Fairchild rolls out smart gate driver optocoupler

Fairchild Semiconductor has unleashed a smart gate driver optocoupler with Active Miller Clamp intended to reduce design complexity and system costs for high-power industrial applications. The FOD8318 is an advanced 2.5A output current IGBT drive optocoupler that according to the company can drive most 1.2kV/150A IGBTs.

The FOD8318 consists of an integrated gate drive optocoupler featuring low RDS(ON) CMOS transistors to drive the IGBT from rail-to-rail, and isolated feedback circuitry for fault sensing. It provides an Active Miller Clamp function to shut off the IGBT during high dv/dt situations without the need of a negative supply voltage. This enables simpler design and increased reliability. Additionally, the FOD8318 offers the critical protection features necessary for preventing fault conditions that lead to destructive thermal runaway of the IGBTs, indicated Fairchild.

The device is geared for driving fast-switching power IGBTs and MOSFETs in applications such as motor drives, industrial inverters, solar power inverters, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), induction heating and isolated IGBT drives.

The FOD8318 offers high noise immunity resulting from its proprietary Optoplanar coplanar packaging technology. Optoplanar technology ensures safe insulation thickness of more than 0.4mm, and 8mm creepage and clearance distances, in attaining reliable high-voltage isolation, certified by UL1577 and DIN EN/IEC60747-5-5 standards.

Available in a 16-pin small outline plastic package, the devices in 1,000 piece quantities cost $3.80 and $3.82 for FOD8318 and FOD8318V respectively. Samples available upon request with delivery of 8-12 weeks ARO.