ROHM recently announced the development of a 1700V/250A rated SiC power module that provides the industry’s highest level of reliability optimized for outdoor power generation systems, such as inverters for solar power and converters for industrial high-power supplies.
In recent years, due to its energy-saving benefits, SiC is seeing greater adoption in 1200V applications such as electric vehicles and industrial equipment. The trend towards higher power density has resulted in higher system voltages, increasing the demand for 1700V products. However, it has been difficult to achieve reliability, and so IGBTs are typically prefered for 1700V applications.
In response, ROHM was able to reach high reliability at 1700V, while maintaining the energy-saving performance of its popular 1200V products, achieving the first successful commercialization of 1700V rated SiC power modules. The BSM250D17P2E004 utilizes new construction methods and coating materials to prevent dielectric breakdown and suppress increases in leakage current. As a result, high reliability is achieved that prevents dielectric breakdown even after 1,000 hours under high temperature high humidity bias testing (HV-H3TRB). This ensures high 1700V withstand voltage even under severe temperature and humidity environments.
By incorporating ROHM’s proven SiC MOSFETs and SiC Schottky barrier diodes into the same module and optimizing the internal structure make it possible to reduce ON resistance by 10% over other SiC products in its class. This translates to improved energy savings in any application.
Going forward, we will continue to expand our lineup to ensure worry-free use by customers and work to increase demand by offering evaluation boards that allow easy testing and verification of our SiC modules.
Key Features
1. Achieves the highest level of reliability under high temperature and high humidity environments
This latest 1700V module introduces new packaging method and coating materials to protect the chip, which allow us to achieve the first successful commercialization of a 1700V SiC Module, passing the HV-H3TRB realibilty tests.
For example, during high temperature high humidity testing the BSM250D17P2E004 exhibited superior reliability with no failures even when 1,360V is applied for more than 1,000 hours at 85°C and 85% humidity, unlike conventional IGBT modules which typically fail within 1,000 hours due to dielectric breakdown. To ensure highest level of reliability ROHM tested the leakage current of the modules at different intervals with the highest level of blocking voltage 1700V.
2. Superior ON resistance contributes to greater energy savings
Combining ROHM’s SiC Schottky barrier diode and MOSFET within the same module makes it possible to reduce ON resistance by 10% compared to other products in its class, contributing to improved energy savings.
SiC Power Module Lineup
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Terminology
Leakage Current
Refers to the small amount of current that leaks from the isolated block of a power device. Suppressing leakage current makes it possible to prevent device damage and increased power consumption.
High Voltage High Humidity High Temperature Reverse Bias Test (HV-H3TRB)
Testing to evaluate the durability of a power device when used under high temperature high humidity environments. Designed to detect failures such as dielectric breakdown from an increase in isolation leakage current due to electric field and moisture.
*ROHM November 13 study
About ROHM Semiconductor
ROHM Semiconductor is a global company of 397,106 million yen (3,65 billion US$) revenue per March 31th, 2018 with 23,120 employees. ROHM Semiconductor develops and manufactures a very large product range from the Ultra Low Power Microcontroller, Power Management, Standard ICs, SiC Diodes, MOSFETs and Modules, Power Transistors and Diodes, LEDs to passives components such as Resistors, Tantalum Capacitors and LED display units, thermal Printheads in state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, China and Europe.
LAPIS Semiconductor (former OKI Semiconductor), SiCrystal GmbH, Kionix are companies of ROHM Semiconductor Group.
ROHM Semiconductor Europe has its head office near Dusseldorf serving the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa).
For further information please contact www.rohm.com
