Silicon Labs isolated gate drivers for inverter and motor drive applications

     Silicon Labs has introduced the Si828x isolated gate Driver family, a new member of the ISOdriver product family, designed to protect sensitive insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) in power inverters and motor drive applications. The new Si828x ISOdriver family offers an industrial-grade isolation rating (5kVrms) and best-in-class feature integration, including an optional DC-DC converter, the industry's fastest desaturation detection, good timing characteristics, and superior noise and transient suppression.

     The Si828x series provides the ideal solution for industrial motor drives, solar inverters, high-voltage power converters, uninterruptible power supplies, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor control. Many of these systems are expected to last more than 25 years and operate in harsh environments, where isolators can be the primary point of failure and life limiting device. While traditional optocoupler-based isolators are limited by the operating temperature range, noise interference, and product life, the Si828x isolator gate driver uses Silicon Labs' proven CMOS isolation technology to operate across the entire industrial temperature range, supporting up to 100 years of product life. Meet stringent UL, VDE, CQC and CSA standards.

     The Si828x family integrates reliable isolation, advanced gate drive technology, and fast overcurrent monitoring capabilities in a single, cost-effective device designed to protect expensive IGBT switches. High power inverters and power converter systems often use IGBTs as switching devices, and overcurrent conditions can destroy IGBTs, compromise critical system functions, compromise product safety, and reduce reliability. Effective switching characteristics of IGBTs require the use of isolated gate drivers such as Si828x devices with special monitoring and control characteristics.

    Typical Si828x features are a 4-amp gate driver and desaturation detection for monitoring IGBT overcurrent. The Si828x driver keeps the switch in a controllably closed state while updating the fault status to the controller, protecting the IGBT and the system. Other integrated features include separation of output, Miller clamp to prevent parasitic gate conduction, drive power status and fault feedback to the controller.

     The Si828x family includes driver versions with integrated isolated DC-DC converters. It can help developers simplify layout, reduce the number of off-chip devices and board area, and reduce the complexity of creating and managing multiple power domains. A single power bus can be routed to the entire system without complex spatial wiring considerations. Localized driver power supply reduces inductance, minimizes noise and eliminates voltage transient trigger conditions.

     Ross Sabolcik, vice president of Power Products at Silicon Labs, said: "Power inverters and converters in today's industrial and green energy designs require state-of-the-art isolation technologies with superior timing characteristics, lower radiation and higher reliability. "Silicon Labs' new Si828x ISOdriver family enables developers to achieve greater system efficiency and noise suppression, minimize design complexity, enhance system safety and product life, and provide the ultimate isolated gate driver solution for these applications."