Si829x Automotive Isolated Gate Driver for EV Traction Inverters

Hi. My name is Travis Lenz, and I'm an applications engineer for the power group here at Skyworks Solutions. Our latest product, the SI829x isolated safety gate driver, is enabling the next generation of electric vehicles through enhancements to the traction inverter design. Traction inverter is the core subsystem in the electric vehicle that takes DC power from the battery and converts it into AC power to turn the wheels. The Si829x is enhancing this design, leading to increased range, improved system reliability, and an accelerated time to market for EV makers.

The key design challenge we're focused on is extending the range of the battery.

Every customer wants to know how far will my EV go on a single charge. The Si829x has dynamic programmable output currents that enable optimization across all operating conditions. This directly translates to extended battery life, which gives shoppers the confidence they need to get an electric vehicle. Equally important is system reliability. Automobiles have to operate in extreme heat and intense cold. The Si829x is ASIL D ready and designed for functional safety for ISO 26262 and is also AEC-Q100 automotive certified.

Another key design challenge facing traction inverter designers is which power switch technology to integrate into their design. The Si829x is truly FET-agnostic, meaning it can be optimized and fine-tuned for any power switch on the market. This ensures designers have the freedom to choose whichever power switch they want and multisource to ensure that their design is future proof for many years to come.

Another way the safety gate driver is enhancing traction inverters is by reducing the size and cost of the BOM. An internal voltage regulator, multiple ADC feedback channels, and an integrated Miller clamp all eliminate external components. This shrinks the size of the PCB and results in a more compact overall traction inverter design that's easier to cool and less expensive to build. Last but not least, the Si829x is enabling what we call a unified hardware platform. This means the same hardware design can be used for any electric vehicle mission profile with differentiation achieved through software. This cuts down on engineering resources and accelerates time to market for EV makers.

What I have here are the latest developer tools from Skyworks to evaluate the Si829x, complete with an EVB that supports high voltage testing, a controller board for interfacing, and a PC based GUI for quick evaluation and rapid prototyping. For more information, visit skyworksinc.com today. Thank you for your time.

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