Beyond the Microchip

Episode 022 - Space Power and the Greatest Selfie Ever Taken

You’ve probably seen the photo.
 
"Earthrise" is one of the most significant photographs in the history of human civilization, and certainly the most iconic in space exploration. Taken by astronaut William Anders during the Apollo 8 mission, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon, on December 24, 1968, this photograph captured the imagination of the world.
 
The image itself is remarkably simple, yet its impact was immediate and profound. It shows the Earth rising above the lunar horizon, with our planet's blue and white colors standing out against the stark, barren surface of the Moon, all surrounded by the black vacuum of space. Our little blue dot, floating in the vastness of the cosmos.
 
Fast forward to today, and we have thousands of satellites in orbit, looking back at us. These satellites perform a variety of critical tasks, from positioning, navigation, and timing to telecommunications. But above all else, they continue the legacy of "Earthrise" by keeping an eye on our planet.
 
Satellites today are active participants in managing and understanding our planet, monitoring weather, ocean currents, and topographical changes. They track the health of coral reefs, They play crucial roles in agriculture by predicting crop yields, in urban development by aiding city planners, and in disaster response by providing real-time data on natural catastrophes. Additionally, satellites are instrumental in climate science, measuring greenhouse gas concentrations, monitoring polar ice caps, and tracking health of coral reefs. They also contribute to conservation efforts by tracking animal migrations and monitoring endangered species.    —essentially, they take selfies of Earth.
 
Next time you open up Google Earth or a similar maps application, you’re seeing the result of this advanced photographic technology. But unlike the modified Hasselblad camera used by Anders, today's satellites are far more sophisticated, and their power requirements are much more complex. The first lunar module was famously less powerful than the smartphones we carry in our pockets. When our phones run out of battery, we simply plug them into the wall and wait for recharge.
 
Satellites, however, face a different challenge entirely.
 
Space power design is a daunting task. Here on Earth, we can dispatch a service technician to fix issues as they arise. Up there, satellites are on their own. This is where advanced power management and delivery systems come into play, and the need for radiation-tolerant components qualified for space applications becomes critical. These systems must capture energy from solar panels and distribute it efficiently to each function within the spacecraft, often at ever-increasing voltages. There’s no room for error; the components need to be installed and designed right the first time.
 
In sum, satellites have evolved from simple observational tools to complex systems that provide critical data for a wide range of applications, all aimed at making our lives better and our planet more sustainable. As we continue to push the boundaries of what these incredible machines can do, the importance of reliable and efficient power management systems cannot be overstated.
 
How can Microchip Technology power and drive the evolution of satellite technology?
 
Links from the episode:
Rad-Hard MOSFET landing page - Radiation-Hardened Power MOSFETs | Microchip Technology
Space brochure - Space Solutions Brochure
 
Guest: Oscar Mansilla

Episode 021 - Greenwashing, Last Mile Power and Power-over-Ethernet

The term "greenwashing" was coined back in 1983 by environmentalist Jay Westerfeld while surfing in Fiji. He later published an essay in 1986 titled "It All Comes Out in the Greenwash," highlighting how companies were making misleading claims about their environmental practices. Fast forward to today, greenwashing has become a sophisticated art form and big business, with some of the world's largest corporations caught in the act.
 
Whether through misleading marketing in examples like Volkswagen, BP, Nestle, and Fiji Water, or in financial manipulation used by hedge funds and inconsistency among ratings agencies, it’s clear the line between genuine sustainability and greenwashing can often be blurred.
 
One bright spot in the haze is the emergence of modern building efficiency standards that are re-imagining actual sustainability goals.
Standards like LEED, BREEAM, Net Zero Energy Building, and the Living Building Challenge set rigorous criteria for energy efficiency, water conservation, and overall environmental impact.
These standards all contribute to a major challenge for sustainability: last-mile power.
 
"Last mile power" refers to the final stage of the electricity delivery process from the power distribution network to the end user, such as homes, businesses, and other facilities. This term is borrowed from telecommunications, where "last mile" describes the final leg of the network that delivers services to customers. In the context of power delivery, it involves the infrastructure and technologies that ensure electricity reaches its final destination efficiently and reliably.
 
