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Smart power modules in low-power drive

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Sep 18, 2001

Fairchild Semiconductor has expanded its FPAL/FPBL series of smart power modules (SPMs) designed for 100-253V AC, three-phase inverter drives for low-power (up to 2kW) applications.

Fairchild Semiconductor has expanded its FPAL/FPBL series of smart power modules (SPMs) designed for 100-253V AC, three-phase inverter drives for low-power (up to 2kW) applications, such as washing machine and air conditioner drive systems.

The enhanced SPM series includes 12 new devices in addition to Fairchild's high-speed FPAL15SH60 device introduced in May 2001.

The additional SPMs offer a choice of high, medium and low switching frequencies and a higher RMS current rating.

Fairchild's SPM devices provide extremely user-friendly design-in capability and assembly.

Housed in a fully isolated 55 x 57mm (2.165 x 2.244in) package with a rated isolation voltage of 2500V, the new SPMs are compact, cost-effective and highly reliable.

The devices offer a high-speed, built-in high-voltage integrated circuit (HVIC) that eliminates the need for optocouplers and allows the IGBTs to be driven by a single bias supply; thus significantly simplifying the product's design and therefore reducing cost.

In addition, the SPM's advanced current-sensing IGBT chips provide short-circuit current detection and protection.

Features of Fairchild's FPAL/FPBL series of SPM devices include six IGBTs and antiparallel diodes, high-speed control ICs and a thermistor for temperature sensing.

Very low leakage current and high isolation rating due to the use of ceramic substrate, as well as adjustable current protection levels by varying series resistor values with sense-IGBTs, are additional benefits.

The SPM's various switching frequencies allow for optimisation based on system requirements, with the high-speed SPM being ideally suited for appliances with switching capabilities near 20kHz.

The application continuous RMS current rating for the SPMs now includes a 15.0A rating, with a 1min RMS current rating of 23A (150%).

Samples and production quantities are available now.