• JCET Pioneering Automotive HiRel SiC Device Packaging

    JCET Pioneering Automotive HiRel SiC Device Packaging

    3 Min Read

    With decades of expertise in power device packaging and testing, JCET Group offers a comprehensive power product portfolio encompassing IGBT, SiC, GaN, and more. In the field of high-density power solutions for automotive applications, JCET’s unique power module technology positions us at the forefront of power main drive solutions.

    JCET’s innovative packaging technology for high power density Silicon Carbide (SiC) power modules minimizes parasitic effects and thermal resistance, while our groundbreaking interconnect technology ensures high reliability. Reduced power loss and improved performance, making JCET the preferred choice for high-reliability SiC device packaging for the automotive industry.

    The rapid growth of the power semiconductor market in automotive applications is being driven by the acceleration of vehicle electrification. In this evolving landscape, a multitude of power devices find applications in crucial automotive systems such as motor control, DC-DC conversion, air conditioning drives, on-board chargers (OBC), and battery management for electrical vehicles.

    According to research by Strategy Analytics, the value of power devices in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is nearly five times that in traditional fuel vehicles. This is where SiC devices come into play, offering several advantages. SiC devices feature smaller conductor resistors per unit area, higher voltage capabilities, faster switching speeds, and the ability to operate at high temperatures. These characteristics are instrumental in enhancing the power density of the inverter, ultimately leading to improved operational efficiency and extended mileage for electric vehicles under real-world conditions.

    JCET combines low stray inductance package technology, advanced interconnect packaging technology, and cutting-edge thermal management solutions, tailoring our packaging processes to meet individual customer requirements. Within this package, a suite of integrated solutions, including the whole-silver sintering process, copper wire bonding, and single-side direct water cooling, is employed.

    Furthermore, SiC devices, with their smaller footprint, increased power density, and higher breakdown voltage compared to conventional silicon-based power devices, are at the core of our packaging. When integrated into an 800V platform, SiC devices deliver substantial system advantages, enabling rapid charging and extended mileage. JCET’s unwavering commitment to optimizing packaging technology is evident in our High-Performance Device (HPD) package, which is continuously fine-tuned to excel in SiC high-frequency switching applications.

    With the growing adoption of SiC devices across diverse sectors like automotive controllers, charging stations, and photovoltaic energy storage, JCET has pioneered innovative designs encompassing packaging materials, internal connections, and packaging structures. JCET has introduced a range of packaging solutions tailored to meet various user requirements, including:

    • 400V platform, A0/A00 vehicles within 70KW: Si Hybrid Package1 solution;
    • 400V platform, Class A vehicles between 100-200KW: Si/SiC Hybrid Package Driver solution;
    • 800V platform, Class B and luxury cars with 200KW and above: SiC single/double sided heat dissipation solution.

    Automotive power devices, including SiC, hold vast market potential and exhibit a high level of technical innovation certainty. This presents a compelling opportunity for device designers and manufacturers. Looking ahead, JCET remains committed to its core mission of advancing power device packaging solutions, We are dedicated to expanding our technology offerings, ensuring our customers have a diverse array of options, helping them integrate more efficient and reliable technologies into the new energy vehicle systems.

    Original – JCET

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  • Littelfuse Launches First Automotive PolarP P-Channel Enhancement Mode Power MOSFET

    Littelfuse Launches First Automotive PolarP P-Channel Enhancement Mode Power MOSFET

    2 Min Read

    Littelfuse, Inc. announced the release of IXTY2P50PA, the first automotive-grade PolarP™ P-Channel Power MOSFET. This innovative product design meets the demanding requirements of automotive applications, providing exceptional performance and reliability.

    The key differentiator of the –500 V, –2 A IXTY2P50PA is its AEC-Q101 qualification, making it ideal for automotive applications. This qualification ensures that the MOSFET meets the automotive industry’s stringent quality and reliability standards. With this qualification, automotive manufacturers can trust that the IXTY2P50PA will deliver exceptional application performance and reliability.

    One of the standout features is its low conduction loss. With a maximum on-state resistance of 4.2 Ω, this P-Channel Power MOSFET offers reduced power dissipation, decreasing heat generation and improving efficiency in the end applications. Additionally, the MOSFET provides excellent switching performance, with a low gate charge of 11.9 nC, allowing for fast and efficient operation.

    Another key advantage is its ruggedness in demanding operating environments and applications. With its dynamic dv/dt and avalanche rating, this MOSFET can withstand harsh conditions and deliver reliable performance. This combination makes it an excellent choice for automotive applications that require durability and reliability.

