Isolated gate drivers boast low propagation delay

Article By : Analog Devices

ADI claims the ADuM4120 and ADuM4121 are suited to improving the energy efficiency and timing performance stability of solar inverters, motor controllers and industrial inverter applications.

Analog Devices Inc. has released the ADuM4120 and ADuM4121 series of isolated gate drivers designed for switch technologies such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) that require high switching speeds and have system size constraints. The company claims the devices offer reliable control over switching characteristics for MOSFET and IGBT configurations.

The series uses ADI’s iCoupler isolation technology and high-speed CMOS and monolithic transformer technology to enable ultra-low propagation delay without sacrificing common mode transient immunity (CMTI) performance, the company explained.

ADI noted that while legacy alternatives, such as optocouplers and pulse transformers, struggle to deliver shorter delay and maintain CMTI performance, the ADuM4120 and ADuM4121 are purposely designed to enable the higher switching speeds of the new inverter architectures. In systems requiring multiple power switches, these SOIC packaged isolated gate drivers minimise PCB layout space subsequently reducing cooling requirements. Additionally, their small size allows the gate drivers to be located close to the power switches to reduce the parasitic inductance between the driver and the switch.

Operating over a high temperature range and high working voltages, the ADuM4120 and ADuM4121 are suited to improving the energy efficiency and timing performance stability of solar inverters, motor controllers and industrial inverter applications, ADI said.

All four devices in the series are 2A output, single-channel gate drivers that provide 5kVrms isolation with CMTI performance of >150kV/μs. Operating with an input supply ranging from 2.5V to 6.5V, the drivers are compatible with lower voltage systems with the benefit of true galvanic isolation between the input and the output.

The ADuM4120 and ADuM4120-1 provide thermal shutdown for over temperature protection. The ADuM4120 with input glitch filter reduces system noise on the input pin that could trigger a false output, while the ADuM4120-1 without glitch filter supports low 33ns typical propagation delay. The ADuM4121 and ADuM4121-1 are available with an internal Miller clamp for added protection. The ADuM4121 device is also available with the thermal shutdown.

Packaging options and pricing information for the ADuM4120 and ADuM4121are as follows.

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The ADuM4120 series is priced at ₹102.20 each in 1,000-piece quantities and the ADuM4121 is priced at ₹120.96 each in 1,000-piece quantities.

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