The new half-axle grid driver improves robustness and efficiency in automotive applications

     Nexperia has introduced a new line of high-performance gate driver ics for driving high - and low-side n-channel MOSFETs in synchronous buck or half-bridge configurations. These devices produce high current outputs and excellent dynamic performance, improving efficiency and robustness in applications. The automotive certified NGD4300-Q100 is ideal for electronic power steering and power converters, while the NGD4300 is suitable for DC-DC converters in consumer devices, servers and telecommunications equipment, as well as micro inverters used in a variety of industrial applications.

     Floating high-side drivers in these ics can operate at bus voltage up to 120V and use a boot power supply with integrated diodes, simplifying the overall system design and helping to reduce PCB size. They can provide up to 4A (peak) source current and 5A absorption current, ensuring short rise and fall times even under heavy loads.

     The gate driver has a low 13ns delay and provides excellent channel-to-channel delay matching of only 1ns. These delays are significantly lower than similar competing gate drivers and help minimize dead time by maximizing the switching duty cycle. 4ns rise and 3.5ns (typical) fall times help provide higher efficiency and support high frequency and fast system control. These gate drivers accept input control signals conforming to TTL and CMOS logic levels.

     Irene Deng, General Manager of IC Solutions at AmperIC, said: "These devices are the first products in our new portfolio of high-performance half-bridge gate drivers. "This launch demonstrates how Amperite is leveraging process innovation to meet the rapidly growing demand for powerful gate drivers that can improve the efficiency of power converters while providing smoother motor control in consumer, industrial and automotive applications."

     For excellent robustness in power conversion and motor drive applications, these ics are manufactured using the SOI process. This allows the HS pin's negative voltage tolerance to be extended to -5 V, significantly reducing the risk of damage from system parasitic components and unexpected spikes. The NGD4300 and NGD4300-Q100 are available in DN-8, SO-8, and HSO-8 packages, allowing engineers to make trade-offs between device size and thermal performance based on application requirements.