Greenfield construction projects benefit from these new standards where everything can be designed from scratch, but what about brownfield solutions for the last mile?
 
That’s where modern technology solutions like power-over-ethernet, or PoE, can make a real impact on efficiency and reliability without resorting to manipulation to achieve sustainability targets. Where simple modifications using existing infrastructure can make a big impact. 
 
How can Microchip Technology prevent greenwashing through real, tangible sustainability solutions?
 
Links from the episode:
www.microchip/com/poe
https://www.thesinclairhotel.com/technology 
 
Guests: 
Alan Jay Zwiren

Episode 020 - Silicon Carbide and it’s positive impact on efficiency of heat pumps

 
Imagine living in complete comfort - a home that's perfectly warm in winter and delightfully cool in summer, all while your energy bills shrink and your carbon footprint fades. This isn't just a dream; it's what every homeowner and business owner wants: A solution that aligns personal comfort with planetary wellbeing, while keeping more money in their pockets.
But here's the challenge we face: traditional heating and cooling systems, which most homes still rely on, are like hungry giants, devouring energy and money with remarkable inefficiency. Gas furnaces burn through fossil fuels, while conventional air conditioners strain electrical grids during peak seasons, especially here in the Phoenix desert.
As utility costs soar and climate concerns mount, homeowners find themselves caught between comfort and conscience, between their monthly bills and their environmental impact.
The status quo isn't just expensive - it's unsustainable.
Enter the heat pump - nature's answer to this modern dilemma. Unlike traditional systems that generate heat through energy-intensive processes, heat pumps perform an elegant dance with natural temperature gradients. They simply move heat from where it isn't wanted to where it is, like a skilled conductor directing an orchestra of comfort. In summer, they guide warm air out of your home; in winter, they extract heat from the outdoor air (yes, even in cold climates) and channel it inside.
This natural approach yields remarkable results. For every unit of electricity consumed, heat pumps generate four to five units of heating or cooling energy - an efficiency rate that makes traditional systems look like gas-guzzling relics. They come in various forms: air-source pumps offer an accessible entry point, while geothermal systems tap into the earth's constant temperatures for unmatched efficiency. Water-source variants provide another alternative for homes near suitable water bodies.
The transformation is already underway.
In the United States, heat pump installations have surpassed traditional gas furnaces in new construction, signaling a shift in how we think about home comfort. As more homeowners discover that they can save money while saving the planet, the momentum only grows.
And here's where the story gets even better: the latest generation of heat pumps, powered by silicon carbide technology, pushes these efficiency boundaries even further.
In a world grappling with climate change and rising energy costs, heat pumps offer more than just a solution - they provide a path forward. They remind us that sometimes the most powerful answers are the ones that work in harmony with nature, proving that comfort, conscience, and cost savings can coexist beautifully under one roof.
 
How can Microchip Technology accelerate the benefits of Heat Pump technology to help humans achieve complete comfort?
 
Links from the episode:
www.microchip.com/sic 
 
Guests: 
Nitesh Satheesh

Episode 019 - Stellar Solutions: Space-Inspired Tech in Our Everyday Lives; part 2-of-2

“We hold patents on a few gadgets we confiscated from visitors. Velcro, microwave ovens, liposuction.”
- Tommy Lee Jones as "K", describing how the Men in Black fund their exploits
Very amusing concept for science fiction, but the boundary between space exploration and everyday life blurs in reality, where innovations born in the cold vacuum of space find their way into our homes, transforming how we live and work.
This is the story of how necessity in the cosmos became the mother of invention on Earth.
Picture working in an environment where temperatures swing from a scorching +250°F in direct sunlight to a bone-chilling -250°F in the shade, where traditional lubricants freeze or evaporate, and where the absence of air means no natural cooling. The solutions developed for these extreme conditions would eventually trickle down to our garages and workshops, spawning not just the cordless drill but an entire family of battery-powered tools that have liberated us from the tyranny of power cords.
But the story doesn't end there.
These cosmic hand-me-downs represent more than just clever adaptations - they're testament to human ingenuity under the most extreme conditions imaginable. When engineers had to solve problems where failure wasn't an option, up there, they created solutions so robust and versatile that they transformed life, down here, on Earth.
Today, as we peer into our garages or kitchen cabinets, we might not immediately see the connection to space exploration. But with each press of the microwave button or squeeze of a drill trigger, we're benefiting from a legacy of innovation that began with humanity's greatest adventure. These everyday tools carry within them the DNA of space exploration, reminding us that sometimes the most practical solutions come from the most extraordinary challenges.
 
