Microchip's Digital Gate for SiC MOSFETs
Driver release and mass production... Market launch
Supports up to 50% reduction in short-circuit and switching losses


As demand grows to reduce carbon emissions from electric buses and other electrified heavy-duty transportation vehicles, silicon carbide (SiC)-based power management solutions are delivering greater efficiency to these transportation systems. Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) today announced the availability of a 1200V production-qualified digital gate driver that provides system developers with multiple levels of control and protection for safe and reliable operation and meets stringent transportation requirements.

For developers of SiC-based power conversion equipment, Microchip's AgileSwitch® 2ASC-12A2HP 1200V dual-channel digital gate driver with Augmented Switching™ technology is production-qualified and fully configurable.

The 2ASC-12A2HP gate driver provides a wide range of control and high levels of protection for SiC MOSFET-based power systems, ensuring stable and safe operation. Therefore, it is ideal for applications beyond commercial vehicles, such as charging infrastructure, energy storage systems, solar inverters, and aircraft flight actuators.

Compared to conventional gate drivers, it reduces drain-source voltage (Vds) overshoot by up to 80% and switching loss by up to 50%. It can supply and synchronize peak currents up to 10A and includes an isolated DC/DC converter with a low capacitance isolation barrier for pulse width modulation signals and fault feedback.

It is also compatible with Microchip's recently released Intelligent Configuration Tool (ICT). This interface allows users to configure gate driver parameters, including gate switching profiles, key system monitors, and controller interface configuration.

This creates application-specific gate drivers without requiring hardware modifications, accelerating development time from evaluation to production and enabling developers to modify control parameters during the design process. Available for free download, the ICT can save approximately three to six months in new design development time.

Microchip's 2ASC-12A2HP driver is compatible with Microchip's extensive portfolio of SiC power devices and is interoperable with SiC products from other manufacturers. Microchip's SiC power modules and digital gate drivers help developers address dynamic challenges such as voltage overshoot, switching losses, and electromagnetic interference. Microchip also offers SiC MOSFET avalanche and short-circuit robustness, along with a total system designed to simplify development from benchtop to production.

The 2ASC-12A2HP driver supports ICT, including initial configurations for a variety of commercially available SiC switches. The gate driver also supports a family of module adapter boards and the Augmented Switching Accelerated Development Kit (ASDAK), which help developers connect to various footprints. ASDAK includes gate drivers, module adapter boards, programming kits and ICT software for SiC MOSFET modules.

The AgileSwitch 2ASC-12A2HP digital gate driver is now available in production. New products can be purchased through Microchip's purchasing portal or authorized distributors.