Microsemi technology helps power Belgian bid to win solar challenge

Citation

(2010), "Microsemi technology helps power Belgian bid to win solar challenge", Microelectronics International, Vol. 27 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/mi.2010.21827aab.012

Microsemi technology helps power Belgian bid to win solar challenge

Article Type: Industry news From: Microelectronics International, Volume 27, Issue 1

Microsemi semiconductors extend solar power in demanding 3,000 km race across the Australian desert. Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading manufacturer of analog-mixed signal integrated circuits and high-reliability semiconductors, recently announced that it is a sponsor of the Umicore Belgian.

Solar Team in the 10th World Solar Challenge event in Australia from October 24-31, 2009. Participants will compete on a 3,000 km course from Darwin to Adelaide, in cars fueled only by solar energy (Figure 1).

A bronze-level sponsor of the Umicore Belgian team, Microsemi was selected to provide critical solar bypass diodes for power-generation panels in the team's car, an application not unlike how the company's products are used in satellite solar panels.

Figure 1 Umicore solar-powered car

The bypass diodes are part of Microsemi's extensive portfolio of energy-management products for applications in alternative energy, oil and gas exploration, electric vehicles, energy saving (including intelligent lighting control), and plasma generation for semiconductor, solar cell, LCD panel, and industrial glass manufacturing. In addition to its bypass diodes for satellite solar panels, Microsemi also offers a variety of other solar products including bypass integrated circuits and power modules for solar inverters.

“Microsemi is pleased to be supporting the Belgian Solar Vehicle Team in its bid to better its impressive second place finish in the 2007 championships,” said Bertho Simons, Director of Microsemi's European solar program. “We are gratified to be showcased alongside other technologies that the team has carefully selected from among the world's top providers. We share the team's goal of demonstrating innovation excellence while raising energy awareness, and we appreciate this opportunity to highlight our commitment to delivering high-quality, high-performance solar and other energy products and technologies for a cleaner, greener world.”

The Umicore Belgian Solar Team consists of 15 individuals including engineering students and graduates of the Group T international university in Leuven, Belgium. The team, which will be competing for the third time in the biennial World Solar Challenge against the world's top technical universities, took second place in the 2007 competition with an average speed 88.05 km/h.

The competition is generally considered to be the ultimate challenge for solar car builders. The team will be entered in the prestigious challenge class race, in which each car must be personally designed – a rigorous test of professionalism, innovation, and ingenuity.

About the World Solar Challenge

The biennial World Solar Challenge is part of the Global Green Challenge, which is an evolution of the historic and very successful World Solar Challenge that has been staged since 1987. The Global Green Challenge combines the technical brilliance of the Solar Cars with the practical results of low emission vehicles destined to the marketplace and individually tested against the harshness of the Australian environment. In recent years, the event has featured a demonstration of practical technology. The practical technologies aspect has come of age and will be presented as a competition with measurable results as an eco challenge for a range of low emission and alternative fuel supply vehicles. The Global Green Challenge is organised by the South Australian Motorsport Board and supported by the South Australian and Northern Territory Governments. Major sponsors are the South Australian Tourism Commission and Internode, one of the Australia's foremost internet service providers.

For more information about the World Solar Challenge and Global Green Challenge, go to: www.globalgreenchallenge.com.au/

About Microsemi

Microsemi Corporation, with corporate headquarters in Irvine, CA, is a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of high performance analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits and high-reliability semiconductors. The company's semiconductors manage and control or regulate power, protect against transient voltage spikes and transmit, receive and amplify signals.

Microsemi's products include individual components as well as integrated circuit solutions that enhance customer designs by improving performance and reliability, battery optimization, reducing size or protecting circuits. The principal markets the company serves include implanted medical, defense/aerospace and satellite, notebook computers, monitors and LCD TVs, automotive, and mobile connectivity applications.

More information may be obtained by contacting the company directly or by visiting its web site at: www.microsemi.com