STMicroelectronics (ST) said on the 31st it has released 3-ampere (A) gate drivers that control silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors and insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs).
A gate driver is a semiconductor that controls the switching operation to let a power semiconductor conduct or block current. It also applies reinforced galvanic isolation that electrically separates the high-voltage power stage from the low-voltage control stage while transmitting control signals.
The new products are the "STGAP3S3S," tailored for SiC MOSFETs, and the "STGAP3S3IF" for IGBTs. By adding a 3A product to the existing 6A and 10A lineup, users can choose based on the gate drive current required by the circuit.
The STGAP3S family supports power conversion circuits up to 1,200 volts (V). It can be applied to power factor correction (PFC) circuits, power supplies, DC-DC converters, and inverters.
Key applications include electric vehicle charging stations, energy storage systems (ESS), solar inverters, industrial electric vehicles, induction heating equipment, and industrial motors, pumps, and fans.
The isolation barrier is designed to withstand transient overvoltage up to 9.6 kilovolts (kV). Common-mode transient immunity (CMTI) is up to 200 V/ns, reducing false switching signals even in fast voltage-change environments. The products meet UL 1577 and IEC 60747-17 isolation standards.
The 3A products integrate an active Miller clamp circuit and a clamping MOSFET. This prevents unintended turn-on of the power semiconductor due to voltage changes in surrounding circuits and prevents "shoot-through," where the high- and low-side switches turn on simultaneously and a short-circuit current flows. It also reduces the number of external components and the circuit board area.
The 6A-class STGAP3S6 and 10A-class STGAP3SX feature a predriver that controls an external clamping MOSFET. This allows adjustment of the clamping speed in circuits that require high drive current. An unsaturation detection feature that senses overloads or short circuits is also applied. If an abnormality occurs, it executes a soft turn-off that gradually reduces current instead of turning the power semiconductor off abruptly, mitigating voltage spikes and component damage.
They also include a diagnostic pin that communicates undervoltage lockout, overtemperature shutdown, and fault states to an external controller. Support for negative gate voltage suppresses unwanted turn-on of the power semiconductor and dampens voltage ringing during switching.
The entire STGAP3S family is in mass production. It is supplied in an SO16W wide-body package, and pricing starts at $1.93 each for orders of 1,000 units. ST also provides evaluation boards that support circuit design and performance verification for the new products.