Infineon Technologies AG in Munich has recently introduced the CoolGaN bidirectional switch and CoolGaN Smart Sense power electronics devices, catering to a wide range of applications such as mobile device USB ports, battery management systems, inverters, rectifiers, and consumer USB-C chargers and adapters.
The CoolGaN bidirectional switch offers both soft- and hard-switching capabilities, with bidirectional switches available at 40, 650, and 850 volts. This versatility allows for a wide range of voltage requirements to be met. The CoolGaN Smart Sense products, on the other hand, feature lossless current sensing and transistor switch functions integrated into one package, providing enhanced functionality and efficiency.
The high voltage versions of the CoolGaN bidirectional switch will be available at 65 and 850 volts, featuring a normally-off monolithic bi-directional switch with four modes of operation. This design ensures optimal performance and reliability in various applications.
One of the key features of these devices is the use of two separate gates with a substrate terminal and independent isolated control. This design allows for efficient blocking of voltages in both directions under repetitive short-circuit conditions, enhancing the overall safety and performance of the devices.
Designers can benefit from using the CoolGaN bidirectional switch as it allows for the replacement of four conventional transistors with a single bidirectional switch. This not only improves efficiency and density but also enhances reliability in applications such as single-phase H4 PFC and HERIC inverters, as well as three-phase Vienna rectifiers.
The 40-volt CoolGaN bidirectional switch device is a normally-off, monolithic bi-directional switch based on Schottky Gate GaN technology. It offers a low R DS(on) of 6 mO, with a range of products to follow. The advantages of using this device over back-to-back Si FETs include significant PCB area savings and a reduction in power losses by more than 50 percent, all at a lower cost.
The CoolGaN Smart Sense products boast a 2-kilovolt electrostatic discharge withstand capability and can connect to controller current sense for peak current control and overcurrent protection. With a current sense response time of 200 nanoseconds, these products offer ultimate compatibility with common controller blanking times.
In conclusion, the introduction of the CoolGaN bidirectional switch and CoolGaN Smart Sense power electronics devices by Infineon Technologies AG brings a new level of efficiency, reliability, and performance to a variety of applications. Designers and engineers can benefit from the advanced features and capabilities of these devices, making them a valuable addition to the power electronics market. For more information on these innovative products, interested individuals can visit Infineon’s website at www.infineon.com/cms/en/product/promopages/GaN-innovations/.