Power Integrations Launches Single-Board Plug-and-Play Gate Drivers for 1.2 kV to 2.3 kV “New Dual” IGBT Modules
Power Integrations (NASDAQ: POWI) has launched the SCALE-iFlex™ XLT family of dual-channel plug-and-play gate drivers. These drivers are designed for 1.2 kV to 2.3 kV IGBT modules used in renewable energy installations such as wind, solar, and energy storage. The drivers enable active thermal management, improving system utilization by up to 30% and reducing hardware complexity. Using the SCALE-2 chip set, the new gate drivers minimize component count and enhance reliability. They also offer NTC temperature readout for accurate thermal management and protection against short-circuits. The SCALE-iFlex XLT drivers are available for sampling now.
- Launch of SCALE-iFlex XLT gate drivers targets renewable energy market, enhancing appeal in a growing sector.
- Gate drivers support 1.2 kV to 2.3 kV IGBT modules, broadening application range.
- NTC temperature readout improves thermal management, boosting module utilization by up to 30%.
- Reduced bill-of-material count increases system reliability and lowers hardware complexity.
- SCALE-2 chip set minimizes component count, enhancing overall system reliability.
- Dual-channel plug-and-play design offers convenience and ease of integration.
- SCALE-iFlex XLT drivers provide protection against short circuits, ensuring safety.
- Availability for sampling now allows for immediate market feedback and potential early adoption.
- No specific pricing information provided, potentially causing uncertainty among prospective buyers.
- Initial availability to sampling, which may delay mass adoption and revenue impact.
- Dependence on third-party semiconductor modules (Mitsubishi, Infineon, Fuji Electric) could introduce supply chain vulnerabilities.
Insights
The SCALE-iFlex™ XLT family of gate drivers represents a significant advancement in the field of power electronics, especially for renewable energy installations like wind and solar. These drivers support prominent semiconductor modules, which means they can be integrated into a wide range of existing systems. The inclusion of Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) data reporting is particularly noteworthy because it allows for more accurate thermal management. This feature can help optimize system performance and reliability by reducing the risks associated with thermal stress and overheating.
Moreover, the ability to mount the driver directly onto the module provides mechanical flexibility, which simplifies the design process for converter systems. This reduced complexity can lead to lower manufacturing costs and potentially higher adoption rates among OEMs and system integrators. The compact design, enhanced by the use of the SCALE-2 chipset, minimizes the component count, further boosting reliability.
In the long term, this innovation could contribute to the broader adoption of renewable energy by making these systems more efficient and cost-effective. However, the immediate financial impact may be limited until these drivers gain significant market traction.
From a market perspective, Power Integrations' launch of the SCALE-iFlex™ XLT gate drivers aligns well with current industry trends towards renewable energy and improved efficiency. The ability to increase converter power by 25 to 30 percent using the same hardware is a compelling value proposition. This could potentially result in higher sales volumes as companies look for ways to maximize their energy efficiency and reduce operational costs.
The reduction in hardware complexity and the associated cost savings could also make these gate drivers attractive to a broader range of customers, not just those in the high-end market. However, the overall market impact will depend on how quickly and broadly the product is adopted. Early partnerships and feedback will be important in determining its success.
Investors should keep an eye on the adoption rate of this new product and any subsequent financial results to gauge its long-term impact on the company's revenues.
NTC temperature readout improves accuracy, increasing reliability and module utilization by up to 30 percent
Power Integrations launches SCALE-iFlex XLT single-board plug-and-play gate drivers for 1.2 kV to 2.3 kV “New Dual” IGBT modules. (Photo: Business Wire)
Thorsten Schmidt, product marketing manager at Power Integrations, commented: “It’s a real challenge to build a single-board gate driver for these ‘new dual’ style IGBT modules. Our compact new SCALE-iFlex XLT gate drivers fit inside the outline of the module, allowing the drivers to be mounted on the module, which gives converter system designers a high degree of mechanical design freedom.”
SCALE-iFlex XLT dual-channel gate drivers feature Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) data reporting – an isolated temperature measurement of the power module – which allows accurate thermal management of converter systems. This enables system designers to optimize thermal design and obtain a 25 to 30 percent converter power increase from the same hardware. The isolated NTC readout also reduces hardware complexity, eliminating multiple cables, connectors and additional isolation barrier crossing circuits.
The new gate drivers employ Power Integrations’ SCALE-2 chip set which minimizes component count, enhancing reliability. The gate driver board also protects the power switches in the event of a short-circuit.
Availability
SCALE-iFlex XLT plug-and-play gate drivers are available for sampling now. Please contact your local sales representative for pricing.
For more information, please visit www.power.com/scale-iflex-xlt.
About Power Integrations
Power Integrations, Inc. is a leading innovator in semiconductor technologies for high-voltage power conversion. The company’s products are key building blocks in the clean-power ecosystem, enabling the generation of renewable energy as well as the efficient transmission and consumption of power in applications ranging from milliwatts to megawatts. For more information, please visit www.power.com.
Power Integrations, SCALE-iFlex, SCALE and the Power Integrations logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Power Integrations, Inc. XHP 2 is a trademark of Infineon Technologies AG. All other trademarks and names are the property of their respective owners.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240521213449/en/
Media Contact
Linda Williams
Power Integrations
(408)-414-9837
linda.williams@power.com
Press Agency Contact
Nick Foot
BWW Communications
+44-1491-636-393
nick.foot@bwwcomms.com
Source: Power Integrations, Inc.
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