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Wolfspeed, Inc. announced the expansion of an existing long-term silicon carbide wafer supply agreement with a leading global semiconductor company. The expanded agreement, which is now worth approximately $275 million in total, calls for Wolfspeed to supply the company with 150mm silicon carbide bare and epitaxial wafers, reinforcing both companies’ visions for an industry-wide transition from silicon to silicon carbide semiconductor power devices.
“As the global leader in silicon carbide wafer production, Wolfspeed is uniquely positioned to be a critical supplier of high-quality and advanced silicon carbide materials at scale. We will continue to be an important partner to power device manufacturers who need the highest-quality silicon carbide wafers to service their customers,” said Dr. Cengiz Balkas, SVP and GM of Materials for Wolfspeed.
“This agreement further strengthens our long-time partnership with a best-in-class power semiconductor manufacturer. Our collective efforts are helping to address the rapidly expanding opportunity for silicon carbide and better address the unfulfilled demand that exists in the marketplace today.”
The adoption of silicon carbide-based power solutions is rapidly growing across multiple markets, including industrial and EVs. Silicon carbide solutions enable smaller, lighter and more cost-effective designs, converting energy more efficiently to unlock new applications in electrification. This supply agreement will enable silicon carbide applications in a broad range of industries, such as: renewable energy and storage, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, industrial power supplies, traction and variable speed drives.
Wolfspeed is the global leader in the manufacturing of silicon carbide wafers and epitaxial wafers. The company is currently expanding its manufacturing capacity in the United States and has plans to open a new, automated materials factory in Siler City, North Carolina later this year that will produce 200mm silicon carbide wafers. The new materials factory will increase Wolfspeed’s current materials production capacity by ten times.
Original – Wolfspeed
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Infineon Technologies AG announced a partnership with Shenzhen based Sinexcel Electric Co., Ltd., a global leader in core power equipment and solutions for the Energy Internet. Infineon will provide Sinexcel with its industry-leading 1200 V CoolSiC™ MOSFET power semiconductor devices in combination with EiceDRIVER™ compact 1200 V single-channel isolated gate drive ICs to further improve the efficiency of energy storage systems.
Driven by the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality strategy and the new energy wave, the domestic energy storage market has maintained sustained and rapid development in recent years. According to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in the first half of 2023, the newly installed capacity of energy storage reached 8.63 GWh, equivalent to the total installed capacity of previous years.
The efficiency and power density of energy storage systems are important factors of product competitiveness, while the size, weight and cost of energy storage systems are closely related to the energy conversion efficiency and directly affect the product cost. Therefore, power semiconductor components play a crucial role.
“The SiC power solution is an important component for future green energy production and storage applications. Infineon’s cooperation with Sinexcel in the field of energy storage inverters enables energy storage systems to achieve advantages such as high efficiency, small size, and light weight, providing a solid guarantee for high-reliability and high-performance energy storage systems,” said Mr. Yu Daihui, Senior Vice President of Infineon Technologies and Head of Green Industrial Power Division in Greater China.
“By using Infineon’s SiC devices, Sinexcel’s energy storage products are obviously more compact and flexible, with significantly higher efficiency and lower losses, which reduces the heat dissipation cost of systems, is conducive to the long-term efficient and stable operation of products, and helps end users improve their operational stability and shorten their return on investment cycle.
This greatly improves the system competitiveness of our products and enhances the trust of clients in our energy storage products and the brand awareness of Sinexcel. We hope that in the future, Infineon will further provide high-performance and high-stability components to help enhance the competitiveness of Sinexcel’s products on the client side,” said Mr.Wei Xiaoliang, Deputy General Manager of Sinexcel.
With more than 20 years of product development and application experience in the SiC field, Infineon has been working nonstop to develop more sophisticated SiC products. Due to their high power density, Infineon’s 1200 V CoolSiC MOSFETs can reduce losses by 50 percent and provide ~2 percent additional energy without increasing the battery size, which is especially beneficial for high-performance, lightweight and compact energy storage solutions.
By using Infineon’s 1200 V CoolSiC MOSFETs and EiceDRIVER compact 1200 V single-channel isolated gate drive ICs, Sinexcel’s energy storage converters achieve high power density, minimum electromagnetic radiation and interference, high protection performance and high reliability. This allows a system efficiency of up to 98 percent, which is 1 percent higher than that of traditional solutions, reaching the industry-leading level and better meeting the needs of on-grid and off-grid energy storage applications in both domestic and overseas markets.
Original – Infineon Technologies
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Infineon Technologies AG announced its joint Innovation Application Center in Shenzhen with Anker Innovations, a global leader in charging technology. With the center already fully operating, it is paving the way for more energy-efficient and CO2-saving charging solutions that support decarbonization.
