New 1,200-V 400/600-A-rated full SiC power modules [BSM400D12P3G002/ BSM600D12P3G001] are optimized for inverters and converters in solar power conditioners, UPS, and power supplies for industrial equipment. Developed by Rohm, the BSM600D12P3G001 can handle 600 A by utilizing a new package featuring an original internal structure and optimized heat radiation design, enabling support for higher power […]
Semiconductor
GaN half-bridge will handle 600 V for electric vehicles
Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF says it has developed the world’s first 600-V half-bridge circuit monolithically integrated on one chip. Fraunhofer used gallium nitride (GaN) to do the job. The half-bridge circuit comprises two GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMT) and two integrated freewheeling diodes. The HEMTs have a breakdown voltage of […]
Fuel gage IC eliminates need to characterize battery drains
Developers of portable devices now have an easier way to design in the most accurate and low power host-side battery gauges with the MAX17055 ModelGauge™ m5 from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. Traditionally, fuel gauges required extensive characterization of each battery type, used in specific applications, for attaining good performance. This meant the customer had to perform complicated […]
Chips enable 98% efficient PFC designs Up to 550 W
Power Integrations the leader in high-voltage integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion, today announced its HiperPFSTM-4 family of power factor correction (PFC) ICs. The new device family serves applications targeting excellent efficiency and power factor performance at both full load and light load conditions. HiperPFS-4 devices incorporate a 600 V MOSFET suitable for 305 VAC […]
AC-to-5 V converter chips hit 95% efficiency
Fabless power semiconductor company Helix Semiconductors has launched the first in a series of products designed to eliminate energy waste worldwide. The new eMpower HS100 is a two-chip set that brings unparalleled conversion efficiency of more than 95 percent when converting AC mains voltage to 5VDC — especially at light load, no load or standby operating conditions. […]
Power modules lessen the load on internal combustion engines
Integrated smart power modules will run mechanical loads that would otherwise sap fuel mileage. THOMAS YIM | ON SEMICONDUCTOR GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS are stimulating demands for more economical vehicles that produce not just fewer NOx pollutants, but also less CO2. Vehicle tax policies currently favor less polluting models, and car makers must cope with new legislation […]
Top power electronics threads on EDAboard.com – February
(editor’s note: Intrigued by these power electronics problems? Have a question or another solution? Then click the “Read more” link and follow the conversation on EDAboard.com or log in to EDAboard and participate in the power electronics forum thread.) Circuit to detect 240 or 380 V AC – I need to make a circuit that can […]
Thyristors safeguard SLIC interfaces from lightning-induced surges, power fault events
Littelfuse, Inc.,today introduced two series of SIDACtor Protection Thyristors designed to protect SLIC (Subscriber Line Interface Circuit) interfaces against lightning-induced surges and power fault events. The surface-mount B61089QDR and B9110DF Series Thyristors for Programmable Tracking Protection contain fast-switching crowbarring structures that are compatible with the Basic levels outlined in the ITU K.20, K.21 and K.45 recommendations […]
Automotive-compliant power ICs launching at Embedded World
Diodes Incorporated will be introducing a number of notable new products at Embedded World 2017 in Nuremberg, Germany, March 14-16. These include the industry’s first unidirectional 1800W automotive-compliant transient voltage suppressors; 40V and 60V dual, co-packaged enhancement mode MOSFETs that are also qualified for automotive applications; and, coming from its Pericom connectivity product line, the […]
Schottky diodes could say goodbye to parasitic resistance
Examine the typical equivalent circuit schematic for a Schottky diode and you’ll find one of the elements is a series resistance. That resistance represents the behavior of the interface between the diode semiconductor material and the metal contact. It turns out that the termination of the semiconductor crystal against a metal creates metal-induced gap states […]