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Nexperia introduced a new series of high-performance gate driver ICs designed for driving both high-side and low-side N-channel MOSFETs in a synchronous buck or half-bridge configuration. These devices deliver high current output and excellent dynamic performance, boosting efficiency and robustness in applications.
The automotive-qualified NGD4300-Q100 is ideal for electronic power steering and power converters, while the NGD4300 has been designed for use with DC-DC converters in consumer devices, servers and telecommunications equipment as well as for micro-inverters used in various industrial applications.
The floating high-side driver in these ICs can operate from bus voltages up to 120 V and use a bootstrap supply with an integrated diode, features which simplify overall system design and help to reduce PCB size. They can deliver up to 4 A (peak) source and 5 A of sink current to guarantee short rise and fall times even for heavy loads.
The gate driver has a low 13 ns delay and offers excellent channel-to-channel delay matching of only 1 ns. These delays are significantly lower than for similar competing gate drivers and help to minimize dead-time by maximizing switching duty-cycle. 4 ns rise and 3.5 ns (typical) fall times help to deliver higher efficiency and support high frequency and fast system control. These gate drivers accept input control signals complying with both TTL and CMOS logic levels.
“These devices are the first in our new portfolio of high-performance half-bridge gate drivers” according to Irene Deng, general manager of the IC solutions business group at Nexperia. “This release demonstrates how Nexperia is using process innovation to respond to the burgeoning demand for robust gate drivers that can increase power converter efficiency while also delivering smoother motor control in consumer, industrial and automotive applications.”
For superior robustness in power conversion and motor driving applications, these ICs are fabricated using a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process. This allows the negative voltage tolerance of the HS pin to extend to -5 V, significantly reducing the risk of damage caused by system parasitic component and unexpected spikes. The NGD4300 and NGD4300-Q100 are available in a choice of DFN-8, SO-8 and HSO-8 packages to offer engineers the flexibility to trade-off between device size and thermal performance, depending on application requirements.
Original – Nexperia
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LATEST NEWS / PRODUCT & TECHNOLOGY / SiC / WBGSTMicroelectronics Released an Advanced Galvanically Isolated Gate Drivers for IGBTs and SiC MOSFETs
November 7, 2024
2 Min ReadSTMicroelectronics’ STGAP3S family of gate drivers for silicon-carbide (SiC) and IGBT power switches combines ST’s latest robust galvanic isolation technology with optimized desaturation protection and flexible Miller-clamp architecture.
Featuring reinforced capacitive galvanic isolation between the gate-driving channel and the low-voltage control and interface circuitry, the STGAP3S withstands 9.6kV transient isolation voltage (VIOTM) with 200V/ns common-mode transient immunity (CMTI). With its state-of-the-art isolation, the STGAP3S enhances reliability in motor drives for industrial applications such as air conditioning, factory automation, and home appliances. The new drivers are also used in power and energy applications including charging stations, energy storage systems, power-factor correction (PFC), DC/DC converters, and solar inverters.
The STGAP3S product family includes different options with 10A and 6A current capability, each of them available with differentiated Under Voltage Lock-Out (UVLO) and desaturation intervention thresholds. This helps designers select the best device to match the performance of their chosen SiC MOSFET or IGBT power switches.
The Desaturation protection implements an overload and short-circuit protection for the external power switch providing the possibility to adjust the turn-off strategy using an external resistor to maximize the protection turn-off speed while avoiding excessive overvoltage spikes. The undervoltage-lockout protection prevents turn-on with insufficient drive voltage.
The driver’s integrated Miller Clamp architecture provides a pre-driver for an external N-channel MOSFET. Designers can thus leverage flexibility to select a suitable intervention speed that prevents induced turn-on and avoids cross conduction.
The available device variants allow a choice of 10A sink/source and 6A sink/source drive-current capability for optimum performance with the chosen power switch with desaturation-detection and UVLO thresholds optimized for IGBT or SiC technology. The fault conditions of desaturation, UVLO and overtemperature protection are notified with two dedicated open drain diagnostic pins.
Original – STMicroelectronics
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Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced two new IGBT and MOSFET drivers in the compact, high isolation stretched SO-6 package. Delivering high peak output currents of 3 A and 4 A, respectively, the Vishay Semiconductors VOFD341A and VOFD343A offer high operating temperatures to +125 °C and low propagation delay of 200 ns maximum.