Driven by the growing consumer demand for faster charging solutions due to an increasing usage of mobile devices, laptops and other battery-powered devices, the idea of establishing an Anker-Infineon Innovation Application Center dated back to 2021. After two years of preparation, the joint lab now serves as R&D hub for industry experts to develop power-delivery (PD) fast charging solutions with higher power density, mainly based on Infineon’s next-generation Hybrid Flyback (HFB) controller product family and the CoolGaN™ IPS for fast chargers above 100W.
Anker has already brought several successful products to the market, such as the industry-leading 100W+ fast charger device powered by Infineon’s CoolGaN in 2022. With the Innovation Application Center Anker and Infineon will even shorten the application cycle and accelerate the time to market for future products.
“Anker is an important customer for Infineon,” said Christian Burrer, Vice President of Systems & Application Marketing of Power & Sensor Systems Division at Infineon Technologies. “We have already started a strong cooperation in the charging field, with product and system solutions covering several Infineon product lines. In the field of PD charging, we provide our customers a comprehensive product portfolio, including state-of-the-art power controllers, first-class switching power supplies, leading silicon MOSFET and GaN transistor performance, and more.”
Beyond charging solutions, the joint lab is focusing on a more diversified range of consumer applications, driven by Infineon’s expertise in wide-bandgap materials such as gallium nitride (GaN). The acquisition of GaN Systems in 2023 has significantly accelerated Infineon’s GaN roadmap and further strengthens its leadership in power systems through mastery of all relevant power semiconductor technologies.
“In 2023, Anker achieved success in many markets such as China and Europe. This would not have been possible without Infineon’s GaN technology solutions and the strong collaboration between our companies. We look forward to even intensifying our partnership with Infineon”, said by Kang Xiong, General Manager of the charging business unit at Anker Technologies.
Original – Infineon Technologies
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Qorvo® unveiled an automotive-qualified silicon carbide (SiC) field effect transistor (FET) offering an industry-best 9mΩ RDS(on) in a compact D2PAK-7L package. This 750V SiC FET is the first in a new family of pin-compatible SiC FETs from Qorvo with RDS(on) options up to 60mΩ, making them well suited for electric vehicle (EV) applications, including on-board chargers, DC/DC converters and positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater modules.
The UJ4SC075009B7S features a 9mΩ typical RDS(on) at 25°C needed for reducing conduction losses and maximizing efficiency in high voltage, multi-kilowatt automotive applications. Its small, surface-mount package enables automated assembly flows and reduces customer manufacturing costs. This new 750V family complements Qorvo’s existing 1200V and 1700V automotive SiC FETs in D2PAK packaging to form a complete portfolio addressing EV applications that span 400V and 800V battery architectures.
Ramanan Natarajan, director of Product Line Marketing for Qorvo’s Power Products, said, “The launch of this new family of SiC FETs demonstrates our commitment to providing EV powertrain designers the most advanced and efficient solutions for their unique automotive power challenges.”
These fourth generation SiC FETs leverage Qorvo’s unique cascode circuit configuration, in which a SiC JFET is co-packaged with a Si MOSFET to produce a device with the efficiency advantages of wide bandgap switch technology and the simpler gate drive of silicon MOSFETs. Efficiency in SiC FETs is dependent on conduction losses, and Qorvo’s cascode/JFET approach enables reduced conduction losses through industry-best RDS(on) and body diode reverse voltage drop.
The key features of the UJ4SC075009B7S include:
- Threshold voltage VG(th): 4.5V (typical) allowing 0 to 15V drive
- Low body diode VFSD: 1.1V
- Maximum operating temperature: 175°C
- Excellent reverse recovery: Qrr = 338 nC
- Low gate charge: QG = 75 nC
- Automotive Electronics Council (AEC) Q101-qualified
Original – Qorvo
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Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced the coming release of six new J3-Series power semiconductor modules for various electric vehicles (xEVs), featuring either a silicon carbide metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (SiC-MOSFET) or a RC-IGBT (Si), with compact designs and scalability for use in the inverters of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). All six J3-Series products will be available for sample shipments from March 25.
The new power modules will be exhibited at the 38th Electronics R&D, Manufacturing and Packaging Technology Expo (NEPCON JAPAN 2024) from January 24 to 26 at Tokyo Big Sight, Japan, as well as other exhibitions in North America, Europe, China and additional locations.
As power semiconductors capable of efficiently converting electricity expand and diversify in response to decarbonization initiatives, the demand is increasing for SiC power semiconductors offering significantly reduced power loss. In the xEV sector, power semiconductor modules are used widely in power conversion devices such as inverters for xEV drive motors.
