of Isolation

Generally, there are two most common methods to actualize isolated gate drivers:

• Optical – Takes place with the help of Opt coupler.
• Magnetic – Takes place with the help of Gate drive transformers.

This was all we have regarding Gate drivers. Hope you liked going through it. Brands that manufacture them are TE Connectivity, ITT, and Molex. Make sure to visit them using the links as provided.

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A modular connector is a kind of electrical connector for cables and cords used in electrical appliances, like telecommunication equipment, computer networking as well as audio headsets.

Initially, during the 1960s, the modular connector was made for utilization on some Bell System telephone sets. A similar category of them found its use in the simple interconnection of client-provided phone supporter premises hardware to the telephone network. In 1976 the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) mandated an interface registration system where they were popularly called registered jacks. The comfort of earlier presence for planners and convenience prompted an expansion of modular connectors for several other applications. Applications that initially used an expensive and bulkier connector have changed over to modular connectors. Presently the most popular applications of this equipment are Ethernet and telephone.

Nomenclature

A modular connector is more popularly known as RJ connector, Western Jack and Plug and Modular Phone Jack and Plug. The term 'modular connector' came from its initial utilization in modular wiring equipment of telephone components in the 1960s by the Western Electric Company. This includes the 4P4C used in handset connectors and the 6P2C used in telephone lines.

Registered Jack designations depict the wiring and signal utilized for data and voice correspondence at client confronting interfaces of the public switched telephone network. To refer to the physical jack, a registered jack number is used. For example, the 4P4C connector is inaccurately called RJ22 or RJ9. Likewise, the 8P8C connectors are sometimes erroneously known as RJ45. A popular use of these types of connectors is Ethernet over twisted pair.

History

In the middle of the 1960s, some of the first modular telephone connectors came into the market. It was made by AT&T for the line cords of the Trimline telephone as well as for plug-in handset. Driven by the interest for numerous sets in homes with different cord lengths, the Bell System brought customer connectable part telephones and kits which was sold by Phone Center stores. In 1976, these modular connectors were institutionalized broadly in the United States by the FCC's (Federal Communications Commission Registration Interface Program.

Gender

Modular connectors comes in gender.

• Male is the plug.
• Females are the jacks and sockets.

Cords and cables are terminated using plugs. On the other hand, jacks offer a fixed location on the surface of panels, equipment, and walls. Apart from the telephone extension cord, cables having a jack at one end and a modular plug on the other are the rarest. Rather, cables are typically associated utilizing a female to female adapter, consisting of 2 jacks wired back to back.

Modular connectors are constructed to latch together. As soon as the plug gets inserted inside a jack, the plug is locked by a plastic tab such that it can’t be pulled out. To expel the plug, the hooking tab must be discouraged against the plug to clear the locking edge.

This was all we have regarding the modular connector. Hope you liked it. Brands that manufacture them are TE Connectivity, Molex and Amphenol. Make sure to follow them using the links as provided.

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These blade-shaped plugs and sockets, popularly known as Jones or Cinch Jones Power Connectors are strong and durable and is used in the industrial applications for quite a long time. These blade connectors are best for those types of equipment that require a current of high capacity. They are best in that situation where un-mating and mating is done most often. These plugs and socket is a good choice to select in place of high-reliability connectors which are not that cheap.

Howard P Jones Company was the main founder of this connector. They called this item as "Jones" plugs and socket in their promotional catalogs and literature. Today we have popular brands like Molex, Bel Fuse and TE Connectivity which manufactures them. You can refer them using the links as provided.

Applications of Cinch Jones Blade type connectors

• Industrial Controls
• Media Equipment
• Data Processing Controls
• Test Equipment
• Amusement / Vending Machines
• Communication Equipment
• Security Systems

Specification of Cinch Jones Blade type connectors

• Insulator: Black phenolic for general purpose, Molded monoblock
• Operating Temperature: Up to a threshold of 150 degrees Celsius.
• Contact Style: Plug comes with projected flat blades. 500,400 and 300 have recessed twin bellows and 2400 series has recessed bifurcated twin.
• Intermateability: The 2400 and 400 series are intermateable.
• Polarization: To prevent insertion in the wrong way, all kinds of "Jones" sockets and plugs are polarized.
• Contact Material: Sockets are Cadmium plated phosphor bronze and plug are Cadmium plated brass.
• Cable Clamps: Zinc, electroplating of bright nickel, irridite-plated steel

Advantages of Jones Plugs and sockets

• Robust and strong blade contacts help in the prevention of damage due to uneven mating.
• You will be getting guaranteed high reliability at a sensible expense.
• A twofold wipe socket and a flat blade mating in contact; the measure of the surface territory is extensively bigger than with pin contacts.
• Flat blade connectors are much more durable than hollow pin connectors.

Breakdown of the part number of blade type power connectors

                               P  -  3  06  -  AB  -  04

P – Type ; P is for Plug and S is for Socket

3 – Series

06 – Number of Contacts

AB – Mounting

04 – Options

For the Mounting part:

• AB - Angle bracket
• DB - Deep bracket
• EB - End bracket
• FP - Flush plate
• LAB - Less angle bracket
• RP - Recessed plate
• SB - Shallow bracket
• CCE - Cable clamp end
• CCT - Cable clamp top
• CCE-K - Cable clamp end with keepers
• CCT-K - Cable clamp top with keepers
• CCE-L - Cable clamp end with locks
• CCT-L - Cable clamp top with locks
• FHE - Flared hole end
• FHT - Flared hole top

For the Options part:

• 03 - Silver contact plating
• 04 - Gold contact plating
• 05 - Rhodium contact plating
• M - Metal backshell
• 63A-AB - Panel lock
• 63A-SB - Panel lock
• 63A-DB - Panel lock
• 2 - Cable clamp
• 17 - Cable clamp
• 47 - Cable clamp
• 59 - Cable clamp
• 78 - Cable clamp
• 98 - Cable clamp

We hope that you have got a brief idea regarding Jones Plug and Socket. Thanks for reading.

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