Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductor technologies have attracted a lot of attention and research funding in the past decade. Both public and private institutions around the world have been obsessed with accelerating the evolution of WBG tech into commercial power electronics applications. What’s all the fuss about? WBG materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium… Read more »
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Infineon acquires Wolfspeed to strengthen its position in SiC-based power solutions
Semiconductor maker Infineon Technologies has agreed to acquire the Wolfspeed Power and RF division of LED manufacturer Cree, for $850 million. The deal also includes the related silicon carbide wafer substrate business. Wolfspeed specializes in silicon carbide-based power and gallium nitride-on-silicon carbide-based RF power solutions. The deal also includes related core competencies in wafer substrate… Read more »
Pi Innovo and GaN Systems collaborate to design auxiliary systems for electrified vehicles
As start/stop, mild hybrid and multi-voltage systems continue to creep into “conventional” gas vehicles, controls engineering firm Pi Innovo and semiconductor manufacturer GaN Systems foresee steadily growing demand for their products. The two companies recently announced that they are collaborating to offer automakers a pathway to the electrification of vehicle auxiliary systems. Hybrids and EVs… Read more »
Winning Google Little Box Challenge inverter powered by GaN Systems transistors
Google and the IEEE Power Electronics Society established the Little Box Challenge to stimulate the development of inverters, key components of both solar energy installations and EV systems. The challenge to engineers: “Figure out how to shrink an inverter down to something smaller than a laptop (a reduction of 10× in volume), and you’ll win… Read more »
PowerAmerica offers funding for wide bandgap semiconductor projects
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 »
Lux Research: Infineon is a “clear winner” in power electronics field
Batteries get most of the press, but power electronics (gadgets like inverters, onboard chargers and DC/DC converters) are critical components of all sorts of electrified vehicles as well as high-tech energy solutions. As the electromobility/clean energy sector grows, leading companies in the power electronics field could be poised for major growth. Lux Research recently released… Read more »
Railcar traction inverter with SiC power modules achieves 40% power savings
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, which has been testing a traction inverter made with silicon carbide (SiC), has announced that the component has demonstrated a savings in power consumption of around 40%. The traction inverter was installed in a 1000 series urban train in commercial service with a Japanese railroad, and was tested over a four-month period…. 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 »
New report: Wide bandgap technology can make power conversion 90% more efficient
Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductor technologies are attracting a lot of attention, and research funding. In January, the Obama administration selected a consortium of businesses and universities to lead an innovation institute focused on WBG materials. Japan and the UK are also funding R&D in the field. A new report from Lux Research, Silicon vs. WBG:… Read more »
ARPA-E awards $27 million for power electronics research
The DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has selected 14 projects to receive $27 million in funding to support the development of next-generation power conversion devices. These devices, which convert electrical energy from high to low voltages, are critical to all electronic devices, and represent a key enabling technology for electric vehicles. The DOE’s talent… Read more »