    Furthermore, the IXTY2P50PA high-voltage automotive P-channel MOSFET enables a power-dense PCB design, thanks to its miniature TO-252 (DPAK) footprint in surface mount form factor. This compact footprint results in significant space savings on the PCB, allowing for more efficient and compact designs. Automotive manufacturers can benefit from this space-saving design, enabling them to optimize their applications and achieve greater functionality in limited space.

    The PolarP Series is ideally suited for a range of automotive electronics and industrial applications, including:

    • Automotive ECUs
    • Automotive sensor circuits
    • High-side switches
    • Push-pull amplifiers
    • Automatic test equipment
    • Current regulators

    Commenting on the launch of IXTY2P50PA, Raymon Zhou, Product Marketing Manager at Littelfuse, said, “We are thrilled to introduce the first automotive-grade PolarP P-Channel Power MOSFET to the market. The IXTY2P50PA offers exceptional performance and reliability, making it ideal for demanding automotive applications. With its AEC-Q101 qualification and competitive specifications, we believe this MOSFET will greatly benefit automotive manufacturers.”

    Original – Littelfuse

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  • Transphorm Introduced 3 SuperGaN® FETs in TOLL Packages

    Transphorm Introduced 3 SuperGaN® FETs in TOLL Packages

    3 Min Read

    Transphorm, Inc. introduced three SuperGaN® FETs in TOLL packages with on-resistances of 35, 50, and 72 milliohms. Transphorm’s TOLL package configuration is industry standard, meaning the SuperGaN TOLL FETs can be used as drop-in replacements for any e-mode TOLL solution.

    The new devices also offer Transphorm’s proven high voltage dynamic (switching) on-resistance reliability that is generally lacking in leading foundry-based e-mode GaN offerings. To sample the devices, visit Transphorm’s product page: https://www.transphormusa.com/en/products/.

    The three surface mount devices (SMDs) support higher power applications operating within an average range of 1 to 3 kilowatts. These power systems are typically found in high performance segments such as computing (AI, server, telecom, data center), energy and industrial (PV inverters, servo motors), and other broad industrial markets which, collectively, have a current global GaN TAM of $2.5B. Notably, the FETs are optimal solutions for today’s rapidly expanding AI systems that rely on GPUs requiring 10 to 15 times the power of traditional CPUs.

    Transphorm’s high power GaN devices are already widely supplied to leading customers who use them to power in-production high performance systems including datacenter power supplies, high power gaming PSUs, UPSes, and microinverters. These applications can also be supported by the TOLL devices as can electric-vehicle-based DC-to-DC converters and onboard chargers, with the underlying SuperGaN die already automotive (AEC-Q101) qualified.

    The SuperGaN TOLL FETs represent the sixth package type offered by Transphorm, giving customers the widest selection of packages to meet their unique design requirements. As with all Transphorm products, the TOLL devices harness the inherent performance and reliability advantages made possible by the normally-off d-mode SuperGaN platform.

    For a detailed competitive analysis between SuperGaN and e-mode GaN, download the company’s latest white paper titled The Fundamental Advantages of d-Mode GaN in Cascode Configuration. The white paper’s conclusion aligns with a head-to-head comparison released earlier this year showing the 72 milliohm SuperGaN FETs outperforming larger 50 milliohm e-mode devices in a commercially available 280 W gaming laptop charger.

    SuperGaN devices lead the market with unmatched:

    • Reliability at < 0.03 FIT
    • Gate safety margin at ± 20 V
    • Noise immunity at 4 V
    • Temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) at 20% lower than e-mode
    • Drive flexibility with standard drivers and protection circuits readily available in silicon-based controllers/drivers

    Device Specifications
    The robust 650 V SuperGaN TOLL devices are JEDEC qualified. Because the normally-off d-mode platform pairs the GaN HEMT with a low voltage silicon MOSFET, the SuperGaN FETs are easy to drive with commonly used off-the-shelf gate drivers. They can be used in various hard- and soft-switching AC-to-DC, DC-to-DC, and DC-to-AC topologies to increase power density while reducing system size, weight, and overall cost.

