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LATEST NEWS / SiC / WBG3 Min Read
NXP Semiconductors N.V. announced a collaboration with ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a global leader in e-mobility, on next-generation SiC-based traction inverter solutions for electric vehicles (EVs). By leveraging NXP’s advanced GD316x high-voltage (HV) isolated gate drivers, the solutions are designed to accelerate the adoption of 800-V and SiC power devices. Safe, efficient and higher performance traction inverters enabled by the GD316x product family can be designed to extend EV range and reduce the number of charging stops while lowering system level costs for OEMs.
The collaboration between ZF and NXP is a significant step towards accelerating the electrification of the automotive industry, and creating more safe, sustainable, and energy-efficient EVs for the future.
“We look forward to working with NXP to raise the bar for the capabilities and performance of our 800-V traction inverter solutions, which will help us achieve our goals of reducing emissions and promoting sustainability,” said Dr. Carsten Götte, SVP Electrified Powertrain Technology at ZF. “The combination of ZF’s expertise in motor control and power electronics with NXP’s GD316x gate driver family enables us to provide our latest SiC-based traction inverters with higher power and volume density, efficiency and differentiation, and provide our customers with significant safety, efficiency, range and performance improvements.”
Traction inverters are a critical component of an EV’s electric powertrain, converting DC voltage from the battery into a time-varying AC voltage, which drives the vehicle’s motor. As traction inverters now migrate to SiC-based designs, the SiC power devices need to be paired with HV isolated gate drivers to harness the advantages such as higher switching frequency, lower conduction losses, better thermal characteristics and higher robustness at high voltages, compared to previous generation silicon-based IGBT and MOSFET power switches.
The GD316x family of advanced, functionally safe, isolated, high voltage gate drivers incorporates a number of programmable control, diagnostic, monitoring, and protection features, enhanced to drive the latest SiC power modules for automotive traction inverter applications. Its high level of integration allows a smaller footprint and simplifies the system design.
The outstanding capabilities reduce Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) noise while also reducing switching energy losses for better efficiency. Fast short-circuit protection times (< 1 µsec) in combination with powerful and programmable gate drive schemes optimize the performance of the traction inverter’s SiC power modules.
“Together with ZF, we are developing next-generation power electronics for future EVs,” said Robert Li, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Electrification at NXP. “Our gate driver family implements a number of outstanding features to both protect and unleash the benefits of high-voltage SiC power switches, making them an ideal choice for ZF’s new SiC-based traction inverter solutions. This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to delivering state-of-the-art solutions that enable OEMs to achieve their EV performance and sustainability goals.”
ZF traction inverters, enabled by NXP’s GD316x product family, are already on the road.
Original – NXP Semiconductors
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LATEST NEWS2 Min Read
Qorvo® will showcase its latest power management innovations at the upcoming PCIM exhibition and conference from June 11-13 in Nuremberg, Germany. Attendees are invited to visit the Qorvo booth #7-406 to explore the latest advancements in SPICE simulation, silicon carbide (SiC) and motor control technologies.
Qorvo will feature the following at PCIM 2024:
QSPICE™ Simulation Software Showcase
PCIM attendees can experience the next level of simulation with Qorvo’s advanced QSPICE tool during small group Q&A with the tool’s creator, Mike Engelhardt.Training Session Schedule (visit Qorvo booth to confirm training session times)
• Tuesday, June 11, 1:30 p.m.: The QSPICE User Interface
• Wednesday, June 12, 1:30 p.m.: Importing 3rd Party Models
• Thursday, June 13, 10:30 a.m.: Anatomy of a Macro Model Done RightSiC Solutions
Qorvo’s unique cascode JFET configuration delivers industry-leading RDS(on) and best-in-class switching frequency in multi-kilowatt SiC applications across automotive, industrial, renewables and network infrastructure markets. Experts will be on hand to discuss the latest advancements with SiC JFETs, modules and FETs.
