Inside Electronics

This episode of Inside Electronics features Alix Paultre, Editor at Large for Electronic Design, and Dr. Hugo Guzman, Product Marketing Manager-Integrated Circuits at Littelfuse. Alix and Hugo discuss how smart solid-state relays (SSRs) are reshaping residential, commercial, and industrial building automation.

As engineers pack more HVAC controls, access systems, smart thermostats, sensors, and wireless modules into existing infrastructure, they must meet tight EMC, EMI, safety, and form-factor constraints while often working without a dedicated C‑wire. Hugo contrasts legacy electromechanical relays—bulky, noisy, prone to contact wear, arcing, and limited lifetime—with SSR-based designs that offer silent operation, predictable switching behavior, and improved reliability in inductive-load environments.

Hugo also explains how Littelfuse’s smart SSRs integrate application-specific intelligence, such as load-powered operation and latching for C‑wire–less smart thermostats (CPC1601M), minimizing quiescent current and extending battery life in retrofit designs.

For video doorbells and access control, the CPC2501M adds controlled handling of chime inrush currents up to 5 A for a few milliseconds, while maintaining continuous power to both chime and camera from a compact QFN package. Throughout the episode, Alix and Hugo emphasize how these smart SSRs help designers achieve smaller, safer, and more energy-efficient building automation systems that comply with stringent 24/7 reliability and safety standards.

AI has been a powerful force in the embedded electronics industry, although it is still in its infancy. It has a great promise to automate systems in every facet of the industry, yet it isn’t a silver bullet (yet). In this episode, we talk to Rudy Sengupta, VP & General Manager of Emerson NI, about the company’s latest efforts in the space.

Axelera’s artificial intelligence processing unit is akin to the neural processing units (NPU) and are designed to handle AI inferencing while using very little power. Their quad core Metis AIPUs delivers 214 TOPs at under 4 W. It is available as a chip as well as on boards like their M.2 module. The company's latest Europa delivers up to 629 TOPs and can handle even more streams. Alexis Crowell, General Manager of Americas & Global CMO, talks about Axelera's Metis and Europa chips as well as their Voyager SDK.

In this episode of the Inside Electronics podcast, we explore how modern industrial automation relies on robust, well designed power supplies to keep demanding systems running reliably. Host Alix Paultre, Editor-at-Large of Electronic Design, speaks with Mike Swenson, Marketing Manager for TRACO North America, about why industrial environments are among the toughest places for electronics, from electrical noise and extreme temperatures to vibration, dust, and moisture.

 They explain how AC/DC supplies and DC/DC converters form a layered power architecture, delivering clean, stable power to controllers, sensors, and communication modules throughout connected factories.

The conversation highlights key selection factors such as total power needs, peak load behavior, standards compliance, environmental protection, and mounting options like DIN rail, PCB, and chassis solutions. Alix and Mike also discuss testing for harsh conditions and the importance of high-reliability designs to minimize downtime and maintenance. The episode closes with a forward look at more efficient, compact, and intelligent power solutions enabling next generation automated systems.

For our 100th Inside Electronics podcast we decided to get some of the Electronic Design editors together to discuss a range of topics addressing technology trends in 2026. In this episode we touch on topics that the editors chose from processing hardware to power transistors. We hope you enjoy it. Stay tuned for more on Inside Electronics.