Hybrid emitter switched bipolar transistor is ISOTOP
27 August 2003Analogue, Mixed Signal, LSI
Products & Solutions
L. Difalco, bipolar technical and new development marketing, ST MicroElectronics
ST MicroElectronic's new family of emitter switched bipolar transistors is being launched with the introduction of the high power STE50DE100 housed in the screw-mounted ISOTOP package. It is aimed primarily at induction heating, welding equipment and high-end PFCs for audio amplifiers. With this device the power level has been substantially shifted to as high as 2,5 kW. Enlarging ST's power actuator product range means customers will be able to convert existing problems into cost-effective, high performance solutions.
Figure 1. STE50DE100’s RBSOA shows the switch-off with a cross point of up to 35 A/1000 V
Bipolar transistors have historically been, a power actuator for switching applications, working at low frequencies (<70 kHz). Their benefits are low VCesat (low conduction losses). However, drawbacks include: slow switching speed, high current (power) output needed from the driver (PWM); and difficult fine tuning driving circuit is required.
ST has long been producing state-of-the-art devices with both these technologies. Many patents have been released in the past years. With the emitter switching technology/topology, a new family of devices combining all the strengths and eliminating the drawbacks of both bipolar and MOSFET technologies, will be on the market.
Table 1 shows a summary of the most meaningful parameters in the STE50DE100 datasheet.
Table 1
Safe switching square RBSOA
Some of the tested application topologies could make the power switch operate in hard switching conditions, with possible critical cross points. This requirement does not match with the classical bipolar RBSOA (reverse bias safe operating area). Thanks to the topology itself and the way in which the device is realised, it has surprisingly been possible to achieve a square RBSOA, which greatly improves the device's performance in terms of safe switching.
As an example of an application, the very strict electrical requirements of induction heating are easily met by the STE50DE100. The basic induction heating block schematic, together with a single switch common topology is pictured in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Induction heating block schematic
As further proof of the exceptional performance of the STE50DE100, refer to the waveforms in Figure 3, showing the device working in all the critical conditions (turn-on, turn-off and conduction).
Figure 3. STE50DE100 turn-on waveform (above), and turn-off waveform (below)
For more information contact Electrocomp, 011 458 9000, (Value Added Distributor).
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