Power-Thru 技术

Allegro 了解高压栅极驱动挑战

FET 的驱动面临几项关键挑战。nbsp; 无论是 GaN、MOS 还是 SiC,都面临这些挑战。

 

  • 复杂性:简单的解决方案往往是最好的解决方案。nbsp; 保持栅极驱动简单是主要动机,同时也是我们面临的最大挑战。nbsp; 设计栅极驱动电路时,烦人的额外元件、隔离电源以及所有这些要素的管理都是难题。nbsp; 减少元件数量将降低复杂性。
  • CMTI值得注意的是,近年来,所有开关类型(GaN、MOS 或 SiC)都在提高其开关转换速度。因此,栅极驱动器的共模瞬态抗扰度需要克服挑战。nbsp; 如果不能满足该要求,则将意味着 FET 栅极可能出现意外转换以及系统可能发生破坏性事件。
  • 传播时间:栅极驱动器的首要工作是向器件的栅极提供可靠的栅极驱动信号和能量。nbsp; 如果能在更短的传播时间内将其从系统控制器传送到 FET 栅极,那就更好了。nbsp; 更短的传播时间可以让功率 FET 的开启和关闭周期之间的“死区”管理变得更精确、更容易。nbsp; 这将直接提升系统效率。nbsp; 系统设计师因此将感到高兴!
  • EMI电磁干扰通常是系统设计中最后要考虑的事项。nbsp; 这可能导致设计很难完成,并且消耗大量时间。nbsp; 减少栅极驱动设计内部及周围的元件和电路有助于显著减少系统设计中的 EMI 难题。nbsp; 原因在于共模电容 (Ccm) 会降低。nbsp; 降低 Ccm 会降低循环电流,同时减少系统中的 EMI 难题。 

Allegro 一直在应对并已解决所有这些难题。nbsp; 基于我们在 2022 年 Heyday 收购中获得的技术。 经验丰富的工程师团队已将这项技术变为现实,打造出了适合高难度设计和应用的隔离式栅极驱动器产品线。

 

解决方案

Power-Thru 隔离技术

Allegro 利用多年的经验开发了一种可实现高性能栅极驱动器的独特技术。nbsp; 在单个封装中以及在单个内部隔离边界可以同时传输栅极驱动信号和驱动功率。

我们将其称为 Power-Thru。

简单的隔离边界使其在设计上就很高效。nbsp; 这种高效体现在电力和物理两个方面。nbsp;

微小的磁基隔离结构可实现从低压信号到高压系统的跨边界高效功率输送。nbsp; 该边界不仅承载栅极驱动信号信息,还承载着驱动外部 FET 开关所需的所有驱动功率。nbsp; 现在,系统设计人员将隔离驱动提供给高侧 FET 就如同提供给低侧 FET 一样容易。  

我们的专有技术、关键知识产权和专利组合使得元器件设计人员能够实现这种隔离技术。 

磁性隔离

多年来,磁性隔离一直被认为是一种有效的能量传递方式。nbsp; 但是,通过一个小到可以装入半导体尺寸封装中的磁性元件高效地获取所需的驱动能量和信息,就是另外一回事了。 

单个隔离边界用于将驱动信息和驱动能量从低压控制电路传送到高压系统开关电路。nbsp; 这种单一路径方法使产品封装更简单,让产品体积更小巧。 

 

硅技术的神奇魔力

Allegro 的硅技术可促使能量和信息以惊人的效率和速度穿越微小的磁边界,从而创造出优异的栅极驱动产品。nbsp; 借助各种新颖的硅技术,例如:

  • 高效调制和解调
  • 磁寄生效应抗扰能力
  • 智能能源管理
  • 高效磁芯复位

Allegro 推出了电源系统设计人员梦寐以求的新型隔离式栅极驱动器。nbsp; 在当今迅速成长的隔离式栅极驱动器市场中,我们丰富的知识产权专利组合正在快速扩大。

封装 - 从技术到产品

Allegro 始终信奉封装设计的简单性。nbsp; 复杂性留给硅器件本身解决! 

