STMicroelectronics introduced the EVLSTGAP3SXS-H, a half-bridge evaluation board, and its core driver, the STGAP3SXS. This combination provides a robust platform for testing and deploying advanced gate-driving solutions tailored for silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs and insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs).

Exploring the Advanced Features of STGAP3S Galvanically Isolated Gate Drivers with the EVLSTGAP3SXS-H — Source: www.st.com

The STGAP3SXS is a member of the STGAP3S family, a range of isolated single-gate drivers designed to enhance performance and reliability in high-power systems. With its reinforced capacitive galvanic isolation technology, the STGAP3SXS ensures robust separation between the low-voltage control circuits and the high-voltage gate-driving channel, making it ideal for demanding industrial applications.

Key Features of the STGAP3SXS

High Voltage and Current Capability: It supports up to 1200 V high-voltage rails and provides a 10 A sink/source drive at 25°C, enabling superior performance in high-power environments.
Rapid Propagation and Stability: With an input-output propagation delay of just 75 ns and a ±200 V/ns common-mode transient immunity (CMTI), it guarantees fast and stable operation, even under harsh conditions.
Enhanced Gate Control: The driver supports gate voltages up to 32 V, with the ability to implement negative gate driving down to -10 V, which is essential for managing high-speed switching in SiC MOSFETs.
Comprehensive Protection: Features such as desaturation protection, adjustable soft turn-off, Miller clamp, and under-voltage lockout (UVLO) ensure reliability by safeguarding the system from short circuits, overvoltage spikes, and inadequate drive voltage.
Temperature Shutdown: Built-in thermal protection provides an additional layer of safety, especially in power-intensive applications.

These features make the STGAP3SXS particularly suitable for motor drivers in industrial settings, as well as power control systems like charging stations, energy storage units, and solar inverters.

Exploring the EVLSTGAP3SXS-H Evaluation Board

The EVLSTGAP3SXS-H evaluation board is designed to showcase and test the capabilities of the STGAP3SXS gate driver. Its half-bridge configuration is optimized for high-power applications and supports bus voltages up to 520 V by default, with scalability to 1200 V by replacing the onboard SiC MOSFETs and capacitors.

Key Highlights of the Evaluation Board

Simplified Power Supply Management: The board is powered through a 5 V VAUX connection. It incorporates onboard isolated DC-DC converters that supply the high-side and low-side gate drivers, ensuring seamless operation.
Driving Voltage Configurations: Engineers can select among predefined configurations, such as +19 V/0 V, +19 V/-4.7 V, +17 V/0 V, or +17 V/-4.7 V, to optimize the driving performance for different applications.
Comprehensive Protection Mechanisms: The evaluation board integrates all major protection features of the STGAP3SXS, including desaturation, Miller clamp, and soft turn-off. These are connected to test points for easy evaluation.
User-Friendly Design: Input polarity and hardware interlocking can be configured via jumpers, while diagnostic outputs are displayed through onboard LEDs for quick monitoring of fault conditions.
High-Performance Components: The board comes with SCTWA70N120G2V-4 SiC MOSFETs, which boast 1200 V, 30 mΩ resistance, and 91 A current capability, making them suitable for industrial-grade applications.

Why Choose the STGAP3SXS and EVLSTGAP3SXS-H?

These tools offer a powerful solution for designers working on high-performance motor drives, power control systems, and industrial automation. The STGAP3SXS delivers precise and reliable gate control, while the EVLSTGAP3SXS-H simplifies the evaluation process, allowing developers to test configurations and optimize their designs efficiently.

With its reinforced isolation (5.7 kVRMS) and state-of-the-art desaturation protection, the STGAP3SXS ensures long-term reliability, even in harsh industrial environments. This makes it ideal for applications like:

Motor Drives: In air conditioning systems, factory automation, and home appliances.
Energy Solutions: Including charging stations, power-factor correction (PFC), DC/DC converters, and solar inverters.

Available from $2.34 for 1,000 units, the STGAP3SXS provides a cost-effective solution for industrial and energy applications. Its versatility in supporting both SiC MOSFETs and IGBTs makes it a flexible choice for designers aiming to optimize their systems for performance and efficiency.

STMicroelectronics’ STGAP3SXS and the accompanying EVLSTGAP3SXS-H evaluation board offer a robust, versatile, and user-friendly platform for high-power applications. With their advanced isolation, rapid propagation, and comprehensive protection mechanisms, they empower engineers to build next-generation systems that are reliable, efficient, and scalable. Whether you’re working on motor drives, renewable energy systems, or industrial automation, this dynamic duo is a game-changer for modern power electronics.

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Vikky K

20+ years embedded hardware design professional with a burning passion for teaching. Sharing the intricate world of embedded hardware is my mission and joy.