Taking Energy Efficiency to the Next Level

Energy efficiency as a design goal opens new market opportunities; the omnipresent microcontroller has evolved to hit the green button and system cost targets simultaneously.

The time has come for environmental consciousness. Global warming, rising energy prices, and unacceptable thermal footprints have evolved from topics of conversation to causes for action. More than ever before, consumers are paying attention to energy ratings and showing a strong interest in alternative technologies such as hybrid vehicles, "green" white goods and LED lighting. This paper focuses on energy efficiency advancements in three innovative areas: solar micro-inverters,LED street lighting, and battery management for hybrid automobiles.