Littelfuse unveils low-side gate driver for SiC MOSFETs and IGBTs

Littelfuse has launched the IX4352NE low-side SiC MOSFET and IGBT gate driver.

Credit: Littelfuse

This driver is specifically designed to drive Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFETs and high-power Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) in industrial applications.

The key differentiator of the IX4352NE lies in its separate 9 A source and sink outputs, which enables tailored turn-on and turn-off timing while minimising switching losses. An internal negative charge regulator also provides a user-selectable negative gate drive bias for improved dV/dt immunity and faster turn-off.

With an operating voltage range (VDD - VSS) of up to 35 V, this driver offers exceptional flexibility and performance.

One of the key features of the IX4352NE is its internal negative charge pump regulator, which eliminates the need for an external auxiliary power supply or DC/DC converter. This feature is particularly valuable for turning off SiC MOSFETs, saving valuable space typically required for external logic level translator circuitry. The logic input's compatibility with standard TTL or CMOS logic levels further enhances space-saving capabilities.

The IX4352NE is suited for driving SiC MOSFETs in various industrial applications such as:

  • on-board and off-board chargers,
  • Power Factor Correction (PFC),
  • DC/DC converters,
  • motor controllers, and
  • industrial power inverters.

With its comprehensive features, the IX4352NE simplifies circuit design and offers a higher level of integration. Built-in protection features such as desaturation detection (DESAT) with soft shutdown sink driver, Under Voltage Lockout (UVLO), and thermal shutdown (TSD) ensure the protection of the power device and the gate driver.

The integrated open-drain FAULT output signals a fault condition to the microcontroller, enhancing safety and reliability.

In addition, the IX4352NE saves valuable PCB space and increases circuit density, contributing to overall system efficiency.

Notable improvements over the existing IX4351NE include:

  • A safe DESAT-initiated soft turn-off.
  • A thermal shutdown with high threshold accuracy.
  • The charge pump's ability to operate during thermal shutdown.

The new IX4352NE is pin-compatible, allowing for a seamless drop-in replacement in designs that specify the existing Littelfuse IX4351NE, which was released in 2020.