May 15, 2013, Seoul – Infineon Technologies (Korea Representative Director Seung-soo Lee) has launched the new 2EDL EiceDRIVER™ Compact gate driver targeting half-bridge applications with a voltage rating of 600V. Integrating ultra-fast bootstrap diodes and resistors, these products enable high efficiency in an extremely compact size, making them ideal for space-saving applications such as home appliances. They are also suitable for use in fans, pumps, engines, and forklifts. This new family of driver ICs is designed for use with power semiconductors, such as the latest generation CoolMOS™ MOSFETs, and provides enhanced switching performance to help reduce energy loss in various types of power applications.

Oliver Hellmund, Product Marketing Manager for Infineon’s EiceDRIVER™, stated, “With the launch of the Compact series, Infineon is now able to offer a comprehensive range of driver IC products differentiated by application and function. The EiceDRIVER™ Compact series targets the consumer electronics and industrial high-volume markets, with prices ranging from €0.31 to €0.61 per unit based on 10,000 units, depending on current capacity and package. In addition to the Compact series, the EiceDRIVER™ family includes the EiceDRIVER™ Safe series, which is designed exclusively to meet the security and reliability requirements of the industrial market.” “The EiceDRIVER™ Enhanced series consists of products that provide enhanced functionality for the industrial market and some consumer electronics markets,” he said.

The seven products in the new 2EDL EiceDRIVER™ Compact Series are designed to be used with both IGBTs and MOSFETs. These products are available in DSO-8 and DSO-14 packages, and the output current can be set to 0.5 amperes or 2.3 amperes. Integrating low resistance and ultra-fast bootstrap diodes, the 2EDL EiceDRIVER™ sets a new standard in the driver IC market by providing output current capacities of over 2 amperes. The EiceDRIVER™ supports wide bandwidth, making it suitable for various types of applications. The driver ICs available in DSO-14 assemblies feature extended creepage. This allows them to meet stricter protection standards and are suitable for industrial applications.

The level shifting of these new EiceDRIVER™ Compact series is based on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology. This involves placing a dynamic transistor layer on top of an insulating layer, enabling exceptional robustness against latch-up when exposed to extreme temperature and voltage conditions. When latch-up occurs, the semiconductor enters an uncontrollable low-resistance state. This can lead to short circuits or thermal overloads, potentially damaging the component. Additionally, the new Compact series incorporates Coreless Transformer (CLT) technology developed by Infineon, which enables faster switching operations without causing performance degradation.

Supply and additional information

Samples of the 2EDL EiceDRIVER™ Compact series are currently available. In addition, related customer evaluation boards are currently available for order and supply is scheduled to begin within a few weeks. Product orders will be available starting in August 2013. More details about this driver IC family can be found at www.infineon.com/eicedriver .