IR's IGBTs Take On MOSFETS To Speed Up Vehicles
International Rectifier has revealed a 600V automotive grade IGBT platform named "COOLiRIGBT" for use in a wide range of fast switching applications for electric (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) including on-board DC-DC converters, motor drives, and battery chargers.
The first generation COOLiRIGBT silicon devices cover a broad current range and offer a minimum short circuit rating of 5µs, low Vce(on) and positive Vce(on) temperature coefficient. Additional features of the family include square reverse bias safe operating area (SRBSOA) and a maximum junction temperature of 175°C. IR says COOLiRIGBT also provides designers with the flexibility of selecting a diode with optimised performance for the application.
"With an extended temperature range of 175°C and much simpler and more rugged device structure, IR's 200kHz capable COOLiRIGBTs offer a superior and lower cost solution for fast switching applications such as HEV DC-DC converters or chargers and power supplies used in Plug-in-HEVs and EVs compared to super junction MOSFETs," says Benjamin Jackson, Senior Power Switch Product Manager, IR's Automotive Products Business Unit.
The AUIRGC655A1N0 is optimised for main electric and hybrid vehicle inverters and large motor drives while the AUIRGC65A20N0 and AUIRGC65G20N0 are targeted for power supply and high switching frequency applications.
What's more, the latter two devices offer a higher maximum junction temperature and hard switching up to 200kHz and are claimed to deliver improved performance of higher currents due to lower conduction losses and enhanced efficiency when used in resonant Zero Current Switching topologies.
IR's automotive IGBTs are subject to dynamic and static part average testing combined with 100 percent automated wafer level visual inspection as part of IR's automotive quality initiative targeting zero defects. The new devices are all environmentally friendly and assembled with the firm's automotive grade bill of materials which are lead-free and RoHS compliant.
Pricing for the AUIRGC65A20N0, AUIRGC65G20N0 and AUIRGC655A1N0 begins at US $1.72, US $1.87 and US $3.47 respectively, each in 100,000-unit quantities. Production orders are now available. Samples of die and packaged devices are available to qualified customers. IR says prices are subject to changes.
IR says its COOLiR silicon and advanced COOLiR2 packaging technology provide a new power management platform approach for H(EV) vehicles to help reduce the size, weight and system cost of electric power train components while increasing system reliability for long lifetime, low maintenance and low warranty cost.
