Gate driver photocouplers enhance MOSFET and IGBT switching efficiency

Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH has extended its lineup to control 1A and 6A class gate drive currents for small to medium-capacity MOSFET and IGBT gate drives. The TLP579xH series fulfils the growing demand for gate drivers that drive high-voltage power devices from the low-voltage control side through isolation, delivering more accurate performance over a wide temperature range. The series is suited to driving SiC MOSFETs and IGBTs in green energy and factory automation applications, including industrial PV inverters, UPS, and EV charging stations, which operate in harsh thermal environments.

All three devices in the series are designed to drive small to medium capacity power devices as well as IGBTs. The TLP5791H has a performance of -1/+1A for peak high-level/low-level output current (IOLH/IOHL), with a UVLO threshold voltage (VUVLO+) of 9.5V (max.), a UVLO threshold voltage (VUVLO-) of 7.5V (min.), and a UVLO hysteresis voltage (VUVLOHYS) of 0.5V (typ.).

With the TLP5794H, the peak output current spans from -6/+4A for IOLH/IOHL, with a VUVLO+ of 13.5V (max.), a VUVLO- of 9.5V (min.), and VUVLOHYS of 1.5V (typ.).

The TLP5795H is capable of -4.5/+5.3A for peak high-level/low-level output current (IOLH/IOHL), with VUVLO+ of 13.5V (max.), a VUVLO- of 11.1V (min.), and VUVLOHYS of 1.0V (typ.).

The propagation delay time displays low temperature dependence, allowing stable operation within the practical range defined by factory automation equipment. Further, the TLP579xH series is a rail-to-rail output device that allows switching characteristics with less voltage drop from the power supply voltage. This capability is useful in applications that need circuits to operate at low voltages or to process signals across the entire range of supply voltages.

Furthermore, the company has improved the light output of the input-side infrared LED and optimised the design of the light-receiving element (photodiode array) in the device compared to the current lineup. These enhancements increase the optical coupling efficiency of the product, allowing it to operate within a temperature range of -40C to +125C. The company has also standardised the propagation delay time and propagation delay skew within this operating temperature range.

The TLP579xH series is housed in a small SO6L package, contributing to improved flexibility in component placement on the PCB. Also, the new products feature a minimum creepage distance of 8mm and an isolation voltage of 5000VRMS, enabling them to be employed in equipment that needs high isolation performance.