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Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. and Nexperia B.V. announced in November 2023 that they had entered into an agreement that Vishay will acquire Nexperia’s wafer fabrication facility and operations located in Newport, South Wales, U.K.
At the time of that announcement, the closing of Newport wafer fab transaction was subject to UK government review, the purchase rights of a third party, and customary closing conditions. Nexperia is pleased to announce that all conditions to the sale have now been met and the sale of Newport wafer fab to Vishay is now finalised, today, 6th March, securing a future for its employees and for the site.
Original – Nexperia
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Nexperia is once again bringing its product innovations to APEC and today announced the release of several new MOSFETs to further broaden its range of discrete switching solutions for use in various applications across multiple end markets.
This release includes 100 V application specific MOSFETs (ASFETs) for PoE, eFuse and relay replacement in 60% smaller DFN2020 packaging, and 40 V NextPowerS3 MOSFETs with improved electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance.
PoE switches typically have up to 48 ports, each requiring 2 MOSFETs for protection. With up to 96 MOSFETs on a single PCB, any reduction in device footprint is attractive. For this reason, Nexperia has released 100 V PoE ASFETs in 2 mm x 2 mm DFN2020 packaging which occupies 60% less space than previous versions in LFPAK33 packaging.
A critical function of these devices is to protect PoE ports by limiting inrush currents while safely managing fault conditions. To manage this scenario, Nexperia has enhanced the safe operating area (SOA) of these devices by up to 3x with only a minimal increase in RDS(on). These ASFETs are also suitable for battery management, Wi-Fi hotspot, 5G picocell and CCTV applications and can serve as replacements for mechanical relays in smart thermostats, for example.
EMC-related issues caused by MOSFET switching usually only emerge late in the product development life cycle and resolving them can incur additional R&D costs and delay market release. Typical solutions include using significantly more expensive MOSFETs with lower RDS(on) (to slow down switching and absorb excessive voltage ringing) or to fit an external capacitive snubber circuit but this approach has the disadvantage of increasing component count.
Nexperia has optimized its 40 V NextPowerS3 MOSFETs to offer similar EMC performance as that which can be achieved using an external snubber circuit, while also offering higher efficiency. These MOSFETs are suitable for use in switching converters and motor controllers across various applications and are available in LFPAK56 packaging.
“By introducing these latest additions to our range of discrete FET solutions at APEC 2024, Nexperia showcases how we leverage our expertise in R&D to deliver optimized solutions. Both our new 100 V PoE ASFETs as well as improved EMC performance in our 40 V NextPowerS3 MOSFETs demonstrate our commitment to supporting engineers in overcoming challenges across diverse applications. These innovations underscore Nexperia’s dedication to providing efficient, compact, and reliable solutions that empower our customers to succeed in today’s ever-evolving market,” says Chris Boyce, MOSFET Marketing & Product Group Director at Nexperia.
Original – Nexperia
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Nexperia announced that its GaN FET devices, featuring next-gen high-voltage GaN HEMT technology in proprietary copper-clip CCPAK surface mount packaging, are now available to designers of industrial and renewable energy applications.
Building on two decades of expertise in supplying high-volume, high-quality copper-clip SMD packaging, Nexperia is now proud to extend its revolutionary packaging approach to GaN cascode switches in CCPAK. The GAN039-650NTB, a 33 mΩ (typ.) Gallium Nitride (GaN) FET within the CCPAK1212i top-side cooling package, ushers in a new era of wide bandgap semiconductors and copper-clip packaging.
This technology offers advantages for renewable energy applications such as solar and residential heat pumps, further enhancing Nexperia’s commitment to developing the latest component technology for sustainable applications. It is also suited to a wide spectrum of industrial applications such as servo drives, switched-mode power supplies (SMPS), server, and telecom.
Nexperia’s CCPAK surface mount packaging uses Nexperia’s proven innovative copper-clip package technology to replace internal bond wires. This reduces parasitic losses, optimizes electrical and thermal performance, and improves device reliability. For maximum flexibility in designs, these CCPAK GaN FETs are available in top- or bottom-cooled configurations to further improve heat dissipation.
The cascode configuration of the GAN039-650NTB enables it to deliver superior switching and on-state performance, with a robust gate offering high margins against noise. This feature also simplifies application designs by eliminating the requirement for complex gate drivers and control circuitry, instead allowing them to be conveniently driven using standard silicon MOSFET drivers.
Nexperia’s GaN technology improves switching stability and helps to shrink die size by approximately 24%. In addition, device RDS(on) is reduced to only 33 mΩ (typ.) at 25°C, with a high threshold voltage and low diode forward voltage.
