Shmuel (Sam) Ben-Yaakov

Shmuel (Sam) Ben-Yaakov
שמואל (סם) בן-יעקב
Born (1939-01-20) January 20, 1939
Israel
CitizenshipIsraeli
Alma mater
Scientific career
Fields
InstitutionsBen-Gurion University of the Negev

Shmuel (Sam) Ben-Yaakov (in Hebrew: שמואל בן-יעקב; born January 20, 1939) is an Israeli engineer, inventor, and academic known for his contributions to medical instrumentation, chemical oceanography, power electronics, and engineering education. He is Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), and the founder of Green Power Technologies Ltd. Ben-Yaakov is also the Chief innovation officer at IRP Systems Ltd., and the creator of the educational YouTube channel "Sam Ben-Yaakov," dedicated to power electronics and circuit theory.

Education

Ben-Yaakov received his early training in electrical engineering, obtaining a BSc degree from the Technion, Israel, in 1964. He then worked for several years at the medical laboratory of the Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, where he developed, with others, medical instrumentation.[1] He continued his academic studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), earning MS and PhD degrees in electrical engineering in 1967 and 1970, respectively.[2]

Research in chemical oceanograph

In his early scientific career, Ben-Yaakov conducted research in chemical oceanography, focusing on the measurement and modeling of carbonate equilibria; He co-developed a high-pressure pH sensor capable of operation at pressures corresponding to depths of about 4 km.[3][4] This instrument performs in situ pH sensing in the deep ocean and formed the technical basis for the carbonate saturometer,[5] which he later developed and used for oceanographic investigations to depths of about 4 km.[2] By equilibrating seawater with solid carbonate minerals and monitoring pH changes, the device enabled quantitative assessment of calcium carbonate saturation states, contributing to the early understanding of oceanic carbonate equilibria[6][7] and research on ocean acidification[8][9] and the global carbon cycle.[10]

After returning to Israel in 1974, Ben-Yaakov studied various chemical aspects of the Dead Sea.[11]

Power electronics and energy conversion

After joining Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in 1974, Ben-Yaakov's research turned to power electronics, where he contributed to switch-mode power conversion. He performed experimental and analytical work on: small-signal modeling,[12] control of power systems, magnetics, PWM converters,[13] resonant converters[14] and switched-capacitor converters.[15]

His research group developed several techniques for behavioral modeling and simulation[16] of PWM and resonant converters, as well as magnetic components.[17] The latter led to the development of a high-frequency controlled inductor.[18] Ben-Yaakov also contributed to modeling and simulation of nonlinear capacitors and switched-capacitor converters, which led to the development of novel, high-resolution converter architectures.[19]

Ben-Yaakov became a full professor at BGU in 1984 and held the Chair in Instrumentation Design from 1988 until his retirement.[20]

Ben-Yaakov is a Life Fellow of the IEEE, recognized for "the development of modeling and simulation methodologies for pulse width modulated and resonant converters.”[21]

Patents and industry contributions

Ben-Yaakov is the inventor or co-inventor of patents related to energy conversion and control. He founded Green Power Technologies Ltd., focusing on the development of active power factor correction controllers that require no sensing of input voltage,[22][23] based on patents developed by him and his collaborators. He later served as Chief Innovation Officer at IRP Systems Ltd., contributing to innovations in electric vehicle powertrains and motor control technologies.[24]

Educational activities

In his university teachings and mentoring of graduate students, Ben-Yaakov emphasized intuitive explanation as a vital tool in engineering education.[25] The intuitive explanation approach is the motto of the YouTube channel "Sam Ben-Yaakov",[26] which he established, posting lectures and demonstrations on power electronics, circuit theory, and magnetic components. As of October 2025, the channel included more than 500 videos, had more than 47 thousand subscribers, and had about 50 thousand views per month.

