(Boucherville, QC) TM4, leader in the design and production of power electronics and permanent magnet motors and generators, officially announces its participation in Google’s “Little Box Challenge” to design the industry’s most power dense inverter.
The objective of the competition, supervised by Google and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), is to create an inverter a tenth of the usual size with the highest power density possible (at least 50 watts per cubic inch) to “help revolutionize electricity for the next century”, as cited by Google. The greatest challenge in reducing an inverter’s size resides in thermal management, such as the ability to minimize and evacuate heat losses.
Inverters are electronic devices converting direct current into alternative current and are essential for an array of applications. They are a vital component of electric drivetrains, which have been the focus of TM4’s research and development efforts for many decades. TM4 is recognized for its expertise in development and production of power electronics modules and control algorithms solutions. In recent years, TM4 has patented the ReflexTM Gate Driver Technology, a technology that maximises the efficiency and performance of gate transistors. In some conditions, ReflexTM allows for more than 100% increase in current (Arms/phase), therefore significantly increasing the inverter’s power density.
To take on the challenge, TM4 has joined forces with many partners, such as Mersen, global expert in electrical specialties and graphite-based materials, the PRIMES innovation platform for its abilities in integration and installation of power chips, Griset for its iTBC® patented technology, Novo for its electronic expertise, Transfab for its magnetic components solutions and Creaform for its high-end packaging knowledge. Other contributors such as Solmeg, an electronic design expert, and MAYA HTT, a thermal management simulation specialist, are also to be mentioned.
Participants must submit a technical approach and testing application by July, 2015. The grand prize winner will be announced in January, 2016.