In addition to extending the cruising range of xEVs, compact, high-power, high-efficiency modules are needed to further downsize batteries and inverters. But due to the high safety standards set for xEVs, power semiconductors used in drive motors must be more reliable than those used in general industrial applications.
Development of these SiC products was partially supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
Original – Mitsubishi Electric
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Infineon Technologies AG and Wolfspeed, Inc. announced the expansion and extension of their existing long-term 150mm silicon carbide wafer supply agreement, originally signed in February 2018. The extended partnership includes a multi-year capacity reservation agreement.
It contributes to Infineon’s general supply chain stability, also with regard to the growing demand for silicon carbide semiconductor products for automotive, solar and EV applications and energy storage systems.
“As the demand for silicon carbide devices continues to increase, we are following a multi-source strategy to secure access to a high-quality, global and long-term supply base of 150mm and 200mm SiC wafers. Our prolonged partnership with Wolfspeed further strengthens Infineon’s supply chain resilience for the coming years,” said Jochen Hanebeck, CEO of Infineon Technologies. “We have been working with Wolfspeed for more than 20 years to bring the promise of silicon carbide to the automotive, industrial and energy markets, and to help customers leverage this energy-efficient technology to foster decarbonization.”
The adoption of silicon carbide-based power solutions is rapidly growing across multiple markets. Silicon carbide solutions enable smaller, lighter and more cost-effective designs, converting energy more efficiently to unlock new clean energy applications. To better support these growing markets, Infineon is continuously diversifying its supplier base to secure access to high-quality silicon carbide substrates.
“Wolfspeed is the world’s leader in silicon carbide production. We are the catalyst in the industry transition to silicon carbide, providing high-quality materials to key customers like Infineon, a leading supplier in both the automotive and industrial markets, while also scaling our capacity footprint,” said Wolfspeed president and CEO Gregg Lowe. “Industry estimates indicate demand for silicon carbide devices, as well as the supporting material, will grow substantially through 2030, representing a $20 billion annual opportunity. We are very pleased to continue our partnership with Infineon and to serve as a major supplier of silicon carbide wafers in the years ahead.”
Original – Infineon Technologies
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SemiQ will be exhibiting its latest portfolio of advanced silicon carbide (SiC) modules at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) in Long Beach, CA February 25-29, 2024.
Visitors to SemiQ’s booth #2245 will have the first opportunity to explore the latest QSiC™ 1200V SiC modules. These modules are designed to operate reliably in challenging conditions and enable high-performance, high-density implementation while minimizing both dynamic and static losses. Crafted from high-performance ceramics, the modules are available in SOT-227, half-bridge and full-bridge options.
The new QSiC MOSFET modules support a variety of innovative automotive and industrial power applications where efficiency, power density and performance are critical design criteria. These include EV charging, on-board chargers (OBCs), DC-DC converters, E-compressors, fuel cell converters, medical power supplies, energy storage systems, solar and wind energy systems, data center power supplies and UPS/PFC circuits.
“We’re excited to showcase our new family of QSiC™ 1200V MOSFET modules at APEC and look forward to empowering engineers across the renewable energy, automotive, medical, and industrial sectors to build robust systems,” said Dr. Timothy Han, President at SemiQ.
“This family is a testament to SemiQ’s dedication to excellence in semiconductor technology. Our power modules stand out not just for their high performance, but also for the rigorous testing that ensures reliability. All modules have undergone testing exceeding 1350V. From gate burn-in testing to stress tests like HTRB and H3TRB, we prioritize stability and quality.”
Held annually, APEC is a three-day technology event that focuses on the practical and applied aspects of the power electronics business. The conference provides ample opportunities for networking, offering a range of activities from technical and industry sessions to social events and exhibitor presentations. APEC caters to a diverse group of professionals in the field of power electronics, ranging from designers of power supplies, DC-DC converters, and motor drives to equipment OEMs that use power supplies, as well as manufacturers and suppliers.
Additionally, professional education seminars are available for attendees who wish to stay updated on the latest industry trends. These seminars offer in-depth discussions of important and complex power electronics topics that can vary from introductory to advanced in technical level.
Original – SemiQ
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Infineon Technologies AG has formalized an agreement with silicon carbide (SiC) supplier SK Siltron CSS. Under the agreement, SK Siltron CSS will provide Infineon with competitive and high-quality 150-millimeter SiC wafers, supporting the production of SiC semiconductors. In a subsequent phase, SK Siltron CSS will play an important role in assisting Infineon’s transition to a 200-millimeter wafer diameter.
