Fairchild Semiconductor's Automotive Gate Driver ICs Deliver Increased Efficiency and Reliability to Hybrid, Electric Vehicle Applications

Engineers in the automotive space are faced with the challenges of delivering inverter designs with increased efficiency, higher drive current and greater immunity to noise, especially in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV). To help designers meet these challenges, Fairchild Semiconductor (NYSE: FCS), a leading global supplier of high performance power and mobile products, developed the FAN7171 high-current, high-side gate driver IC and the FAN7190 high-current, high- and low-side gate driver IC. Part of a family of automotive high voltage ICs (HVIC) gate drivers, the FAN7171 and FAN7190 are ideal for electric and hybrid electric DC-DC power supplies and power inverters, diesel and gasoline injectors and valves as well as MOSFET and IGBT high-side driver applications. The FAN7171 and FAN7190 HVIC devices deliver an integrated inverter solution with higher efficiency, more drive current and more robustness in harsh automotive applications. The FAN7171 is a monolithic high-side gate driver IC that can drive high speed MOSFETs and IGBTs that operate up to +500V, while the FAN7190 can drive MOSFETS and IGBTs that operate up to +600V. Greater drive capability enables higher power systems with an increase in power efficiency. Both devices have a buffered output stage with all NMOS transistors designed for high pulse current driving capability and minimum cross-conduction. Better noise immunity, with a negative voltage swing (VS) down to -9.8V at 15V VBS, allows for improved design reliability and increased durability in challenging noise environments. Qualified to AEC Q100 Automotive Class 1 standards, the FAN7171 and FAN7190 are highly integrated devices that provide increased functionality, resulting in reduced component count and reduced bill of material costs, reduced board space and potentially faster design cycles. Fairchild's high voltage process and common-mode noise cancelling techniques provide stable operation of the high-side driver under dv/dt noise circumstances. An advanced level shift circuit offers high-side gate driver operation down to VS = -9.8V (typical) for VBS = 15V. An Under Voltage Lockout (UVLO) circuit prevents malfunction when VBS is lower than the specified threshold voltage. Both devices are packaged in an 8-lead small outline package (SOP) and are RoHS-compliant. Fairchild's expertise in power semiconductor devices and packaging of modules, combined with extensive testing, simulation and high quality manufacturing, allows us to provide products that perform reliably in the most demanding automotive environments, including under-the-hood applications. With our own design, fabrication, assembly and testing facilities worldwide, Fairchild Semiconductor is well equipped to meet the quality, reliability and availability needs of automotive manufacturers, unlike other suppliers that depend on foundries and other third-party manufacturing sources. Price: in 1,000 quantity pieces FAN7171: US $1.28 FAN7190: US $1.50 Availability: Samples available now Delivery: 8-12 weeks ARO www.fairchildsemi.com