“Nexperia recognizes that designers of industrial and renewable energy equipment need a highly robust switching solution that can provide excellent thermal efficiency when performing power conversion.”, according to Carlos Castro, Vice President and General Manager of the GaN FET business at Nexperia. “This is why Nexperia decided to bring together the exceptional switching performance of its cascode GaN FETs with the exceptional thermal properties of its CCPAK packaging to offer customers a compelling solution.”
Nexperia begins its CCPAK portfolio release with the top-cooled 33 mΩ (typ.), 650 V GAN039-650NTB, and will follow shortly with the bottom-cooled variant, GAN039-650NBB of the same RDS(on). More information including datasheets and samples is available at www.nexperia.com/ccpak.
Original – Nexperia
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Nexperia announced the successful signing of their USD 800 million equivalent senior Revolving Credit Facility (RCF). The RCF was substantially oversubscribed with participation from a dozen European, Asian and international banks, an indication of the strong support for Nexperia in the loan market. Proceeds will be earmarked towards the refinancing, general corporate and working capital purposes.
The RCF constitutes Nexperia’s first Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL) and includes environmental and social Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) relating to greenhouse gas emissions and gender diversity with a focus on including more women in management positions. The RCF represents Nexperia’s long-lasting commitment to creating a positive impact on society and the environment as it embarks on its next stage of expansion. To further enhance transparency and governance of the SLL, these KPIs are supported by a second party opinion from Sustainalytics and will be independently assured annually by a third party.
Stefan Tilger, Chief Financial Officer of Nexperia, said: “We are delighted with the strong support received from existing and new lenders from across the world, which underscores Nexperia’s operational excellence and global footprint. Earlier this year, Nexperia issued its first Sustainability Report and announced its target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. Structuring this financing as a Sustainability-Linked Loan is a reaffirmation of our commitment to Nexperia’s Environmental and Social ambitions.”
Amit Sinha, Global Head of TMT at DBS Bank Ltd., said: “DBS Bank has been a steadfast supporter of Nexperia over the years, and we are grateful for the opportunity to lead this financing as Nexperia embarks on its next growth stage”.
“The strong oversubscription by lenders across Europe and Asia is driven by Nexperia’s market position as global leader in Discretes, Logic and MOSFETs and solid financial standing. The KPIs are a testament to Nexperia’s commitment to foster innovations and creative solutions that add value for our customers, communities, and our planet.”, added Mildred Chua, Group Head of Syndicated Finance at DBS Bank Ltd.
DBS Bank Ltd. acted as Sole Original Mandated Lead Arranger, Bookrunner and Sustainability Coordinator for the RCF. Houthoff London LLP and Clifford Chance LLP acted as the borrower’s and lenders’ legal counsel respectively.
Original – Nexperia
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Nexperia announced its first silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs with the release of two 1200 V discrete devices in 3-pin TO-247 packaging with RDS(on) values of 40 mΩ and 80 mΩ. NSF040120L3A0 and NSF080120L3A0 are the first in a series of planned releases which will see Nexperia’s SiC MOSFET portfolio quickly expand to include devices with a variety of RDS(on) values in a choice of through-hole and surface mounted packages.
This release addresses the market demand for the increased availability of high performance SiC MOSFETs in industrial applications including electric vehicle (EV) charging piles, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and inverters for solar and energy storage systems (ESS).
“With these inaugural products, Nexperia and Mitsubishi Electric wanted to bring true innovation to a market that has been crying out for more wide-bandgap device suppliers”, according to Katrin Feurle, Senior Director & Head of Product Group SiC at Nexperia. “Nexperia can now offer SiC MOSFET devices which offer best-in-class performance across several parameters, including high RDS(on) temperature stability, low body diode voltage drop, tight threshold voltage specification as well as a very well-balanced gate charge ratio making the device safe against parasitic turn on. This is the opening chapter in our commitment to producing the highest quality SiC MOSFETs in our partnership with Mitsubishi Electric. Together we will undoubtedly push the boundaries of SiC device performance over the coming years”.
“Together with Nexperia, we’re thrilled to introduce these new SiC MOSFETs as the first product of our partnership”, says Toru Iwagami, Senior General Manger, Power Device Works, Semiconductor & Device Group in Mitsubishi Electric. “Mitsubishi Electric has accumulated superior expertise of SiC power semiconductors, and our devices deliver a unique balance of characteristics.”RDS(on) is a critical performance parameter for SiC MOSFETs as it impacts conduction power losses. Nexperia identified this as a limiting factor in the performance of many currently available SiC devices and used its innovative process technology to ensure its new SiC MOSFETs offer industry-leading temperature stability, with the nominal value of RDS(on) increasing by only 38% over an operating temperature range from 25°C to 175°C. Unlike other many currently available SiC devices in the market.