References

  1. ^ Weinman, J.; Ben-Yaakov, S.; Sapoznikov, D. (1969). "The application of photoplethysmography to the recording of Valsalva maneuver responses". Israel Journal of Medical Sciences. 5 (4): 534–536. ISSN 0021-2180. PMID 5820471.
  2. ^ a b Ben-Yaakov, Shmuel. "An oceanographic instrumentation system for in situ measurements". search.library.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  3. ^ Sam Ben-Yaakov and I. R. Kaplan, 1968. High Pressure pH Sensor for Oceanographic Applications. Review of Scientific Instruments. 39(8): pp.1133–1138, DOI:10.1063/1.1683600.
  4. ^ Ben-Yaakov, S.; Kaplan, I.R. 1968. pH-Temperature profiles in ocean and lakes using an in situ probe. Limnology and Oceanography, 1968. doi.org/10.4319/lo.1968.13.4.0688
  5. ^ Ben-Yaakov, S.; Kaplan, I. R. (1969-01-01). "Determination of Carbonate Saturation of Seawater with a Carbonate Saturometer1". Limnology and Oceanography. 14 (6): 874–882. Bibcode:1969LimOc..14..874B. doi:10.4319/lo.1969.14.6.0874. ISSN 0024-3590.
  6. ^ Ben-Yaakov, S.; Ruth, E.; Kaplan, I. R. (1974-05-31). "Carbonate Compensation Depth: Relation to Carbonate Solubility in Ocean Waters". Science. 184 (4140): 982–984. Bibcode:1974Sci...184..982B. doi:10.1126/science.184.4140.982. PMID 17771075.
  7. ^ Ben-Yaakov, S.; Ruth, E.; Kaplan, I. R. (1974-03-01). "Calcium carbonate saturation in northeastern pacific:in situ determination and geochemical implications". Deep Sea Research and Oceanographic Abstracts. 21 (3): 229–243. Bibcode:1974DSRA...21..229B. doi:10.1016/0011-7471(74)90060-6. ISSN 0011-7471.
  8. ^ Ben-Yaakov, Sam (January 1973). "H Buffering of Pore Water of Recent Anoxic Marine SEDIMENTS1". Limnology and Oceanography. 18 (1): 86–94. Bibcode:1973LimOc..18...86B. doi:10.4319/lo.1973.18.1.0086.
  9. ^ Ben-Yaakov, S.; Kaplan, I. R. (1971). "Deep-sea in situ calcium carbonate saturometry". Journal of Geophysical Research (1896-1977). 76 (3): 722–731. Bibcode:1971JGR....76..722B. doi:10.1029/JC076i003p00722. ISSN 2156-2202.
  10. ^ Ben-Yaakov, Sam (1972-09-01). "On the CO2O2 system in the Northeastern Pacific". Marine Chemistry. 1 (1): 3–26. doi:10.1016/0304-4203(72)90003-5. ISSN 0304-4203.
  11. ^ Ben-Yaakov, Sam; Sass, Eytan (1977). "Independent estimate of the pH of Dead Sea brine". Limnology and Oceanography. 22 (2): 374–376. Bibcode:1977LimOc..22..374B. doi:10.4319/lo.1977.22.2.0374. ISSN 1939-5590.
  12. ^ Ben-Yaakov, S., 1994. Average simulation of PWM converters by direct implementation of behavioural relationships. International Journal of Electronics 77(5), pp. 731–746.
  13. ^ S. Ben-Yaakov and I. Zeltser, 1999. The dynamics of a PWM boost converter with resistive input. IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics 46(3), 613–619. DOI:10.1109/41.767069.
  14. ^ M. Gulko, D. Medini, S. Ben-Yaakov, 1994. Inductor-controlled current-sourcing resonant inverter and its application as a high pressure discharge lamp driver. APEC’94, Orlando, FL, US, pp.434–440. DOI:10.1109/APEC.1994.316366.
  15. ^ Ben-Yaakov, Shmuel (February 2012). "Behavioral Average Modeling and Equivalent Circuit Simulation of Switched Capacitors Converters". IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. 27 (2): 632–636. Bibcode:2012ITPE...27..632B. doi:10.1109/TPEL.2011.2171996. ISSN 1941-0107.
  16. ^ M. Evzelman, S. Ben-Yaakov, 2014. Simulation of hybrid converters by average models. IEEE Trans. Industry Applications 50(2), pp. 1106–1113.
  17. ^ E. Rozanov, S. Ben-Yaakov, 2004. A SPICE behavioral model for current-controlled magnetic inductors. IEEE EEEI, Tel-Aviv, Israel, pp.338–341. DOI:10.1109/EEEI.2004.1361160.
  18. ^ D. Medini, S. Ben-Yaakov, 1994. A current-controlled variable-inductor for high frequency resonant power circuits. APEC’94, Orlando, FL, USA, pp.219–225. DOI:10.1109/APEC.1994.316396.
  19. ^ A. Kushnerov, S. Ben-Yaakov, 2011. Algebraic synthesis of Fibonacci switched capacitor converters. IEEE COMCAS, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
  20. ^ "Shmuel Ben-Yaakov". Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
  21. ^ "Sam Ben-Yaakov". IEEE Xplore, 31 January 2023.
  22. ^ US6737846B1, Ben-Yaakov, Shmuel, "Method and voltage feedback circuitry for improving the performance of APFC converters", issued 2004-05-18 
  23. ^ US6445600B2, Ben-Yaakov, Shmuel, "Modular structure of an apparatus for regulating the harmonics of current drawn from power lines by an electronic load", issued 2002-09-03 
  24. ^ US12095403B2, Price, Paul & Yaakov, Shmuel Ben, "Direct drive system for brushless DC (BLDC) motor", issued 2024-09-17 
  25. ^ Ben-Yaakov, Sam (1991). "A Unified Approach to Teaching Feedback in Electronic Circuits Courses" (PDF). IEEE Transaction on Education. 34 (4): 310–316. Bibcode:1991ITEdu..34..310B. doi:10.1109/13.102847.
  26. ^ Sam Ben-Yaakov YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/sambenyaakov
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