Gate driver system targets medium-high IGBT and SiC dual power modules
Power Integrations has introduced the Scale-iFlex gate driver system for IGBT, hybrid and silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET power modules with blocking voltages from 1.7 kV to 4.5 kV.
The system consists of a central isolated master control (IMC) and one to four module-adapted gate drivers (MAGs). The IMC provides a 4.5kV blocking voltage. Power Integrations offers a range of MAGs for a variety of power modules, suppliers and semiconductor switch technologies across 1,700, 3,300 and 4,500V classes.
The Scale-iFlex gate driver system enables paralleling of the industry’s latest dual power modules, says Power Integrations, for flexible system scalability and minimum development effort. The MAG is placed adjacent to the modules’ control terminals to provide switching performance and the IMC performs the communication between the MAGs and the user’s microcontroller handling functions such as pulse width modulation (PWM) commands, short-circuit and under-voltage failure reporting, as well as NTC and DC-Link voltage measurement.
The IMC is available with either an electrical or a fibre-optic interface with reinforced isolation, in accordance with EN 50124-1, IEC 61800-5-1 and UL 61800-5-1 for 1,700 and 3,300V power modules. The fibre-optic IMC also meets basic isolation requirements for 4,500V semiconductors.
Other characteristics are double-sided conformal coating. Testing involves full in-circuit tests (ICT) for all devices and 100 per cent Hipot and partial-discharge testing to ensure unmatched reliability.
Protection features include under-voltage lock-out, short-circuit protection with advanced soft shutdown (ASSD) and NTC temperature sensing with reinforced isolation (up to 3,300V).
The Scale-iFlex IMC and MAG gate driver system is available in August 2019.
Power Integrations specialises in semiconductor technologies for high-voltage power conversion. The company’s products are used in the clean-power ecosystem, enabling the generation of renewable energy as well as the efficient transmission and consumption of power in applications ranging from mW to MW.
