New Industry Products

Powerex Offers 3 New HVICs

August 12, 1999 by Jeff Shepard

Powerex (Youngwood, PA) introduced three new High Voltage Integrated Circuit (HVIC) units manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric (Tokyo). The new units are designed for driving MOSFET and IGBT devices, and to simplify circuit design and speed time-to-market for customers involved with electronic ballast design, half-bridge circuit design for single- or three-phase circuits, and three-phase high-side drive. According to Powerex, the new HVICs use a new robust junction isolation process for withstanding voltages up to 600V, eliminating the need for photo couplers. The devices will provide the necessary drive for discrete IGBT or MOSFET units, as well as modules rated to 50A. The units are being made available on an individual basis or as part of a set incorporating the Powerex FLEXPAK CIB IGBT Module, providing the power devices for rectifier and inverter circuits used in motor drives with optional brake units and/or sensing units for overtemperature or overcurrent. The FLEXPAK CIB unit also has an optional thyristor available for inrush current protection. The M63954P HVIC is intended for use in half-bridge circuits for electronic ballasts, and is available in a DIP 16 package and includes a built-in oscillator and regulator. The M63992, available in a 16-pin SOP package, is considered ideal for driving IGBTs or MOSFETs used in general purpose inverters, washing machines, refrigerators and ac servos, due to its high output current capability of +/-2A. The M63972, housed in an 18-pin DIP package, is suited for use in three-phase inverter circuits, and is designed to provide drive for all three of the high side switches of the three phase topology.