Today at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC), Infineon Technologies AG introduced a new product family of Solid-State Isolators (iSSI) to achieve faster and
more reliable circuit switching with protection features not available in optical-based solid
state relays (SSR). iSSI use coreless transformer technology and support 20 times greater
energy transfer with both current and temperature protection contributing to a higher
reliability and lower cost of ownership. The new iSSI allow driving the gates of Infineon’s
MOS-controlled power transistors OptiMOSTM and CoolMOSTM to reduce power dissipation
of up to 70 percent of todays’ solid-state relays using SCR (silicon-controlled rectifier) and
Triac switches.
Infineon’s solid-state isolators enable custom solid-state relays capable of controlling loads
more than 1000 V and 100 A. Improved performance and reliability make coreless
transformer technology ideal for applications in advanced battery management, energy
storage, renewable energy systems, as well as industrial and building automation system
applications. With iSSI drivers, engineers can further improve the efficiency of electronic
and electromechanical systems.
“Implementing coreless transformers in solid-state isolators and relays is truly a game-
changer for power engineers; it provides 50 times lower RDS(on) than existing optically controlled solutions. This enables their use in higher-voltage and higher power applications,” said Davide Giacomini, Marketing Director for the Green Industrial Power
Division at Infineon Technologies.
When matched with Infineon’s CoolMOS S7 switch, the iSSI drivers enable switching
designs with a much lower resistance compared to optically driven solid-state solutions.
This translates to longer lifespans and lower cost of ownership in system designs. As with
all solid-state isolators, the devices also offer superior performance compared to
electromagnetic relays, including 40 percent lower turn-on power and increased reliability
due to elimination of moving parts.
The family of devices is designed to be compatible with Infineon’s broad switching portfolio
including Infineon’s CoolMOS S7, OptiMOSTM and linear FET portfolios.
