Isolators - Gate Drivers

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
SI82398CD-IS Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 5KV 2CH GATE DVR 16SOIC	62
SI8271DB-IS Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 2.5KV GATE DRIVER 8SOIC	9
SI82396AD-ISR Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 5KV 2CH GATE DVR 16SOIC	0
SI8273AB-IM1 Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 2.5KV GATE DRIVER 14LGA	98
SI8237BB-D-IS1R Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 2.5KV GATE DRVR 16SOIC	1007
SI823H9BC-IS Silicon Labs	3.75KV SINGLE GATE DRIVER 8-SSO8	273
SI8273AB-IM1R Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 2.5KV GATE DRVR 14LGA	0
SI8261ABC-C-IPR Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 3.75KV GATE DRVR 8DIPGW	986
SI8261BBC-C-IS Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 3.75KV GATE DRVR 8SOIC	65
SI8284CC-IS Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 3.75KV 1CH GATE DRVR	38
SI82398AD-ISR Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 5KV 2CH GATE DVR 16SOIC	0
SI823H9CD-IS4R Silicon Labs	5KV GATE DRIVER 8-SSO8	0
SI8274GB4D-IS1R Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 2.5KV GATE DRVR 16SOIC	2157
SI8234AB-D-IS1R Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 2.5KV GATE DRVR 16SOIC	0
SI8261AAC-C-IPR Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 3.75KV GATE DRVR 8DIPGW	165
SI8235AB-D-IM1 Silicon Labs	DUAL ISOLATED GATE DRIVER	173
SI823H5CD-IS3 Silicon Labs	5KV GATE DRIVER 14-WBSOIC	46
SI8232BD-D-ISR Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 5KV 2CH GATE DVR 16SOIC	0
SI823H6BB-IS1R Silicon Labs	2.5KV DUAL GATE DRIVERS, LOW PRO	0
SI8283BC-IS Silicon Labs	DGTL ISO 3.75KV 1CH GATE DRVR	0

Isolators - Gate Drivers

1. Overview

Isolators and Gate Drivers are critical components in power electronics systems. Isolators provide electrical separation between control circuits (low voltage) and power circuits (high voltage), ensuring safety and noise immunity. Gate Drivers amplify control signals to efficiently switch power semiconductors (e.g., MOSFETs, IGBTs) while maintaining isolation. These components are essential in applications like electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and industrial automation, where reliability and efficiency are paramount.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
Optocoupler Isolators	Use LED and photodetector for isolation; low cost, moderate speed	Consumer electronics, basic motor controls
Inductive/Capacitive Isolators	High-speed signal transfer via magnetic or capacitive coupling; robust noise immunity	Industrial inverters, high-frequency power supplies
Gate Drivers with Isolation	Integrated isolation and high-current drive capability; support SiC/GaN devices	Electric vehicle chargers, photovoltaic inverters

3. Structure and Composition

A typical isolator-gate driver combines three layers: (1) Input stage (CMOS/TTL interface), (2) Isolation barrier (SiO , polymer, or air-core transformer), and (3) Output stage (push-pull driver with high/low-side transistors). Advanced packaging uses reinforced insulation materials (e.g., polyimide) to meet safety standards like UL 60950-1. Gate drivers often integrate desaturation protection and under-voltage lockout (UVLO) circuits.

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Typical Range	Importance
Isolation Voltage	2.5 kV 5 kV RMS	Determines safety margin and system reliability
Propagation Delay	5 ns 100 ns	Impacts switching efficiency and EMI performance
Peak Output Current	0.5 A 10 A	Dictates switching speed of power devices
Working Temperature	-40 C 150 C	Ensures stability in harsh environments

5. Application Fields

Major industries include:

Industrial Automation: Variable frequency drives (VFDs), PLC systems
Renewable Energy: Solar inverters, wind turbine converters
Transportation: EV on-board chargers, battery management systems
Consumer Electronics: Smart home appliances with motor controls

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
TI (Texas Instruments)	ISO7241	Dual-channel capacitive isolation, 100 Mbps data rate
Infineon Technologies	1EDN75120	Galvanic isolation for SiC/GaN, 20 V gate drive
Analog Devices	ADuM4135	3.75 kV isolation, integrated desat protection

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Match isolation rating to system voltage (e.g., 5 kV for 1500 V PV systems)
Select drive current 1.5 MOSFET gate charge requirement
Ensure CMTI (Common Mode Transient Immunity) >50 kV/ s for high-noise environments
Verify certifications (e.g., VDE 0884-11 for reinforced isolation)
Prioritize devices with integrated protection features

8. Industry Trends

Future developments include:

Integration of gate drivers with GaN/SiC devices in chip-scale packages
Adoption of wireless gate driving using magnetic resonance coupling
Embedded diagnostics for predictive maintenance in industrial systems
Reduction of propagation delay below 10 ns for >1 MHz switching applications
Standardization of bidirectional energy transfer protocols for EV charging