Configurable digital gate driver complements Microchip’s SiC MOSFET range
SiC 4digital gate driver technology announced by Microchip provides multiple levels of control and protection in electric transportation power systems. The AgileSwitch 2ASC-12A2HP 1200V dual-channel digital gate driver reduces switching losses says Microchip, and accelerates time to market.
Designers of SiC-based power conversion equipment can use the production-qualified and configurable dual-channel digital gate driver with Augmented Switching technology. It provides multiple levels of control and a higher level of protection for SiC MOSFET-based power systems. The AgileSwitch gate driver includes the ability to dampen drain source voltage (Vds) overshoots by up to 80 per cent, claims Microchip and it can reduce switching losses by as much as 50 per cent. The 2ASC-12A2HP digital gate driver can source / sink up to 10A of peak current and includes an isolated DC/DC converter with low capacitance isolation barrier for pulse width modulation signals and fault feedback.
The 2ASC-12A2HP gate driver is compatible with the company’s latest release of the Intelligent Configuration Tool (ICT). This interface allows users to configure gate driver parameters including the gate switching profiles, system critical monitors and controller interface settings to tailor a gate driver to specific applications without having to change hardware, thus accelerating development time from evaluation through production and providing the ability to change control parameters during the design process. The ICT is provided as a free-of-charge download and can save designers approximately three to six months of development time on new designs, claims Microchip.
“The societal trend toward electrification of all vehicles including buses, trains, trams and agriculture transportation hinges on innovative power electronic solutions to get more productivity from less energy,” says Leon Gross, vice president of Microchip’s discrete product business unit. “When combined with our silicon carbide [SiC] power devices, this gate driver technology enables engineers to achieve new levels of power density in transportation systems and industrial applications,” he explained.
In addition to commercial vehicles, the driver can be used in the charging infrastructure, energy storage systems, solar inverters and aircraft flight actuators. It is compatible with the company’s portfolio of SiC power devices and modules and is interoperable with other manufacturers’ SiC products.
The AgileSwitch 2ASC-12A2HP digital gate driver is supported by the ICT including starter settings for many commercially-available SiC switches. The gate driver also is supported by a family of module adapter boards to help designers connect to several different footprints, as well as the company’s Augmented Switching accelerated development kits (ASDAK) that include gate drivers, module adapter boards, a programming kit and the ICT software for SiC MOSFET modules.
The AgileSwitch 2ASC-12A2HP digital gate driver is available now for volume production.
