IGBT driver, IGBT, Semikron

Digital drivers from Semikron offer versatile power control

News Release from: Semikron Ltd
10/07/2008

Semikron has announced a new generation of IGBT drivers based on full digital signal processing. The SKYPER 52 allows for the transmission of isolated control signals and a range of configurable protection schemes, enabling engineers to design without the need to add isolated circuitry. The result is fewer system components and improved overall system reliability.

The SKYPER 52 uses differential signal processing to provide numerous advantages, including a high level of signal integrity and high noise rejection. Switching characteristics, shut down levels and error protection can be configured digitally to meet application requirements. Digital signal processing is highly robust and is unaffected by temperature fluctuations or the effects of ageing. This offers development engineers versatility with the driver circuitry properties and control settings for the power electronics. If an error is detected, all the power transistors can be switched off either individually or sequentially. Overvoltages, especially those that occur during a short-circuit turn-off, are reduced by the IGBT driver using intelligent turn-off control to switch the power transistor slowly.

A new graphical user interface provides the benefits of a user-friendly configuration platform that can run on Linux, Mac OS X or Windows systems.

The SKYPER 52 is RoHS compliant and is suitable for 1200 V and 1700 V IGBT modules. Isolation voltage is 4 kVAC from primary to secondary. The new driver has two 9W output channels and a peak gate current of 50 A, making it suitable for parallel-connected IGBT modules with a total current of up to 9,000A. SKYPER 52 is also suitable for high-frequency applications that require high driver output power and switching frequencies (up to 100 kHz).

The rugged LVDS-compatible differential signal inputs and outputs conform with 3.3 V and 5 V I/O standards. The driver circuit can therefore be directly connected to a microcontroller or DSP without level conversion.