Gate drivers protect IGBTs and SiC MOSFETs

STMicroelectronics’ STGAP3S galvanically isolated gate drivers target motor drives in industrial and energy applications.

STMicroelectronics has introduced the?STGAP3S?family of gate drivers for silicon-carbide (SiC) and IGBT power switches. The new galvanically isolated gate drivers feature ST’s latest galvanic isolation technology with optimized desaturation protection and a Miller-clamp architecture.

The STGAP3S withstands 9.6-kV transient isolation voltage (VIOTM) with 200 V/ns common-mode transient immunity (CMTI). Featuring reinforced capacitive galvanic isolation between the gate-driving channel and the low-voltage control and interface circuitry, the STGAP3S offers enhanced reliability in motor drives for industrial applications such as air conditioning, factory automation, and home appliances. They are also used in power and energy applications including charging stations, energy storage systems, power-factor correction (PFC), DC/DC converters and solar inverters.

The STGAP3S product family includes different options with 10-A and 6-A current capability, each with differentiated under voltage lock-out (UVLO) and desaturation intervention thresholds. This helps designers select the best device to match the performance of the SiC MOSFET or IGBT power switches, ST said.

The desaturation protection offers overload and short-circuit protection for the external power switch, while the UVLO protection prevents turn-on with insufficient drive voltage. In addition, the desaturation protection provides the possibility to adjust the turn-off strategy using an external resistor to maximize the protection turn-off speed while avoiding excessive overvoltage spikes, ST said.

The driver’s integrated Miller Clamp architecture provides a pre-driver for an external N-channel MOSFET. This gives designers the ability to select a suitable intervention speed that prevents induced turn-on and avoids cross conduction, the company said.

The?STGAP3SXS?is in production now, in the SO-16W wide-body package. Pricing starts from ?$2.34 for orders of 1,000 pieces. Samples are available.