Designing efficient gate drive circuits for SiC MOSFETs and IGBTs has always required trade-offs between performance, safety, and board complexity. Littelfuse’s new IX4352NEAU addresses that balance by introducing a practical feature engineers have wanted for years: an integrated, adjustable negative gate drive bias.
The IX4352NEAU is the first AEC-Q100-qualified low-side gate driver to include this capability, allowing designers to fine-tune the negative bias (down to –10 V) without relying on a separate negative voltage rail or auxiliary converter. That integration helps minimize parasitic turn-on events—a common concern in fast-switching SiC and IGBT systems—while reducing both cost and footprint.
A Practical Update for EV Power Systems
Modern EV powertrains and automotive DC-DC converters operate at higher voltages and switching speeds, where parasitic coupling and false turn-on can quickly damage components. By embedding adjustable negative bias control, Littelfuse’s approach improves dv/dt immunity, ensures faster turn-off behavior, and simplifies board layout.
The device’s 9 A source and sink capability (with separate pins for each) gives engineers more control over switching profiles, helping balance efficiency and EMI concerns. Built-in protections—including DESAT detection, active soft shutdown, undervoltage lockout, and thermal shutdown—offer the kind of fault handling typically implemented externally.
Key Specs
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Adjustable negative gate drive bias: down to –10 V
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9 A peak source/sink current
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DESAT, UVLO, and TSD protection
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3.3 V TTL/CMOS-compatible logic inputs (tolerant up to 7 V)
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AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive use
Application Areas
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EV drivetrains and traction inverters
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Automotive DC-DC converters
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Industrial motor drives and high-speed power supplies
Why It Matters
Integrating the negative bias stage into the gate driver eliminates an entire block of supporting circuitry. That simplifies thermal design, shrinks PCB real estate, and makes it easier to achieve the fast, clean switching that SiC and IGBT architectures depend on.
The IX4352NEAU builds on the company’s commercial IX4352NE line, adapting it for the tighter reliability and temperature requirements of automotive environments.
Availability
The device is available in a 16-pin narrow package and supplied on tape and reel through Littelfuse distributors. More details can be found at Littelfuse.com.