How does Microchip Technology empower innovation up there, so we can enjoy it down here?
 
This is part 2 of a two-part episode.
 
Links from the episode:
https://www.microchip.com/space
 
Guests: 
Eli Kawam
Bill Dillard

Episode 019 - Stellar Solutions: Space-Inspired Tech in Our Everyday Lives; part 1-of-2

“We hold patents on a few gadgets we confiscated from visitors. Velcro, microwave ovens, liposuction.”
- Tommy Lee Jones as "K", describing how the Men in Black fund their exploits
Very amusing concept for science fiction, but the boundary between space exploration and everyday life blurs in reality, where innovations born in the cold vacuum of space find their way into our homes, transforming how we live and work.
This is the story of how necessity in the cosmos became the mother of invention on Earth.
Picture working in an environment where temperatures swing from a scorching +250°F in direct sunlight to a bone-chilling -250°F in the shade, where traditional lubricants freeze or evaporate, and where the absence of air means no natural cooling. The solutions developed for these extreme conditions would eventually trickle down to our garages and workshops, spawning not just the cordless drill but an entire family of battery-powered tools that have liberated us from the tyranny of power cords.
But the story doesn't end there.
These cosmic hand-me-downs represent more than just clever adaptations - they're testament to human ingenuity under the most extreme conditions imaginable. When engineers had to solve problems where failure wasn't an option, up there, they created solutions so robust and versatile that they transformed life, down here, on Earth.
Today, as we peer into our garages or kitchen cabinets, we might not immediately see the connection to space exploration. But with each press of the microwave button or squeeze of a drill trigger, we're benefiting from a legacy of innovation that began with humanity's greatest adventure. These everyday tools carry within them the DNA of space exploration, reminding us that sometimes the most practical solutions come from the most extraordinary challenges.
 
How does Microchip Technology empower innovation up there, so we can enjoy it down here?
 
This is part 1 of a two-part episode.
 
Links from the episode:
https://www.microchip.com/space
 
Guests: 
Eli Kawam
Bill Dillard

Episode 018 - Silicon Carbide and it’s positive impact on energy efficiency of data centers

Our insatiable appetite for information has gone digital. Once upon a time, knowledge seekers ventured into libraries, thumbing through card catalogs and dusty volumes. Today, we simply speak our questions in the form of a prompt, and artificial minds spring to life with answers. But this convenience comes with a hidden cost - one measured in terawatts.
In the sprawling datacenters that power our AI revolution, rows upon rows of servers hum with activity, each query demanding its share of electricity. These digital brains, built on advanced processing chips from companies with trillion-dollar valuations on the stock market, consume power at rates that would make earlier computers blush.
Tech giants like the “Magnificent 7” aren't waiting for solutions - they're creating them. Their "Bring Your Own Energy" approach, investing in nuclear power after years of renewable energy projects, signals a recognition that our digital future requires more than just solar panels and wind turbines.
The mathematics of our energy future is both simple and staggering. Current datacenter power supplies, even those meeting the stringent 80 Plus Titanium standard with 90% efficiency, still waste enough energy to power small cities. Every percentage point of efficiency gained or lost has massive implications for our planet and our pockets.
Enter silicon carbide, a material that promises to revolutionize how we handle power. Like a master conductor leading an orchestra, silicon carbide manages electricity with unprecedented precision and efficiency. Whether it's guiding power from a nuclear plant through an omnidirectional grid or converting it for use in a datacenter server rack, this remarkable semiconductor reduces waste at every step.
Think of the power grid as a vast river system. Traditional materials are like leaky canals, losing precious energy along the way. Silicon carbide creates superhighways for electricity, ensuring more power reaches its destination. In the world of datacenters, where every watt counts, this efficiency isn't just an improvement - it's a necessity.
As we stand at this crossroads of digital transformation and energy demand, the path forward becomes clear. The answer isn't just about generating more power - it's about using it more intelligently. Silicon carbide technology offers us a way to quench our growing thirst for energy without draining our resources dry.
The future we're building, with its artificial intelligence at the helm, demands power on an unprecedented scale. But with innovations like silicon carbide leading the charge, we're not just facing this challenge - we're transforming it into an opportunity for a more efficient, sustainable world.
 
