Fairchild's gate driver ICs target hybrid EV apps

Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc. has released a couple of high-current gate driver ICs. According to the company, the devices will allow engineers to ease challenges of delivering inverter designs with increased efficiency, higher drive current and greater immunity to noise, especially in hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs).

The FAN7171and FAN7190 are geared for electric and hybrid electric DC/DC power supplies and power inverters, diesel and gasoline injectors and valves as well as MOSFET and IGBT high-side driver applications. They claim to deliver integrated inverter solutions with higher efficiency, more drive current and more robustness in harsh automotive applications.

The FAN7171is a monolithic high-side gate driver IC that can drive high speed MOSFETs and IGBTs that operate up to 500V, while the FAN7190can drive MOSFETS and IGBTs that operate up to 600V. Both devices have a buffered output stage with all NMOS transistors designed for high pulse current driving capability and minimum cross-conduction. Better noise immunity, with a negative voltage swing (V_S) down to -9.8V at 15V V_BS, allows for improved design reliability and increased durability in challenging noise environments, noted Fairchild.

Qualified to AEC Q100 Automotive Class 1 standards, the FAN7171and FAN7190 are highly integrated devices that provide increased functionality, resulting in reduced component count and reduced BOM costs and PCB space, and potentially faster design cycles, added the company.

Fairchild said its high voltage process and common-mode noise canceling techniques provide stable operation of the high-side driver under dv/dt noise circumstances. An advanced level shift circuit offers high-side gate driver operation down to VS = -9.8V (typ) for V_BS = 15V. An Under Voltage Lockout (UVLO) circuit prevents malfunction when V_BS is lower than the specified threshold voltage.

Both devices are packaged in an 8-lead small outline package (SOP) and are RoHS-compliant. Available in 1,000 quantity pieces, the FAN7171is valued at $1.28, while the FAN7190 is at $1.50.

Samples are available with 8-12 weeks ARO.