News: Microelectronics
16 November 2020
VisIC and AB to co-develop high-voltage solid-state battery disconnect switch for electric drive systems
VisIC Technologies Ltd of Ness Ziona, Israel – a fabless supplier of power conversion devices based on gallium nitride (GaN) transistor devices for automotive high-voltage applications – is to collaborate with automotive battery disconnect switch maker AB Mikroelektronik GmbH of Salzburg, Austria to develop a D3GaN-based high-voltage solid-state battery disconnect switch with fast short-circuit detection (FSCD) for future e-mobility to fulfill the functional safety requirements.
AB is “a major player in high-power automotive applications with a strong experience in solid-state battery disconnect switches,” comments VisIC’s VP sales & marketing Ran Soffer. “This is a big advantage in developing the next step for a 400V battery switch” he adds. “Our effort to constantly serve our customers is raising the bar for high-voltage, high-current solutions for the EV market. Our focus for the EV industry using the D3GaN technology is enabling the future electric-drive technology to be aligned with the market needs to reduce the electric drive cost and improve its efficiency with a reliable high-voltage automotive grad technology”.
VisIC says that the collaboration with AB on high-voltage battery disconnect switches will benefit from D3GaN’s capability for fast switching in safety-critical applications. In the event of a short circuit in the high-voltage bordnet, it is mandatory to detect and disconnect the battery as fast as possible. This requires a very fast power switch and management of the short current until the short circuit is detected and disconnected.
The combination of VisIC D3GaN power switches with extremely low switching times and the VisIC’s FSCD patented circuit meets the requirements to realize a reliable high voltage, high current battery disconnect switch, and to support the functional safety implementation in HV battery disconnect application.
“AB Mikroelektronik’s experience in high-power integration using thick-film aluminium circuit boards and 48V battery disconnect switches will allow fast transfer to a high-voltage prototype,” reckons Dr Louis Costa, AB’s head of advanced development. “Our long-standing experience in aluminium packaging for high-power semiconductors will allow a fast transfer from existing solutions for 48V battery solid-state switches to a high-voltage prototype,” he adds. “We consider GaN as a promising candidate for future e-mobility applications due to its high-voltage and ultrafast switching capabilities.”
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