Consisting of an AlGaAs LED optically coupled to an integrated circuit with a power output stage, the optocouplers are intended for solar inverters and microinverters; AC and brushless DC industrial motor control inverters; and inverter stages for AC/DC conversion in UPS. The devices are ideally suited for directly driving IGBTs with ratings up to 1200 V / 100 A.
The high operating temperature of the VOFD341A and VOFD343A provides a higher temperature safety margin for more compact designs, while their high peak output current allows for faster switching by eliminating the need for an additional driver stage. The devices’ low propagation delay minimizes switching losses, while facilitating more precise PWM regulation.
The optocouplers’ high isolation package enables high working voltages up to 1.140 V, which allows for high voltage inverter stages, while still maintaining enough voltage safety margin. The RoHS-compliant devices offer high noise immunity of 50 kV/µs, which prevents fail functions in fast switching power stages.
Original – Vishay Intertechnology
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Littelfuse, Inc. announced the launch of the IX4341 and IX4342 dual 5 ampere low-side MOSFET gate drivers. These gate drivers are specifically designed for driving MOSFETs and complete the existing IX434x driver series by adding the remaining two logic input versions. The IX434x series now consists of dual non-inverting, dual inverting, and non-inverting and inverting input versions, providing customers with a comprehensive range of options.
The IX4341 and IX4342 drivers’ short propagation delay times of 16 nanoseconds and brief rise and fall times of 7 nanoseconds make them ideal for high-frequency applications. Additionally, for higher current requirements, electronics designers can parallel the two channels of the IX4340 and IX4341 devices to form a single 10 A driver, providing flexibility and scalability.
A notable feature of the IX434x drivers is their compatibility with TTL and CMOS logic inputs, enabling direct interfacing with most controllers. Furthermore, each output has an independent ENABLE function and under-voltage lockout circuitry (UVLO) to ensure reliable and safe operation. In case of eventual insufficient supply voltage, the gate driver output is asserted low, turning the external power device off.
The IX4341 and IX4342 dual 5 A low-side gate drivers find applications in various markets, including:
- general industrial and electrical equipment,
- appliances,
- building solutions,
- data centers,
- energy storage, and
- renewable energy.
These low-side MOSFET gate drivers are ideally suited for numerous industrial applications such as:
- switch-mode power supplies,
- DC-DC converters,
- motor controllers, and
- power converters.
The IX434x devices are available in standard 8-pin SOIC, thermally enhanced 8-pin SOIC, and 3×3 mm² MSOP packages, offering customers a range of options to suit their specific needs.
“This new series of dual five-ampere low-side gate drivers simplify circuit design with its high level of integration and compatibility with various logic input versions,” said June Zhang, Product Manager, Integrated Circuits Division, Semiconductor Business Unit, at Littelfuse. “With these drivers, customers can expect enhanced performance and protection for their power devices.”
The IX434x dual 5 A low-side gate drivers find applications in various industries, including general industrial and electrical equipment, appliances, building solutions, data centers, energy storage, and renewable energy.
They serve as a direct drop-in alternative to similar available drivers, providing customers with industry-standard options to meet their supply demands.
Original – Littelfuse
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Power Integrations announced the launch of the SCALE-iFlex™ XLT family of dual-channel plug-and-play gate drivers for operation of single LV100 (Mitsubishi), XHP™ 2 (Infineon), HPnC (Fuji Electric) and equivalent semiconductor modules up to 2300 V blocking voltage for wind, energy storage and solar renewable energy installations.
This single-board driver enables active thermal management of inverter modules for improved system utilization and reduces the bill-of-material count for increased reliability.
Thorsten Schmidt, product marketing manager at Power Integrations commented: “It’s a real challenge to build a single-board gate driver for these ‘new dual’ style IGBT modules. Our compact new SCALE-iFlex XLT gate drivers fit inside the outline of the module, allowing the drivers to be mounted on the module, which gives converter system designers a high degree of mechanical design freedom.”
SCALE-iFlex XLT dual-channel gate drivers feature Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) data reporting – an isolated temperature measurement of the power module – which allows accurate thermal management of converter systems. This enables system designers to optimize thermal design and obtain a 25 to 30 percent converter power increase from the same hardware.