Nexperia’s SiC MOSFETs also exhibit the very low total gate charge (QG), which brings the advantage of lower gate drive losses. Furthermore, Nexperia balanced gate charge to have an exceptionally low ratio of QGD to QGS, a characteristic which increases device immunity against parasitic turn-on.
Together with the positive temperature coefficient of SiC MOSFETs, Nexperia’s SiC MOSFETs offers also ultra-low spread in device-to device threshold voltage, VGS(th), which allows very well-balanced current-carrying performance under static and dynamic conditions when devices are operated in parallel. Furthermore, low body diode forward voltage (VSD) is a parameter which increases device robustness and efficiency, while also relaxing the dead-time requirement for asynchronous rectification and free wheel operation.
Nexperia is also planning the future release of automotive grade MOSFETs. The NSF040120L3A0 and NSF080120L3A0 are available in production quantities now. Please contact Nexperia sales representatives for samples of the full SiC MOSFET offering.
Original – Nexperia
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Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that it will enter into a strategic partnership with Nexperia B.V. to jointly develop silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors for the power electronics market. Mitsubishi Electric will leverage its wide-bandgap semiconductor technologies to develop and supply SiC MOSFET chips that Nexperia will use to develop SiC discrete devices.
The electric vehicle market is expanding worldwide and is helping to drive the exponential growth of SiC power semiconductors, which offer lower energy loss, higher operating temperatures and faster switching speeds than conventional silicon power semiconductors. The high efficiency of SiC power semiconductors is expected to contribute significantly to global decarbonization and green transformation.
Mitsubishi Electric has established leading positions in applications such as high-speed trains, high-voltage industrial applications and home appliances. The company launched the world’s first SiC power modules for air conditioners in 2010 and became the first supplier of an all-SiC power module for Shinkansen bullet trains in 2015. Mitsubishi Electric has accumulated superior expertise for the development and manufacture of SiC power modules, which are known for their advanced performance and high reliability.
Going forward, Mitsubishi Electric expects to strengthen its partnership with Nexperia, a global leader with decades of experience in the design, manufacture, quality assurance and supply of diverse discrete devices. Nexperia’s devices are used in the automotive, industrial, mobile and consumer markets, contributing to decarbonization and a more sustainable future. Mitsubishi Electric will continue to improve the performance and quality of its SiC chips and focus on the development of power modules using proprietary module technologies.
Mark Roeloffzen, SVP & General Manager Business Group Bipolar Discretes at Nexperia, said: “This mutually beneficial strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Electric represents a significant stride in Nexperia’s silicon carbide journey. Mitsubishi Electric has a strong track record as a supplier of technically proven SiC device and modules. Combined with Nexperia’s high-quality standards and expertise in discrete products and packaging, we will certainly generate positive synergies between both companies – ultimately enabling our customers to deliver highly energy efficient products in the industrial, automotive or consumer markets they serve.”
Masayoshi Takemi, Executive Officer and Group President, Semiconductor & Device at Mitsubishi Electric, said: “Nexperia is a leading company in the industrial sector with proven technologies for high quality discrete semiconductors. We are delighted to enter into this co-development partnership that will leverage the semiconductor technologies of both companies.”
Original – Mitsubishi Electric
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Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. and Nexperia B.V. announced that they have entered into an agreement that Vishay will acquire Nexperia’s wafer fabrication facility and operations located in Newport, South Wales, U.K. for $177million in cash. ATREG, Inc., the Seattle-based premier global firm for initiating, brokering, and executing the exchange of semiconductor manufacturing assets, served as Nexperia’s transaction advisors.
Newport wafer fab, located on 28 acres, is an automotive certified, 200mm semiconductor wafer fab that supplies primarily automotive markets. It is the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the U.K.
Toni Versluijs, Country Manager Nexperia UK, stated: “Nexperia would have preferred to continue the long-term strategy it implemented when it acquired the investment-starved fab in 2021 and provided for massive investments in equipment and personnel. However, these investment plans have been cut short by the unexpected and wrongful divestment order made by the UK Government in November 2022.The site needs clarity about its future to avoid further losses, and today’s announcement provides this. Of all options, this agreement with Vishay is the most viable one to secure the future of the site as Vishay – like Nexperia – has a solid customer base for the fab’s capabilities. For the site, Vishay’s commitment to further make the Newport wafer fab a success story is encouraging. Nexperia’s position with regards to the UK Government’s order remains unchanged.”