    PartDimensions (mm)RDS(on) (mΩ) typRDS(on) (mΩ) maxVth (V) typId (25°C) (A) max
    TP65H035G4QS10 x 123541446.5
    TP65H050G4QS10 x 125060434
    TP65H070G4QS10 x 127285429

    Original – Transphorm

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  • Nexperia and KYOCERA AVX Salzburg to Produce 650 V SiC Rectifier Module

    Nexperia and KYOCERA AVX Salzburg to Produce 650 V SiC Rectifier Module

    2 Min Read

    Nexperia has entered into partnership with KYOCERA AVX Components (Salzburg) GmbH to jointly produce a new 650 V, 20 A silicon carbide (SiC) rectifier module for high frequency power applications ranging from 3 kW to 11 kW power stack designs, aimed at application like industrial power supplies, EV charging stations, and on-board chargers. This release will represent a further deepening of the existing, long-lasting partnership between the two companies.

    Space-saving and weight reduction are the key requirements for manufacturers of the next generation power applications. The compact footprint of this new SiC rectifier module will help to maximize power density, thereby reducing the amount of required board space and lowering the overall system cost.

    Thermal performance is optimized using a combination of top-side cooling (TSC) and an integrated negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor which monitors the device temperature and provides real time feedback for device or system level prognosis and diagnosis. This rectifier module has a low inductance package to enable high frequency operation and it has been qualified to operate with a junction temperature of up to 175 °C.

    “This collaboration between Nexperia and KYOCERA AVX combines cutting edge silicon carbide semiconductors with state-of-the-art module packaging and will allow Nexperia to better serve the market demand for power electronic products which offer exceptionally high levels of power density,” according to Katrin Feurle, Senior Director of the Product Group SiC at Nexperia. “The release of this rectifier module will represent the first step in what is envisaged as a long-term SiC partnership between Nexperia and KYOCERA AVX”.

    Thomas Rinschede, Deputy Vice President Sensing and Control Division at KYOCERA AVX Components Sensing and Control Division, comments: “We are delighted to further extend our successful partnership with Nexperia into the production of silicon carbide modules for power electronics applications. Nexperia’s manufacturing expertise combined with KYOCERA module know-how make a compelling offering for customers looking to achieve higher power densities using wide bandgap semiconductor technology.”

    Nexperia expects samples of the new SiC rectifier modules to be available in the first quarter of 2024.

    Original – Nexperia

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  • Okmetic Presented Customized Silicon and SOI Wafers at the ISES EU Power Event in Italy

    Okmetic Presented Customized Silicon and SOI Wafers at the ISES EU Power Event in Italy

    1 Min Read

    Okmetic CTO Atte Haapalinna gave a speech in September 2023 at the ISES EU Power event on Customized Silicon and SOI Wafers Enabling Enhanced Power Devices.

    Advanced silicon wafers can greatly improve power device performance and reduce power losses. Okmetic Power wafer line provides an optimal platform for the manufacture of various power devices. Power device optimized wafer solutions improve power device performance, reduce Total Cost of Ownership and enable more refined designs.

    Okmetic Power wafer line comprise:

    Read more about Okmetic’s Power wafer line: Power Wafer Line | Okmetic

    Original – Okmetic

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  • GaN Systems Introduced 4th Generation GaN Power Platform

    GaN Systems Introduced 4th Generation GaN Power Platform

    2 Min Read

    GaN Systems announced the introduction of its groundbreaking 4th generation GaN power platform. This state-of-the-art technology sets a new power efficiency and compactness standard, delivering an impressive step-function performance boost and industry-leading figures of merit. For example, with GaN Systems Gen4 in an artificial intelligence (AI) server rack, 3.2kW power supplies at 100W/in3 in 2022 are now achieving 120W/in3 with efficiencies above Titanium levels. Gen4 will revolutionize power markets, including consumer electronics, data centers, solar energy, industrial applications, and automotive.

    The Gen4 platform also delivers more total bill of material cost savings compared to traditional Silicon and Silicon Carbide solutions, making GaN Systems’ technology a powerful choice for businesses seeking to enhance their competitive advantage.

    “Our lead customers have already realized the benefits of our Gen4 platform,” stated Jim Witham, CEO of GaN Systems. “This platform is a testament to our ongoing commitment to continuously delivering superior performance advantages and next-generation levels of efficiency. GaN Systems, in strategic collaboration with industry leaders like TSMC, has invested significantly to meet the ever-evolving demands of our customers. We are pioneering a transformation in product offerings, packaging innovations, enriched functionalities, and unparalleled performance across our markets.”

