Allegro MicroSystems has announced the launch of its AHV85003/AHV85043 chipset, a new addition to its Power-Thru isolated gate driver portfolio, expanding support for high-voltage silicon carbide (SiC) power designs. The company claims this expansion targets applications in AI data centers and other high-demand sectors requiring efficient power conversion and high power density, such as electric vehicles and clean energy systems.
According to Allegro, both the new AHV85003/AHV85043 chipset and its flagship AHV85311 integrated solution form a comprehensive solution set for SiC-based platforms, particularly those operating at up to 800 V. A key feature is the elimination of external isolated bias supplies for gate drivers, reducing the solution footprint and bill of materials for high-density rack and power electronics platforms.
Allegro reports that its Power-Thru drivers combine signal and power delivery across a single isolation barrier. The company specifies this approach reduces common-mode capacitance by up to 15 times compared to conventional isolated gate drivers using external DC-to-DC converters, which can have up to 30 pF of common-mode capacitance. Allegro claims up to 20 dB improvement in electromagnetic interference (EMI) performance over competing leading solutions, which it says improves system efficiency and reduces time spent debugging noise issues.
Both the AHV85003/AHV85043 and AHV85311 solutions support a multi-source strategy for SiC field-effect transistor (FET) compatibility, with selectable gate-to-source voltages (15 V, 18 V, and 20 V) and adjustable regulated negative voltage. This is intended to let designers switch between SiC vendors without major board changes.
The portfolio now provides two implementation options. The AHV85311, which includes an integrated isolation transformer, enables rapid deployment, while the new AHV85003/AHV85043 chipset allows users to select an external transformer for cost, layout, or specific isolation needs.
“We are redefining what engineers should expect from a gate driver,” said Vijay Mangtani, Vice President and GM of High Voltage Power Products at Allegro MicroSystems. “With Power-Thru, we solved the fundamental physics problem of noise in high-voltage systems. Now, by offering both a chipset and an integrated solution, we are giving our customers a complete toolkit. Whether they need the plug-and-play speed of an integrated solution or the granular control of a chipset, they get the same game-changing efficiency and the freedom to use the SiC FETs of their choice.”
Product datasheets, samples, and recommended transformers for the AHV85003/AHV85043 chipset are available at the company’s website.
Source: Allegro MicroSystems
