All-SiC High Performance Half-Bridge Power Module and Gate Driver Combination
Wolfspeed, A Cree Company, and a leading global supplier of silicon carbide (SiC) power products, has introduced the first fully-qualified commercial power module from its Fayetteville, Arkansas location.
The high-performance 62mm module represents a new generation of all-SiC power modules that enable unprecedented efficiency and power density for high current power electronics, such as: converters/inverters, motor drives, industrial electronics, and high performance electric vehicle systems. The new module allows systems designers to realize lighter weight systems that are up to 67% smaller by achieving efficiencies of over 98% and improvements in power density of up to 10 times compared to systems built with silicon-based technologies.
“Wolfspeed’s launch of this fully-qualified, next-generation SiC power module represents the culmination of an engineering development program that began with the company’s early SiC MOSFET module designs,” explained John Palmour, Wolfspeed’s chief technology officer. “Our 2015 acquisition of Arkansas Power Electronics International (APEI) enabled our team to deliver this advanced power module design on an aggressive timeline by combining leading-edge SiC device technology with the industry’s most advanced wide bandgap packaging innovation. The resulting module is the first of many products that promise an accelerated disruption of the power electronics market.”
Compared to conventional silicon IGBT power modules, or even previous generations of SiC MOSFET modules, the new module will offer significantly higher power density for applications in which volume and weight are critical limitations. Operating at a higher switching frequency without any compromise in system efficiency means a reduction in the number and size of magnetic and passive components required for the balance of the system. The superior thermal characteristics of SiC devices, along with the packaging design and materials, enable the module to operate at 175°C, which is a key advantage for many industrial, aerospace, and automotive applications.
About Wolfspeed
Wolfspeed, A Cree Company, stands alone as the premier provider of the most field-tested silicon carbide and GaN Power and RF solutions in the world. As the leader in wide bandgap semiconductor technology, we partner with the world’s designers to build a new future of faster, smaller, lighter and more powerful electronic systems.
