Gate driver board kit is designed for Wolfspeed SiC FET power modules
An isolated gate driver reference design created by Skyworks operates with Wolfspeed’s SiC FET power modules and is designed to enable higher efficiency for automotive and industrial applications.
The Si828x gate driver board (GDB) kit simplifies design and enables increased integration for automotive applications, says Skyworks. It replaces competing designs with more complex gate driver board layouts.
Designed and tested for Wolfspeed XM3 SiC FET modules and instantiated on an evaluation board, the Skyworks Si828x GDB kit keeps high voltage/high current SiC modules from overload and circuit damage.
According to Skyworks the Si828x GDB with Wolfspeed XM3 kits is a high power reference design which can simplify automotive traction inverter design for use in electric vehicles (EVs). It allows design engineers to easily implement the power switching stage of their systems and providing extensive pre-testing with supporting documentation of Skyworks isolated gate drivers and Wolfspeed’s SiC FETs.
Combining the Si828x’s robust short-circuit protection feature with the rugged SiC XM3 module enables sound operation even under extreme short-circuit conditions, said Skyworks.
The GDB and XM3 combination is suitable for fast charging and power conversion applications, EV drivetrains, as well as drive motors and uninterruptable power supplies for industrial environments.
“We have teamed up with Skyworks to validate their gate driver board that pairs with our XM3 SiC FET power modules,” commented Austin Curbow, manager of the applications and systems team for power modules at Wolfspeed. “The Si828x gate driver board is very robust for protecting the power module during a short circuit event, detecting the load fault and shutting off the XM3 in less than one microsecond,” added Curbow. “Further, its robust 15A source and sink capability maximises switching speed, minimising switching losses and increasing efficiency.”
The Si828x-AAWB-KIT gate driver board kit is available in small numbers via Skyworks distribution partners, Arrow, Digi-Key and Mouser.
Skyworks Solutions supplies analogue and mixed signal semiconductors to customers in the aerospace, automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, connected home, defence, entertainment and gaming, industrial, medical, smartphone, tablet and wearable markets.
The company has engineering, marketing, operations, sales and support facilities located throughout Asia, Europe and North America.