The closing of Newport wafer fab transaction is subject to UK government review, the purchase rights of a third party, and customary closing conditions, and is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2024.
Nexperia’s priority always remains with our employees and our customers. Whilst we work on ensuring that all conditions to the sale are met soonest, we will continue to own and manage the site and support the employees as usual.
Original – Nexperia
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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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If you haven’t had a chance to visit a wonderful Lake Maggiore yet, this September you can enjoy one of the most beautiful places in Italy in a company of power semiconductors superstars discussing SiC & GaN technologies. After a successful series of events across the world, International Semiconductor Executive Summits (ISES) returns to Italy with ISES EU Power 2023 edition.
With a regional focus on the power semiconductor market, the EU Power International Semiconductor Executive Summits seeks to strengthen the EU supply chain and promote key executives in the semiconductor manufacturing, design, and research through our networking and conference platform which consists of working with key industry stakeholders to encourage progress and collaboration.
With speakers coming from STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, Semikron Danfoss, onsemi, Wolfspeed, Renesas, ROHM, Nexperia, SK Siltron, Soitec, Okmetic, Aehr Test Systems, Amkor Technology, Innoscience, Cambridge GaN Devices, Ferrari, Volkswagen, Volvo, Škoda, and many more leaders of power electronics and automotive industries, you are about to be a part of the power semiconductors event like never before.
During two days of the event, all participants will be discussing and disclosing the latest news and advances in silicon carbide and gallium nitride technologies, sharing the view of the future and taking a close look at the current state of the industry, supply chain, global collaboration, exhisting problems and emerging opportunities.
You can find the agenda of ISES EU Power 2023 at the event website.
International Semiconductor Executive Summit EU Power provides a unique platform for networking and expanding your knowledge base. Here are just a few topics that will be covered this September:
- SiC and GaN Manufacturability
- Variety of WBG Applications
- SiC Wafer & Materials
- Power Packaging
- Design and Reliability
The event offers various packages for participation:
- Standard Pass
- Member Pass
- Partner Pass
- Virtual Pass
- Numerous Sponsorship Packages and VIP Passes
All interested to participate can register at ISES EU Power 2023 website.
ISES EU Power 2023 will take place at Regina Palace Hotel. Overlooking the shore of Lago Maggiore, the Regina Palace Hotel is located in a favored spot in the center of Stresa, considered the pearl of Lago Maggiore. The hotel represents yesteryear’s charm and prestige enriched by the history and the grace that each epoch has donated.
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Nexperia launched its entry to the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) market with a range of 600 V devices, starting with the 30A NGW30T60M3DF. By adding IGBTs to its extensive portfolio, Nexperia is addressing the growing demand for efficient, high-voltage switching devices with a range of performance and cost requirements.
These enable higher power density in power conversion and motor drive applications, including industrial motor drives like servo motors ranging from 5 to 20 kW (20 kHz), robotics, elevators, operating grippers, in-line manufacturing, power inverters, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), photovoltaic (PV) strings, EV-charging, and induction heating and welding.
IGBT is a relatively mature technology. Nonetheless, the market for these devices is expected to grow in line with the increased adoption of solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Nexperia’s 600 V IGBTs feature a robust, cost-effective carrier-stored trench-gate advanced field-stop (FS) construction, providing exceptionally low conduction and switching loss performance with high levels of ruggedness in operating temperatures up to 175°C. This improves the efficiency and reliability of power inverters, induction heaters, welding equipment and industrial applications like motor drives and servos, robotics, elevators, operating grippers, and in-line manufacturing.
Designers can choose between the medium speed (M3) and high speed (H3) series IGBTs. These IGBTs have been designed with very tight parameter distributions, allowing multiple devices to connect safely in parallel. In addition, lower thermal resistance than competing devices enables them to provide higher output power. These IGBTs are also fully rated as soft fast reverse-recovery diodes. This means they are suitable for rectifier and bi-directional circuit applications or to protect against overcurrent conditions.
“With the release of these IGBTs, Nexperia provides designers with a greater choice of power-switching devices for a broad range of power applications”, according to Dr. Ke Jiang, General Manager Business Group Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors & Modules at Nexperia. “IGBTs are the ideal complement to Nexperia’s existing range of CMOS and wide-bandgap switching devices, making Nexperia a one-stop-shop for power electronics designers.”
These IGBTs are available in a standard, lead-free, TO247-3L package and are HV-H3TRB qualified for outdoor applications. Nexperia plans to follow this release with a series of 1200 V IGBTs. To learn more about Nexperia’s IGBTs, visit: https://www.nexperia.com/igbts
Original – Nexperia
