Power Electronics / Power Management


Isolated gate driver safely controls SiC MOSFETs

28 April 2021 Power Electronics / Power Management

Joining STMicroelectronics’ STGAP family of isolated gate drivers, the STGAP2SiCS is optimised for safe control of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs and operates from a high-voltage rail up to 1200  V.

Capable of producing a gate-driving voltage up to 26 V, the STGAP2SiCS has a raised under-voltage lockout (UVLO) threshold of 15,5 V to meet the turn-on requirements of SiC MOSFETs. If the driving voltage is too low, which can be caused by low supply voltage, the UVLO ensures the MOSFET is turned off to prevent excessive dissipation. The driver features dual input pins that let designers determine the gate-drive signal polarity.

With 6 kV of galvanic isolation between the input section and the gate-driving output, the STGAP2SiCS helps ensure safety in consumer and industrial applications. Its 4 A output-sink/source capability is suited to mid- and high-power converters, power supplies and inverters in equipment such as high-end home appliances, industrial drives, fans, induction heaters, welders and UPSs.

Two different output configurations are available. One has separate output pins that allow independent optimisation of turn-on and turn-off times using a dedicated gate resistor. The second is featured for high-frequency hard switching, with a single output pin and active Miller clamp that limits oscillation of the SiC MOSFET gate-source voltage to prevent unwanted turn-on and enhance reliability. The input circuitry is compatible with CMOS/TTL logic down to 3,3 V, which allows easy interfacing with a wide variety of control ICs.

The STGAP2SiCS features a standby mode that helps cut system power consumption, as well as built-in protection including hardware interlocks to prevent cross-conduction and thermal shutdown of both the low-voltage section and the high-voltage driving channel. Matched propagation delays between the low-voltage and high-voltage sections prevent cycle distortion and minimise energy losses. The total delay is less than 75 ns, permitting accurate pulse-width modulation (PWM) control up to high switching frequencies.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Cutting-edge solutions for Africa’s clean energy future
Power Electronics / Power Management
As Africa pushes towards reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy, Sungrow is driving transformation with cutting-edge innovations that enhance grid stability, reduce energy costs, and expand access to clean power.

Read more...
Transformer protection is a critical safeguard for municipal power stability
Power Electronics / Power Management
Transformer protection is not just a technical requirement; it is a vital component in ensuring the resilience and operational integrity of South Africa’s municipal power infrastructure.

Read more...
Reliable power solution
Conical Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
The Mibbo MLD-120W-xxVx is a robust DIN-rail mounted DC-DC converter with a 120 W output capacity specifically designed for industrial and automation applications.

Read more...
Easing the path for IPPs navigating local energy regulations
Power Electronics / Power Management
Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and developers venturing into South Africa’s renewable energy sector face an onerous and challenging regulatory landscape characterised by uncertainty in securing grid connections and considerable development costs.

Read more...
First NVMe SSD Built with 8th-gen BiCS FLASH
EBV Electrolink Computer/Embedded Technology
KIOXIA recently announced the development and prototype demonstration of its new KIOXIA CM9 Series PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs, which incorporates CMOS directly Bonded to Array technology.

Read more...
Wide input voltage buck-boost converter
Altron Arrow Power Electronics / Power Management
The MAX77859 from Analog Devices is a high-efficiency, high-performance buck-boost converter targeted for systems requiring a wide input voltage range of between 2,5 and 22 V.

Read more...
IMU with dual-sensing capability
EBV Electrolink Analogue, Mixed Signal, LSI
ST’s 6-axis inertial measurement unit integrates a dual accelerometer up to 320g and embedded AI for activity tracking and high-impact sensing.

Read more...
High-density power module for AI at the edge applications
Altron Arrow Power Electronics / Power Management
The MCPF1412 power module from Microchip has integrated I2C and PMBus interfaces for flexible configuration and monitoring.

Read more...
Development kit for TI’s SN6507
Power Electronics / Power Management
This comprehensive solution is designed to help engineers evaluate the performance of TI’s SN6507 transformer driver for isolated power supplies.

Read more...
High-voltage IGBT
Hi-Q Electronics Power Electronics / Power Management
Diotec Semiconductor has launched the DIW030M060 IGBT, a 600 V, 30 A device with a built-in reverse diode.

Read more...