    A Huge Leap for Power Electronics Technology

    The Gen4 power platform boasts the following benefits:

    • >20% improvement in input and output figures-of-merit translates into reduced losses, enhanced efficiency, and more cost-effective solutions.
    • Increased granularity in device specification, combined with a wide range of packaging options, including PDFN, TOLL, TOLT, and Embedded – allowing the correct Rds resistance and package combination for each application, consequently optimizing electrical and thermal system performance.
    • 700V E-mode with the industry’s highest transient voltage rating, 850V, significantly enhancing total system reliability and robustness. This rating enables the semiconductor components to withstand user environment anomalies, such as voltage spikes, ensuring uninterrupted and dependable performance.
    • On-state resistance ranges enable power systems from 20W to 25,000W.

    For more information, visit https://gansystems.com/gan-transistors/gen-4/

    Original – GaN Systems

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  • Indian Institute of Science Developed a Fully Indigenous GaN Power Switch

    Indian Institute of Science Developed a Fully Indigenous GaN Power Switch

    3 Min Read

    Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a fully indigenous gallium nitride (GaN) power switch that can have potential applications in systems like power converters for electric vehicles and laptops, as well as in wireless communications. The entire process of building the switch – from material growth to device fabrication to packaging – was developed in-house at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), IISc.

    Due to their high performance and efficiency, GaN transistors are poised to replace traditional silicon-based transistors as the building blocks in many electronic devices, such as ultrafast chargers for electric vehicles, phones and laptops, as well as space and military applications such as radar.

    “It is a very promising and disruptive technology,” says Digbijoy Nath, Associate Professor at CeNSE and corresponding author of the study published in Microelectronic Engineering. “But the material and devices are heavily import-restricted … We don’t have gallium nitride wafer production capability at commercial scale in India yet.” The know-how of manufacturing these devices is also a heavily-guarded secret with few studies published on the details of the processes involved, he adds.

    Power switches are used to control the flow of power to – essentially turn on or off – electronic devices. To design the GaN power switch, the IISc team used a metal organic chemical vapour deposition technique developed and optimised over a decade by researchers in the lab of Srinivasan Raghavan, Professor and Chair, CeNSE. It involves growing GaN alloy crystals layer by layer on a two-inch silicon wafer to fabricate a multi-layered transistor.

    The entire process needs to be carried out carefully in a clean room to ensure that no defects arise due to environmental conditions like humidity or temperature, which can affect device performance. The team also took the help of Kaushik Basu, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering (EE), and his lab, to build an electrical circuit using these transistors and test their switching performance.

    GaN transistors typically operate in what is called a “depletion mode” – they are on all the time unless a negative voltage is applied to turn them off. But power switches used in chargers and adapters need to work the other way around – they normally need to be off and not carrying current, and should only turn on when a positive voltage is applied (“enhancement mode”). To achieve this operation, the team combined the GaN transistor with a commercially available silicon transistor to keep the device normally off.

    “The packaging of the device was also indigenously developed,” explains Rijo Baby, PhD student at CeNSE and first author of the study. After packaging and testing, the team found the device performance to be comparable to state-of-the-art switches available commercially, with a switching time of about 50 nanoseconds between on and off operations.

    Going forward, the researchers plan on scaling up the device dimensions so that it can operate at high currents. They also plan to design a power converter that can step up or step down voltages.

    “If you look at strategic organisations in India, they have a hard time procuring GaN transistors … It is impossible to import them beyond a certain quantity or power/frequency rating,” says Nath. “This is essentially a demonstration of indigenous GaN technology development.”

    Original – Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

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  • Bourns Expands its SiC SBDs Product Family

    Bourns Expands its SiC SBD Product Family

    2 Min Read

    Bourns, Inc. has expanded its 650 and 1200 V Silicon Carbide (SiC) Schottky Barrier Diode (SBD) product family with 10 new models. The 10 new models added to the Bourns® SiC SBD line are designed to address the increasing power density requirements in the latest transportation, renewable energy and industrial systems.

    Bourns’ expanded wide band gap diode line delivers the peak forward surge, low forward drop, reduced thermal resistance and low power loss capabilities demanded by today’s high frequency and high current applications. These capabilities also help designers develop smaller, cost-efficient and state-of-the-art power electronics.

    As optimal power conversion solutions for DC-DC and AC-DC converters, Switched-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), photovoltaic inverters, motor drives and other rectification applications, the 10 new models feature currents in the 5-10 A range, with no reverse recovery current to reduce EMI.

    This enables them to significantly lower energy losses and further increase efficiency, switching performance and reliability. In addition to providing excellent thermal performance, Bourns’ new SiC SBD models are available in multiple forward voltage, current and package options that include TO220-2, TO247-3, TO252, TO263 and TO247-2.