Motor Control Solutions
Qorvo’s booth will feature a variety of intelligent motor control solutions that span the input voltage spectrum, including:
• New family of 44V-72V motor controllers with integrated protection features for safety-critical applications like power tools and garden tools
• Robotics demo with partner Tinymvr featuring both Qorvo motor control and battery management solutions
• Wide bandgap showcase with both Qorvo SiC and partner Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) products paired with high-voltage motor controllersOriginal – Qorvo
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Coherent Corp. announced that following a comprehensive search, its Board of Directors has appointed Jim Anderson, an established industry executive with a proven track record of driving innovation and leading business transformations, as the Company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective today. Mr. Anderson also joins the Company’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Anderson joins Coherent from Lattice Semiconductors (“Lattice”), where he was President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of its Board of Directors. As CEO, Mr. Anderson was responsible for driving Lattice’s corporate strategy and strengthening the Company’s product roadmap, achieving record operating profits and gross margins. He succeeds Dr. Vincent D. (“Chuck”) Mattera, Jr., who, as previously announced, is retiring as Chair and CEO of Coherent.
“Jim’s business acumen and technical capability, coupled with his extensive experience transforming complex global businesses to deliver above-market growth and profitability, make him the ideal leader to steer Coherent through its next chapter amidst a rapidly changing market,” said Enrico DiGirolamo, Board Chair. “I am confident that Coherent will benefit from Jim’s operational expertise, innovation-first approach, and in-depth knowledge of our market and platform, as we capitalize on the strong market demand we see across our AI-related datacom portfolio and improving industrial market, while leveraging our diversification strategy that continues to serve us well.”
“I am deeply honored to join Coherent, a company I have long admired, as its next CEO,” said Mr. Anderson. “With cutting-edge innovation, an industry-leading platform, and an intense focus on the customer, Coherent is exceptionally well positioned to build on its existing momentum and deliver enhanced profitable growth over the long term. I look forward to joining the leadership team and Board at this pivotal moment in the Company’s history as we work together to realize Coherent’s enormous potential and drive value for all stakeholders.”
“Chuck Mattera has been in and around this industry for almost half a century, conceptualizing and directing the acquisition and business development strategy that made Coherent the multi-billion dollar global entity it is today,” said Mr. DiGirolamo. “Chuck thoughtfully forged meaningful relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, government officials, key partners, and shareholders that established a values-based foundation.” DiGirolamo added, “On behalf of the Board, I have the privilege of thanking Chuck for his many years of visionary leadership, tireless execution, and energetic commitment to redefining the possibilities of our industry. We all look forward to learning about the next chapters of Chuck’s already accomplished story.”
About Jim Anderson
Prior to joining Lattice in 2018, Mr. Anderson was senior vice president and general manager of Advanced Micro Devices’ Computing and Graphics business group. He previously held leadership positions in general management, engineering, sales, marketing, and strategy at companies including Intel, Broadcom (formerly Avago Technologies), and LSI Corporation.
Mr. Anderson serves on the Board of Directors of Entegris, EdgeQ, and Lumotive, as well as on the Board of Directors of the Semiconductor Industry Association, the MIT Sloan Americas Executive Board, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board at Purdue University, and the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Previously, he was a director at Sierra Wireless.
Mr. Anderson holds an MBA and Master of Science in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Purdue University, and a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota.
Original – Coherent
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GaN / LATEST NEWS / WBG2 Min Read
Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) of Taiwan to solidify a partnership in developing high performance GaN solutions for USB-PD adaptors. The MoU also covers the sharing of domestic and international market information, joint visits to potential customers and promotion.
Andrea Bricconi | Chief Commercial Officer, CGD
“We are excited to partner with ITRI, an organization with a power solution research team that is very experienced in developing power solutions and holds many patents. We will be demonstrating some of their board designs at our booth at the upcoming PCIM show in Nuremberg in June. These products utilize CGD’s unique IC chip architecture and ITRI’s patented designs to achieve product size reduction, high efficiency and power density, and cost competitiveness.”
Wen-Tien Tsai | leader of Commercial Power Design team, GEL/itri
“CGD’s IC-enhanced GaN – ICeGaN – is a novel platform that improves ease-of-use, facilitates smart temperature control and enhances gate reliability. We are excited to include these benefits in our new power designs.”
According to leading WBG analysts, Yole Group, the GaN market is expected to exceed $1B, with key growth in the applications of comms power supplies, and automotive DC/DC converters and on-board chargers. However, the first commercialized product in the market to adopt GaN devices has been USB-PD adaptors, and it is this market that the first designs from the partnership will address. Specifically, the agreement covers the development of power solutions in the 140-240 W range with power densities exceeding 30 W/in3 for e-mobility, power tools, notebook and cell phone applications.
Original – Cambridge GaN Devices