IXYS Corp. (Santa Clara, CA) recently announced that it has begun shipping what it claims is the industry's first integrated power module designed specifically for three-phase power-factor correction of off-line switching power supplies and power-conversion circuits.
According to IXYS, the new 500V, 140A VUM85-05A power-factor correction product integrates seven discrete semiconductors consisting of five rectifiers, one power MOSFET and one thyristor into a power module with solderable pins for printed circuit-board connection. Three modules are used together to accomplish the three-phase power-factor correction. The company based its new module on what it claims is an innovative concept, the Kolar Converter, for which the company has filed a patent.
"This unique architecture of the Kolar Converter simplifies the circuit with minimal parts count while minimizing line-current harmonics especially in high-power communications and network switched-mode power supplies," said Andreas Sperner, IXYS vice president of European sales and marketing. "In fact, one of our first design wins for the VUM85 module was at a leading manufacturer of storage area network equipment."
In quantities of 1,000, pricing for the VUM85-05A is $71.62 each. It is available from factory stock.