Innovative Microchip Kit Accelerates Inverter Design

Microchip recently announced a new low-inductance silicon carbide (SiC) power module and a programmable gate driver kit designed for inverter developers working with trains, trams, trolleys, buses, cars, and EV chargers.

The new package, which includes the AgileSwitch digital programmable gate driver and the SP6LI SiC power module kit, makes it easier for engineers to go from initial testing to full-scale production. This kit streamlines the development process by providing both power modules and gate drivers together, removing the need to source these components separately. This could save developers several months that would otherwise be spent on qualifying power modules and creating custom gate drivers.

Leon Gross, a vice president at Microchip, explained, “We paid attention to what developers needed when creating system solutions for our microcontrollers and analog products. Now, as SiC power modules continue to advance transportation and other fields, this all-in-one kit helps developers innovate faster and get their products to market sooner.”

Microchip’s SiC power modules come in versions that handle 700V, 1200V, and 1700V and feature their latest SiC die technology. Additionally, their DSPic digital signal controllers are noted for their low power consumption and flexible configurations.

The AgileSwitch gate drivers are designed to speed up the transition from prototype to mass production. When used with the SiC power modules, these digital drivers allow designers to address dynamic challenges like voltage overshoot, switching losses, and electromagnetic interference. This is achieved through a user-friendly Windows-based computer interface that simplifies the process from initial evaluation to fine-tuning the final design without needing complex tools like a soldering iron.

With this kit, design engineers receive a central point for support and assurance that the power package and gate driver are optimized for one another, reducing potential delays. The AgileSwitch intelligent configuration tool also helps improve gate turn-on and turn-off timings, short circuit responses, and efficiency, while minimizing issues such as voltage overshoot and electromagnetic interference.

The kit is now available for both large-scale production and limited sampling.