How can Microchip Technology help prepare us for the future energy demands data centers and AI will require?
 
Links from the episode:
www.microchip.com/sic 
 
Guest:
Nitesh Satheesh

Episode 017 - Silicon Carbide and Omnidirectional Power Grids

On the banks of the Susquehanna River in Columbia County, in the northeast corner of the state of Pennsylvania, just outside the town of Berwick; population 10,355; lies a nuclear power plant. As you drive down route 11, you can see the steam pouring out of its mammoth towers over the tops of the trees. This is the single source of power in the area for a 20-mile radius. That means the 2500 megawatts of power it generates must cover an area of 1300 square miles and convert for every possible need within that geography. Columbia County has a little over 64,000 people.
Of all the energy we harvest and generate, we lose more than 2/3rds of it due to transmission, conversion, distribution, and what experts call “rejected”. This may not seem like a big deal in the Pennsylvania countryside but try a metropolis like Manhattan or the entire energy needs of a country like the United States and you’re talking about a hemorrhaging of money and efficiency.
One of the pillars of modern society, the power grid, teeters on the brink of obsolescence. In this realm, vast amounts of energy are generated, only to be squandered through inefficiencies, unidirectional flow, passive transformers, and countless conversion points. It is a system that is in danger of outliving its usefulness, struggling to meet the demands of an increasingly electrified world.
Recent news stories have highlighted the challenges faced by our aging power infrastructure, as it groans under the weight of the terawatt hours required to power our cities, our transportation, our ever-growing array of personal electronics and smart homes. Don’t forget a little thing called AI.
But amidst this landscape of inefficiency and waste, a glimmer of hope emerges. Distributed energy resources, solid-state transformers, and innovative storage solutions, powered by the likes of silicon carbide, offer a path forward. By harnessing these technologies, we can preserve the power we generate, ensuring that as many watts as possible are used to their fullest potential. It’s a world that’s not too far away, but we have a choice: to cling to the vestiges of a bygone era or to embrace the promise of a more efficient, sustainable future. With each passing day, the imperative grows clearer – we must adapt, we must innovate, and we must evolve, for the sake of our planet and the generations to come. As we enter the third wave of silicon carbide, some BIG ideas are propelling what could be a very prosperous future.
 
How can Microchip Technology help fix the inefficiencies of modern power grids?
 
Links from the episode:
 
 
Guests: 
Dr. Kevin Speer

Episode 016 - Gate Drivers and the Rise of Residential EV Charging

The service station is a staple of America’s love affair with the automobile. Now it’s going away as the rise of electric vehicles and e-mobility takes over for internal combustion engines. How will this transition affect car culture and what’s involved with onboard charging? How can we invert a process that’s over 100 years old?
 
One little linchpin of the entire process is the gate driver, which helps to make residential charging possible in the fast-growing sector of electric vehicles. Imagine a world where the ritual of visiting the gas station on the corner to refuel your vehicle becomes a distant memory, replaced by the convenience and comfort of charging your electric car in the sanctuary of your own home. This is the world of residential electric vehicle charging, a revolution that promises to transform not only the way we power our vehicles but also the very nature of our relationship with transportation.
At the heart of this transformation lies the onboard charger, a marvel of modern engineering that allows your vehicle to accept the 110 or 220 volts of electricity that flow through your home. But the true unsung hero of this story is the Gate Driver, a device capable of operating in astonishing high-voltage environments, like 400-800 volts, converting power through wide band gap technologies like silicon carbide to maximize the efficiency of residential electricity for your vehicle.
Recent news stories have highlighted the growing trend of onboard charging and the profound impact it is having on our daily lives. No longer bound by the need to visit a service station, we find ourselves free to reimagine the way we use transportation, from the daily commute to long-distance travel.
As we embrace this new era of electric mobility, we face challenges in adapting our infrastructure to meet the growing demand for power. But with each passing day, the pace of innovation accelerates, bringing us closer to a future where the efficiency and convenience of residential charging become the norm, thanks to the unsung heroes like the Gate Driver that make it all possible.
 