我们的产品利用著名的着陆栅格阵列技术来实现业界卓越的功率输送。 我们的小型器件具有丰富的特性、性能和功能,可实现十分出色高效的电源模块设计。

 

Power-Thru 技术

Allegro Understands HV Gate Drive Challenges

There are several key challenges to driving FET's.  This is true whether it is GaN, MOS or SiC.

 

  • Complexity: A simple solution is often the best solution.  Keeping gate drive simple was a key motivator and our biggest challenge.  Cumbersome additional components, isolated supplies and managing all of these is difficult when designing a gate drive circuit.  Reduce component count and you will reduce complexity.
  • CMTI:  It's important to note that all the switch types (GaN, MOS or SiC) are improving their switching transition speeds in recent years.  So the common mode transient immunity of the gate driver needs to be up to the challenge.  Failure to meet this requirement will mean unexpected transitions on the FET gate and potential destructive events in a system.
  • Propagation time: Delivering reliable gate drive signal and energy to the gate of any device is the first job of any gate driver.  Delivering it with low propagation time from system controller to FET gate is even better.  Low propagation time makes for tighter and easier 'dead-time' management between the ON and OFF cycles of the power FET's.  This will directly result in improved system efficiency.  Which will result in happy system designers!
  • EMI: Electro-magnetic interference considerations are often the last thing to be thought about in a system design.  This can make finishing a design difficult and time consuming.  The reduction of components and circuits in and around the gate drive design helps dramatically reduce the EMI challenge in a system design.  The reason being lower common-mode capacitance (Ccm).  Reducing Ccm reduces circulating currents, reducing EMI difficulties in the system. 

Allegro has addressed and solved all of these challenges.  Based on the technology acquired from our 2022 Heyday acquisition. The experienced team of engineers has turned this technology into a reality resulting in a product line of isolated gate drivers fit for the most challenging designs and applications.

 

The Solution

Power-Thru Isolation technology

Allegro has leveraged years of experience to develop a unique technology enabling high-performance gate drivers. In one single package and across one single internal isolation boundary both the gate drive signal and the drive power are transferred.

We have called it Power-Thru.

The simplicity of the isolation boundary makes it efficient by design. Efficient electrically and physically.

A tiny magnetic based isolation structure enables efficient power transfer across the boundary from low-voltage signal to high-voltage system. This boundary carries not only the gate drive signal information but also all the drive power required to drive the external FET switch. The system designer can now deliver isolated drive to a high-side FET as easily as a low-side FET.

Our know-how, key intellectual property and patent portfolio enable the silicon smarts that deliver the capability to make this isolated technology.

Power-Thru technology logo with blue overlay

Magnetic Isolation

Magnetic isolation has been known for years as an efficient way to transfer energy. But getting the required drive energy and information efficiently through a magnetic component small enough to fit in a semiconductor sized package - that's a new story.

A single isolation boundary is used to transfer both the drive information and the drive energy from a low voltage control circuit to the high-voltage system switch circuit. This single path approach makes for simpler and smaller product package.

Compasses

Silicon Does the Magic

Allegro silicon is the enabler which steers the energy and information across a tiny magnetic boundary with amazing efficiency and speed to make outstanding gate drive products. Through novel silicon techniques such as:

  • efficient modulation and demodulation
  • immunity to magnetic parasitics
  • smart energy management
  • efficient magnetic core reset

Allegro has delivered new isolated gate drivers which have long been sought by power system designers. Our IP rich patent portfolio is growing quickly in this exciting fast growing market space of isolated gate drives.

Packaging - From Technology to Product

Allegro has always believed in simplicity regarding the package design. Leave the complexities to the silicon!

Our products leverage a well known landing grid array technology to enable industry leading power transfer. Our small devices are packed with features, performance and functionality that will enable the best and most efficient power module designs.

Self-powered Single Channel Isolated GaNFET Gate Driver with Power-Thru Integrated Isolated Bias Supply Product Image