    The 10 new Bourns® BSD SiC SBD models are available now. These models are RoHS compliant, halogen free, Pb free and their epoxy potting compound is flame retardant to the UL 94V-0 standard. For more detailed product information, please see: www.bourns.com/products/diodes/silicon-carbide-sic-schottky-barrier-diodes.

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  • Toshiba Expands 40 V N-Channel Power MOSFETs Portfolio for Automotive Equipment

    Toshiba Expands 40 V N-Channel Power MOSFETs Portfolio for Automotive Equipment

    2 Min Read

    Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has started mass production of three 40 V N-channel MOSFETs using SOP Advance(WF) package for automotive and has expanded its lineup. The three models are “XPHR9904PS, XPH2R404PS and XPH3R304PS.”

    The new products reduce drain-source On-resistance with the U-MOSIX process as with Toshiba’s precedence release products XPHR7904PS and XPH1R104PS. The drain-source On-resistance of XPH2R404PS is 2.4 mΩ (max), which is approximately 27 % lower than that of Toshiba’s existing product TPCA8083, and XPH3R304PS is 3.3 mΩ (max), which is approximately 42 % lower than that of Toshiba’s existing product TPCA8085.

    The drain-source On-resistance of XPHR9904PS is 0.99 mΩ (max). Reducing drain-source On-resistance of these products contributes to low power consumption of automotive equipment. In addition, they are qualified with the automotive reliability standard AEC-Q101. The PPAP of IATF16949 is also available.

    The package is a surface mount type SOP Advance(WF) that uses a wettable flank terminal structure, which facilitates automated visual inspection of the board mounting state.

    Toshiba’s automotive MOSFETs support a variety of automotive applications and meet a wide range of customer needs.

    Applications

    • Automotive equipment: motor drives, switching power supplies, load switches, etc.

    Features

    • Low On-resistance
      XPHR9904PS: RDS(ON)=0.99 mΩ (max) (VGS=10 V)
      XPH2R404PS: RDS(ON)=2.4 mΩ (max) (VGS=10 V)
      XPH3R304PS: RDS(ON)=3.3 mΩ (max) (VGS=10 V)
    • AEC-Q101 qualified
    • PPAP of IATF16949 available

    Original – Toshiba

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  • Vitesco Technologies Developing Robust SiC Power Modules

    Vitesco Technologies Developing Robust SiC Power Modules

    3 Min Read

    Vitesco Technologies is developing a power module which will be manufactured using transfer molding process. During this process the power electronics are sealed under a dielectric material that protects the components extremely well. The result is a very robust, cost effective and reliable electronic. The power module consists of three overmolded half-bridges and forms the core of an inverter system, which controls both the drive energy and the energy recovery (recuperation) in high-voltage electric vehicles. 

    Manufactured at the Nuremberg electronics plant, the power modules will be delivered to a large global car maker from mid-2025 onwards.

    Vitesco Technologies has been adapting and utilizing transfer molding technology since 2020, first applying it to compact Transmission Control Units designed for full integration inside a gear box. 

    The overmold power modules now combine highly efficient state-of-the art silicon carbide (SiC) chip technology with overmolding to facilitate a particularly robust product with increased power density, lower cost and reduced weight.

    These power modules are a good example of strategic approach of using the scalability and modularity of our power electronics to develop and manufacture submodules in addition to the complete electronics. Combined with extensive overmolding expertise, Vitesco can deliver an extremely robust product to our customers. This is yet another example of how the company successfully transfers proven technology to an electrification product.

    • Thomas Stierle, member of the board and head of Vitesco Technologies’ Electrification Solutions division

    Vitesco Technologies has extensive expertise in power electronics and is already on the market with its fourth generation. The newly developed overmold power module expands the company’s strategic portfolio.

    A very deep system competence is necessary to ensure that a sub-module of this kind, which forms the core of the inverter, can be successfully integrated into the full system. Our degree of electronics modularity and scalability enables us to offer more flexibility in terms of customer-specific interfaces.

    • Michael Horbel, head of product and platform management high voltage inverter at Vitesco Technologies

    Vitesco Technologies will continue to use this strength to bring further electronic sub-modules to the market. 

    The lead plant for these modules is Vitesco Technologies’ Nuremberg site. With its existing competencies and experience, the plant offers a high degree of automation as well as the focus on electronics and e-mobility required for the power modules. This is a further step forward into the “Plant of the Future” concept, defined for the Nuremberg plant to maintain its international competitiveness.

    Original – Vitesco Technologies

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