Author: Chen Ziying and Zheng Ziqing
    The design of drive circuit is a difficult problem in power semiconductor application, which is related to dynamic process control and device protection. In order to facilitate reliable drive design, Infineon's drive ics come with some important features, and this series of articles will explain in detail how to properly understand and apply these driver features.
    Every power switch needs a driver, and the power switch will withstand high voltage and large current in the system. How to make the power semiconductor turn on and off gracefully is an important contribution of the drive circuit. In addition, the drive circuit also needs to bear the heavy duty of power switch protection, detect short circuit conditions, and quickly and gently shut off.

Categories of drives
    The power semiconductor drive is a technology worth studying, the drive object is different, the application system requirements are different, the drive circuit requirements are different, Infineon has a total of 441 different models (as of January 16, 2025), respectively belong to the non-isolated type, level shift type and the use of non-core transformer isolation type. "Good Download" Infineon Grid Drive Circuit Design and Selection Guide "- 92 pages of product information and technical data
    Non-isolated drivers are generally used independently on the low voltage side, such as Boost PFC circuits, single-tube quasi-resonant circuits, battery-operated power tools, etc. Non-isolated drivers are low-voltage drivers, but Infineon uses the advanced 130 nm process of the high-voltage gate driver technology, more robust and reliable.
    Level displacement driver can provide functional insulation, can drive the upper and lower bridge arm of the bridge circuit, the upper bridge arm power supply can be a simple bootstrap way, the system is simple, low cost, mainly used for household appliances, LED lighting, power supply, intelligent buildings and other fields of power semiconductor drive. In recent years, Infineon has launched the 1200V version, in addition to 380V three-phase AC powered heat pumps, HVAC, CAC, etc., and has also entered the field of low-power industrial motor drives.

    The magnetically coupled isolation technology used by Infineon provides electrically isolated drive and protection for power semiconductors in industrial applications. The industrial-grade isolated gate drive with Infineon's highest current specifications has an output current of up to 18A, reducing the need for external expansion circuits, with precise discrete small DESAT protection, active Miller clamps, and more. Different insulation levels are available in different packages and are certified by UL 1577 and IEC 60747-17.

    The following picture shows the isolated driver of the DSO-8 300mil eight-pin wide-body package, the 1ED3241MC12H and 1ED3251MC12H can achieve a maximum current of 18A. Voltage change rate control and Miller clamps for the two-stage on and off process are also integrated.

     Figure: 18A/5.7kV(rms) single-channel isolated gate driver with two-stage rate-of-change control
     The picture below shows a complex automotive grade single-channel drive that requires 36 pin packages and is fully functional, giving the system an automotive safety integrity level of ASIL C/D, and the 1EDI2002AS manual is 146 pages long.

    Figure: 1EDI2002AS EiceDRIVER™ SIL- Isolated single channel IGBT drivers for high voltage automotive applications

Industrial drive features
    Due to the needs of the application, Infineon has implemented various functions in industrial grade power semiconductor drivers, which can be previewed from the abbreviated table below. This driver circuit series article will provide a detailed explanation of the commonly used function categories.