New Industry Products

Fairchild Intros 3-6kW PFC Smart Power Modules

April 25, 2006 by Jeff Shepard

Fairchild Semiconductor has added three new Smart Power Modules (SPM™) designed for full-switching power factor correction (PFC) in motor drive applications in the 3-6kW power range. Each PFC-SPM device integrates two fast-recovery diodes, two freewheeling diodes, two IGBTs, a gate-driver IC, a shunt resistor and a thermistor into one thermally efficient 44 x 26.8mm package.

As highly integrated modules, PFC-SPM devices save 50% board space compared to discrete solutions, and increase reliability with built-in protection features. These devices also provide 99% power factor (typical) to meet the mandatory PFC standard (IEC61000-3-2) and 40kHz switching operation to mitigate power loss. Fairchild's PFC-SPM devices offer designers a compact "green" solution for air conditioners and industrial inverter designs.

"Fairchild's new PFC-SPM devices expand our SPM portfolio to address PFC in 3-6kW consumer and industrial applications," said Taehoon Kim, vice president of Fairchild's Functional Power Group. "These modules optimize thermal efficiency by utilizing Fairchild's Direct Bonded Copper (DBC)-based transfer-molded packaging technology. They also incorporate existing SMPS IGBT and Stealth™ diode technology to significantly reduce power losses. Our new line of PFC-SPM products demonstrate how Fairchild applies proven design, manufacturing and packaging expertise to specifically address our customers' design requirements in a broad range of applications."

These PFC-SPM devices enhance reliability in end systems by integrating a thermistor for temperature monitoring and a shunt resistor for current sensing. The built-in resistor also reduces part count by eliminating the need for the external components required by discrete solutions. Further reliability features include under-voltage and over-current protection provided by their integrated gate-driving IC. They also provide an isolation voltage rating of 2,500Vrms (minimum) and their packaging complies with basic creepage and clearance spacing for UL certification No. E209204.

The FPDB20PH60 (600V/20A), FPDB30PH60 (600V/30A) and the FPDB50PH60 (600V/50A) are available in lead (Pb)-free Mini-DIP packages. These products meet or exceed the requirements of the joint IPC/JEDEC standard J-STD-020C and are compliant with the European Union requirements now in effect.

In lots of 100 pieces, unit prices are US$22.30, US$23.74 and US$31.78 for the FPDB20PH60, FPDB30PH60 and FPDB50PH60, respectively. Samples are currently available with production quantities available within 12 weeks.