How can Microchip Technology help maintain our love affair with the automobile as we transition to an electric future?
 
Links from the episode:
 
 
Guests: 
Geoff Garcia

Episode 015 - Cybersecurity and the Internet of Medical Things

The Internet of Things is nothing short of a modern miracle. The ability to connect devices across a network and control them remotely, gathering data, performing routine maintenance, and saving countless hours of preparation time and direct human interaction. It gave rise to the need for Smart, Connected, and Secure technology solutions. That’s great for the residential home or the industrial plant across town. Could that level of sophistication and convenience follow us to other places, like, say, the hospital?
We are, in fact, living the future today - where a world of medical devices are no longer standalone entities, but interconnected nodes in a vast network known as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). This digital revolution promises to transform patient care, enabling real-time monitoring, remote diagnostics, and personalized treatment plans. But these utopian dreams of a better health system still have some caveats to be aware of. As we embrace this new frontier, we must also confront the looming threat of cyber insecurity.
 
In recent years, ransomware attacks have targeted healthcare institutions worldwide, from the WannaCry outbreak that crippled the UK's National Health Service in 2017 to the more recent Ryuk attacks on U.S. hospitals in 2020 like Locky in Los Angeles. According to the HIPAA Journal, “at least 141 hospitals were directly affected by ransomware attacks in 2023” alone where the number of attacks almost doubled since the previous year. These incidents expose the vulnerabilities in our medical device infrastructure, where outdated software and lack of encryption leave patient data and lives at risk. The American Hospital Association describes these not as white-collar crimes, but “threat-to-life crimes” and they can be a life-or-death matter.
 
Yet, amidst these challenges, there is hope. As technology advances, so too do the solutions for securing IoMT. With the development of purpose-built embedded control technology solutions, we stand on the edge of a new era in connected care. Imagine a future where medical devices not only communicate seamlessly but also protect patient information from the most sophisticated attacks.
 
How can Microchip Technology strengthen and reinforce the Internet of Medical Things and potentially hold the key to unlocking a brighter, healthier future?
 
Links from the episode:
Smart Medical Solutions | Microchip Technology 
CryptoAuthentication™ Secure Key Storage | Microchip Technology 
 
Guests: 
Justin Wilson

Episode 014 - Microcontrollers, Power Semiconductors and Fostering Growth Through Renewable Energy

Picture if you will, a source of energy, so radiant, that it holds the key to our energy future. The sun, a source of limitless potential, emits almost 4 octillion watts of energy every second. That’s a 10 with 26 zeros behind it. If we could harness just a fraction of this power, it would be enough to meet the world's energy needs many times over.
 
In emerging markets like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Kenya, the race to capture the sun's energy is on. These nations recognize the transformative potential of solar power, not only for their economies but also for the health of our planet. Vietnam aims to generate 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, while Malaysia has set a target of 20% by 2025. In Kenya, the Garissa Solar Power Plant, the largest in East Africa, is already providing clean energy to thousands of homes.
 
But the path to a solar-powered future is not without its challenges. Efficiency in converting solar energy to electricity remains a hurdle, with current technology capturing only a portion of the sun's potential. However, advancements in materials science and energy storage hold the promise of a brighter tomorrow. As well as embedded control technologies including integrated circuits.
 
Imagine a world where smart energy grids, powered by the sun, provide clean, affordable electricity to every corner of the globe. A world where the very source of life on Earth also sustains our modern way of living.
 
How could Microchip Technology help us further embrace the boundless potential of solar power?
 
Links from the episode:
 
 
Guests: 
Jay Nagle