“For Infineon, supply chain resiliency is about implementing a multi-supplier strategy and thriving in times of adversity to create new growth opportunities and drive decarbonization,” said Angelique van der Burg, Chief Procurement Officer at Infineon. “We are excited to partner with SK Siltron CSS to serve the growing SiC demand of our broad customer base with new energy-efficient and top-quality products, matching the highest standards in the SiC market.”
“With decades of experience in silicon carbide materials and manufacturing, we bring unparalleled knowledge to our sustainably manufactured compound semiconductor solutions. This wealth of experience is a cornerstone in our partnership with Infineon,” said Jianwei Dong, Ph.D., CEO of SK Siltron CSS. “This long-term supply agreement marks the synergy of our extensive expertise and Infineon’s vision to make life easier, safer and greener for generations to come.”
Original – Infineon Technologies
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BYD honored United Nova Technology (formerly known as Semiconductor Manufacturing Electronics (ShaoXing) Corporation) with “Special Contribution Award” on BYD NEV (New Energy Vehicle) Core Supplier Convention 2023 for being a highly reliable partner in terms of quality and delivery capability.
Since 2021, UNT has engaged in broad cooperation with BYD in multi domains, including power devices such as SiC MOSFET, IGBT, and silicon-based MOSFET, as well as power modules and analog IC for automotive industry.
With the deepening of cooperation, UNT’s products have entered BYD’s ocean series and dynasty series on a large scale. In 2023, the SiC MOSFET manufactured by UNT have been widely installed in BYD’s electric vehicles. Being awarded the “Special Contribution Award” is a full recognition of the continuous contribution and outstanding performance of UNT.
In the future, UNT will continue to deepen its close cooperation with global customers such as BYD, promote technology innovations, and provide customers with more efficient and low-energy consumption solutions to support the vigorous development of the green energy.
Original – United Nova Technology
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onsemi announced the availability of nine new EliteSiC Power Integrated Modules (PIMs) enabling bidirectional charging capabilities for DC ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers and energy storage systems (ESS). The silicon carbide-based solutions will dramatically improve system cost with higher efficiency and simpler cooling mechanisms that can reduce size by up to 40% and weight by up to 52% compared to traditional silicon-based IGBT solutions.
With more compact, lighter charging platforms, designers will have all the key building blocks that are needed to quickly deploy a reliable, efficient and scalable network of DC fast chargers that can charge electric vehicle batteries up to 80% in as little as 15 minutes.
According to J.D. Power’s 2023 Electric Vehicle Consideration Study, nearly half of U.S. consumers note the reason for not purchasing an electric vehicle is the access to charging and the ability to do so quickly, to ensure the driving experience is as easy and seamless as with a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. In the U.S., the availability of EV chargers needs to quadruple by 2025 and 8x by the end of the decade to keep up with demand and ensure drivers have equitable access to public charging stations.
In turn, this rapid increase in demand for electricity will also put a tremendous strain on current electrical grids, potentially overloading them. To mitigate this problem, bidirectional charging has emerged as a key solution to implement vehicle-to-grid which allows both regular battery charging and the ability to use an EV as an energy storage system to power your home when needed.
This solution helps enable a DC fast charging network and vehicle-to-grid power transfer systems, addressing access and speed with its ability to recharge a vehicle faster than other methods that take hours or even days.
onsemi offers the most comprehensive portfolio of PIMs to address the key topologies on the market. This gives designers the flexibility to pick the right PIM for power conversion stages in their DC fast charging or energy storage system applications. To accelerate the design cycle, advanced piecewise linear electrical circuit simulation (PLECS) models through our Self-Service PLECS model Generator and application simulation with the Elite Power Simulator of this portfolio will also be made available to designers.
For each module, onsemi uses die from the same wafer to ensure more consistency and reliability so designers don’t have to use discretes from different suppliers, which can lead to varying performance results. In addition to its reliability, this module portfolio offers the following benefits:
- Uses the Gen3 M3S SiC MOSFET technology which offers the lowest switching losses and highest efficiency in the industry
- Supports key topologies such as multi-level T-type neutral point clamp (TNPC), half-bridge and full-bridge topologies
- Supports scalable output power from 25 kW to 100 kW, enabling multiple DC fast charging and energy storage systems platforms including bidirectional charging
- Industry-standard F1 and F2 packages with the option of pre-applied Thermal Interface Material (TIM) and press fit pins
- Enables optimal thermal management, avoiding system failure due to overheating
- Full SiC modules offer energy conservation by minimizing power losses, directly translating to cost and energy savings
- Offers more robustness and dependability, ensuring consistent operations
Original – onsemi
