Enhanced over-resistance and halved delay time


Silicon Labs today announced the availability of its new Si823Hx/825xx isolated gate drivers.

This product features a combination of faster and safer switching, low delay and high resistance characteristics, enabling compact PCB designs by placing the gate driver closer to the power transistors.

Silicon Labs' isolated gate driver technology is used in a wide range of power applications including data center power supplies, solar microinverters, automotive traction inverters, and industrial power supplies.

The Si823Hx/825xx family features a unique booster device that provides higher source current for fast FET turn-on. This symmetrical 4 A sink/source capability nearly doubles the source current compared to previous generation drivers, helping reduce switching losses.

Additionally, the new isolated gate driver products reduce the maximum propagation delay by half, to 30ns, thereby reducing feedback loop delay and demonstrating higher system efficiency. Improved transient noise immunity ensures robust operation even in environments where noise is inherently present.

The input voltage range (VDDIH) is also extended from 4.5 to 20 V, allowing direct interfacing with the power rails of conventional analog controllers.

Because board space is critical, the Si823Hx/Si825xx offer several package options. The compact drivers are available in both a 16-pin package and an 8-pin package, reducing system size and cost.

Other newly upgraded features include an OTP function that automatically shuts off the driver when the temperature gets too high. In addition, dead time, overlap prevention, and input noise removal (de-glitch) functions have been added to maximize safety.

Silicon Labs’ new Si823Hx/825xx isolated gate drivers are scheduled for automotive-grade availability in the fourth quarter of 2020.