As the demand for electric buses and other electrified heavy transport vehicles increases to meet lower carbon emission targets, SIC based power management solutions are providing greater efficiency for such transport systems. To further expand its extensive silicon carbide MOSFET split and module portfolio, Microchip introduced a new "production-ready" 1200V digital gate driver that provides system developers with multiple levels of control and protection to achieve safe, reliable transportation and meet stringent industry requirements.

Microchip unveils the first silicon carbide MOSFET digital grid driver that reduces switching losses by 50%

For designers of silicon carbide power conversion equipment, Microchip's AgileSwitchR2ASC-12A2HP 1200V dual-channel digital grid driver uses Augmented Switching technology, which has the advantages of production certification and full configuration. To ensure reliable and safe operation, the 2ASC-12A2HP gate driver provides multiple levels of control and an increased level of protection for the silicon Carbide MOSFET power system. Key features of the AgileSwitch gate driver product include the ability to suppress swap-source voltage (Vds) overvoltage pulses by up to 80% and reduce switching losses by up to 50% compared to traditional gate drivers. The 2ASC-12A2HP digital gate driver provides/absorbs up to 10A peak current with an isolated DC/DC converter built in with low capacitance isolation barriers for pulsewidth modulation signals and fault feedback.

Microchip's 2ASC-12A2HP grid driver is compatible with the latest version of Intelligent Configuration Tool (ICT). This interface allows users to configure grid driver parameters, including grid switch profiles, system key monitors, and controller interface Settings. This equates to tailor-made grid drivers for a user's application without hardware changes, helps speed development time from evaluation to production, and enables designers to change control parameters during the design process. ICT is available as a free download and can save designers approximately 3 to 6 months of new design development time.
Leon Gross, Microchip's vice president of separated Products, said: "The social trend towards electrification of all vehicles, including buses, trains, trams and agricultural transport, depends on innovative power electronics solutions, how to achieve greater production efficiency with less energy. When used in combination with Microchip's silicon carbide power components, the newly introduced grid driver technology enables engineers to achieve new levels of power density in transportation systems and industrial applications."

In addition to commercial vehicles, other applications include charging infrastructure, energy storage systems, solar converters and flight actuators.
Microchip's 2ASC-12A2HP gate drivers are compatible with their extensive portfolio of silicon carbide power components and modules, and can operate in concert with other manufacturers' silicon carbide products. Microchip's combination of silicon carbide power modules and digital grid drivers allows designers to influence dynamic problems including voltage overkick, switching losses, and electromagnetic interference. Microchip delivers a total system solution that dramatically simplifies the development process from design to production while providing instant crash and short-circuit robustness of silicon carbide mosfets.

Microchip's portfolio of silicon carbide products further expands its rich microcontroller (MCU) and analog solutions to further provide holistic system solutions for high-power applications.