The isolated NTC readout also reduces hardware complexity, eliminating multiple cables, connectors and additional isolation barrier crossing circuits. The new gate drivers employ Power Integrations’ SCALE-2 chip set which minimizes component count, enhancing reliability. The gate driver board also protects the power switches in the event of a short-circuit.
Original – Power Integrations
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STMicroelectronics unveiled L99H92 automotive gate driver which provides an SPI port for programming and diagnostics, a charge pump, protective features, and two additional current-sense amplifiers for system monitoring.
Containing two high-side and two low-side drivers, the L99H92 can control a single H-bridge powering one bidirectional DC motor or two half bridges for two unidirectional motors. Typical applications for the highly integrated and easily configurable driver include electric sunroof, window lift, powered trunk, sliding doors, and seat-belt pre-tensioners.
The charge pump powers the high-side drivers to maintain correct operation as the vehicle battery voltage fluctuates, enabling the outputs to function with a supply as low as 5.41V. The charge-pump output is also available at an external pin to control a MOSFET for reverse-battery protection.
The gate-driving current is programmed through the SPI port, allowing slew-rate control to minimize electromagnetic emissions and thermal dissipation. Programming the current saves up to four external discrete components per MOSFET, typically needed for slew-rate setting with conventional drivers. The maximum drive current of 170mA gives designers flexibility to use the driver with a wide variety of external MOSFETs, including high-power devices with large gate capacitance.
With many features for system protection and diagnostics, the L99H92 is built for reliability and safety. There is overcurrent protection with a programmable threshold, detected by monitoring the MOSFET drain current. Also, cross-conduction protection with programmable dead time ensures safety and efficiency. Additional protection includes overtemperature early warning and shutdown, overvoltage and undervoltage protection on analog and digital power supply inputs, and open-load and output short-circuit detection in off-state diagnostic mode.
A fail-safe input can turn off all MOSFETs instantaneously and a dedicated diagnostic pin provides immediate fault warning without waiting for periodic SPI transfers.
Additionally, two current-sense amplifiers are integrated for system-status monitoring, helping minimize the bill of materials. Suitable for high-side, low-side, and inline sensing, the amplifiers have independently programmable gain, low offset, and low thermal drift. They can be independently disabled to reduce current consumption when unused.
Original – STMicroelectronics
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LATEST NEWSToshiba Starts Volume Shipments of SmartMCD™ Series of Gate Driver ICs with Embedded Microcontroller
2 Min ReadToshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has started volume shipments of the SmartMCD™ Series of gate driver ICs with embedded microcontroller (MCU). The first product, “TB9M003FG“, is suitable for sensorless control of three-phase brushless DC motors used in automotive applications, including water and oil pumps, fans and blowers.
TB9M003FG combines a microcontroller (Arm® Cortex®-M0), flash memory, power control functions and communications interface functions into a gate driver that controls and drives N-ch power MOSFETs for three-phase brushless DC motor drives.
This integration will reduce system sizes and component counts while realizing advanced and complex motor control for a wide variety of automotive motor applications. The new product also incorporates Toshiba’s proprietary vector engine, hardware for sensorless sinewave control, reducing the load on the microcontroller, and the size of the software.
A reference design using TB9M003FG, “Motor Driving Circuit for Automotive Body Electronics Using SmartMCD™”, is now available on Toshiba’s website.
The expanding market for electric vehicles (xEV) requires electrification, component integration, downsized electronic control unit (ECUs), and quieter motors. In response, the new product contributes to downsizing of ECUs by integrating a microcontroller into the gate driver, and to quieter motors by using vector control.
Original – Toshiba
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Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. announced the launch of the second product in its High Voltage Power portfolio. Allegro’s AHV85111 isolated gate-driver IC adds critical safety features while simplifying the design of high-power energy conversion systems for e-Mobility and clean energy applications, including OBC/DCDC, solar inverter and datacenter power supply.
“Allegro continues to build upon the technology from our acquisitions in order to expand our High Voltage Power portfolio aimed at helping designers achieve their efficiency and power density needs in clean energy and e-Mobility systems,” said Vijay Mangtani, Vice President and General Manager for High Voltage Power at Allegro. “The bipolar-output of our latest device improves noise immunity and significantly simplifies high-frequency power-converter designs.”
