PowerAmerica, a private-public partnership led by North Carolina State University, has released a call for projects to advance wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor technology. Funding is available for projects to accelerate commercialization of WBG power electronics applications in high voltage systems, efficient motors and other transportation- and renewable energy-related fields. Objectives for eligible projects include: Lowering… Read more »
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Developer of gallium nitride power switching semiconductors raises $20 million
GaN Systems Inc., a developer of gallium nitride power switching semiconductors, has closed a $20-million Series C financing round. The company will use the new money to ramp up sales and marketing efforts and to continue expanding its manufacturing line. GaN Systems says its Island Technology results in devices that are smaller and more efficient… Read more »
Toyota tests silicon carbide power semiconductors in a hybrid Camry and fuel cell bus
Power semiconductors are key components of the power control units (PCUs) used in all types of vehicles with electric powertrains – EVs, hybrids and fuel cell vehicles. Current power semiconductors are leaky, accounting for around 20 percent of a vehicle’s electrical losses, so raising their efficiency could be a rewarding area of study. Toyota has… Read more »
Happy days for the automotive semiconductor market
Driven by the triple trends of vehicle electrification, automation and connectivity, the automotive semiconductor market had a splendid 2014, and is on track for more growth, according to a new report from research firm IHS (NYSE: IHS). Automakers built more cars and used more semiconductors in 2014, bringing the market to $29 billion, a 10… Read more »
Infineon and United Microelectronics collaborate on automotive power semiconductors
Semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies and semiconductor foundry United Microelectronics (NYSE: UMC), which have worked together for 15 years, plan to extend their manufacturing partnership into power semiconductors for automotive applications. Infineon will transfer its automotive-qualified Smart Power Technology (SPT9) to UMC, and production will be extended to 300 mm wafers. Production of SPT9 products at… Read more »
Freescale Semiconductor’s new integrated battery cell controller
As some automakers such as Audi are turning to 48 V electrical systems to facilitate the integration of ever more electronic accessories, Austin, Texas-based Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL) has introduced a highly integrated 14-cell lithium-ion battery cell controller. Freescale’s MC33771 battery cell controller and companion MC33664 isolated communications interface include fourteen cell balancing transistors, a… Read more »
Infineon to acquire International Rectifier, pioneer in wide-bandgap semiconductors
Infineon Technologies (OTC: IFNNF), Germany’s largest chipmaker, will acquire California-based International Rectifier (NYSE: IRF) for $40 per share in a $3 billion deal. International Rectifier specializes in power-management semiconductors. Particularly attractive to Infineon is IRF’s expertise in gallium nitride on silicon (GaN) semiconductors. According to Bloomberg, the acquisition will solidify Infineon’s position in GaN discretes… Read more »
A closer look at the semiconductor switch
In this article I’ll be giving an overview of that most important of power electronics components: the semiconductor switch. I’ll first address what a switch is, and then delve into some of the more important compromises and shortcomings that exist in real-world switches that engineers must contend with when designing chargers, motor controllers, DC-DC converters… Read more »
Silicon carbide power semiconductors improve hybrid fuel efficiency
Toyota and Denso have collaborated to develop a silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor for use in power control units (PCUs). Using SiC power semiconductors, Toyota aims to improve hybrid fuel efficiency by 10 percent and reduce PCU size by 80 percent, compared to current PCUs with silicon-only semiconductors. The PCU is a critical component of… Read more »
SK Siltron wins $544-million DOE loan to expand production of SiC wafers for EV power electronics
The DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, which supports domestic manufacturing of fuel-efficient vehicles, components and materials, has given a conditional commitment to SK Siltron CSS for a $544-million loan to expand manufacturing of silicon carbide (SiC) wafers for EV power electronics at the company’s two Michigan manufacturing plants. SiC semiconductors potentially enable higher efficiency… Read more »