Building upon Allegro’s existing power-thru technology, the AHV85111 was designed to meet designer demands for a simple, streamlined and safe solution. The AHV85111 gate driver adds bipolar-output, a critical feature that significantly improves time to market by eliminating the need to design a complicated negative isolated DC power supply and removing unnecessary external components.
Allegro’s newest power-thru solution also adds crucial safety features that were designed to protect against high operating temperatures in electric powertrain systems, as well as reactions to noisy environments that may be present in microinverters in solar applications, power supply in datacenter applications or on-board chargers for electric vehicles.
The AHV85111 gate driver packs all the benefits of Allegro’s power-thru technology, including 10x lower common-mode capacitance, a 50% smaller footprint, 10x noise reduction and a 50% efficiency improvement compared to competitor offerings, while also providing overtemperature protection that further improves the robustness of system.
Original – Allegro MicroSystems
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Power Integrations announced a new family of plug-and-play gate drivers for 62 mm silicon-carbide (SiC) MOSFET and silicon IGBT modules rated up to 1700 V, with enhanced protection features to ensure safe, reliable operation.
SCALE™-2 2SP0230T2x0 dual-channel gate drivers deploy short-circuit protection in less than two microseconds, protecting the compact SiC MOSFETs against damaging over-currents. The new drivers also include advanced active clamping (AAC) to protect the switches against over-voltage during turn-off, enabling higher DC link operating voltages.
Thorsten Schmidt, product marketing manager at Power Integrations, commented: “The 2SP0230T2x0 gate drivers are flexible; the same hardware can be used to drive either SiC MOSFET or IGBT modules. This reduces both system design and sourcing challenges, and the plug-and-play approach speeds development.”
Ideal for applications such as railway auxiliary converters, offboard EV chargers and STATic synchronous COMpensator (STATCOM) voltage regulators for the power grid, 2SP0230T2x0 gate drivers are based on Power Integrations’ proven SCALE-2 technology, resulting in higher levels of integration, smaller size, more functionality and enhanced system reliability.
Power Integrations’ compact 134 x 62 mm 2SP0230T2x0 provides reinforced isolation at 1700 V, enabling use for up to 1700 V operation; this is 500 V higher than conventional drivers, which are typically limited to 1200 V.
Original – Power Integrations
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STMicroelectronics’ first galvanically isolated gate driver for gallium-nitride (GaN) transistors, the STGAP2GS, trims dimensions and bill-of-materials costs in applications that demand superior wide-bandgap efficiency with robust safety and electrical protection.
The single-channel driver can be connected to a high-voltage rail up to 1200V, or 1700V with the STGAP2GSN narrow-body version, and provides gate-driving voltage up to 15V. Capable of sinking and sourcing up to 3A gate current to the connected GaN transistor, the driver ensures tightly controlled switching transitions up to high operating frequencies.
With minimal propagation delay across the isolation barrier, at just 45ns, the STGAP2GS ensures fast dynamic response. In addition, dV/dt transient immunity of ±100V/ns over the full temperature range guards against unwanted transistor gate change. The STGAP2GS is available with separate sink and source pins for easy tuning of the gate-driving operation and performance.
Saving the need for discrete components to provide optical isolation, the STGAP2GS driver eases the adoption of efficient and robust GaN technology in various consumer and industrial applications. These include power supplies in computer servers, factory-automation equipment, motor drivers, solar and wind power systems, home appliances, domestic fans, and wireless chargers.
In addition to integrating galvanic isolation, the driver also features built-in system protection including thermal shutdown and under-voltage lockout (UVLO) optimized for GaN technology, to ensure reliability and ruggedness.
Two demonstration boards, the EVSTGAP2GS and EVSTGAP2GSN, combine the standard STGAP2GS and narrow STGAP2GSN with ST’s SGT120R65AL 75mΩ, 650V enhancement-Mode GaN transistors to help users evaluate the drivers’ capabilities.
The STGAP2GS in SO-8 widebody package, and the STGAP2GSN SO-8 narrow version, are available now, priced from $1.42 for orders of 1000 pieces.
Please visit www.st.com/stgap2gs for more information.
Original – STMicroelectronics
