Allegro MicroSystems announced the expansion of its Power-Thru isolated gate driver portfolio with the introduction of the AHV85003/AHV85043 chipset. The new devices complement the existing AHV85311 integrated solution and together form a scalable platform for high-voltage silicon carbide (SiC) power designs used in electric vehicles (EVs) and clean energy systems.
For EV applications, isolated gate drivers are critical components in traction inverters, onboard chargers, and dc-dc converters, particularly in 800-V architectures where efficiency, power density, and electromagnetic compatibility are tightly constrained.
Allegro’s Power-Thru approach integrates signal and power transfer across a single isolation barrier, eliminating the need for external isolated bias supplies and reducing overall system complexity and component count.
By significantly lowering common-mode capacitance, the Power-Thru architecture reduces switching noise and improves EMI performance, supporting higher switching speeds and improved system efficiency in EV power electronics. These characteristics are especially relevant for SiC-based inverter and charging designs, where noise mitigation and thermal performance directly impact vehicle range, reliability, and packaging density.
The expanded portfolio supports a multi-source SiC strategy, enabling EV power electronics designers to select devices from multiple SiC MOSFET vendors without redesigning gate-drive circuitry. Selectable gate-to-source voltage levels and adjustable negative gate bias allow flexibility across different SiC device characteristics, improving supply chain resilience for automotive programs.
Allegro now offers two implementation paths. The AHV85311 integrated solution includes an embedded isolation transformer to support faster design cycles and reduced layout effort, while the AHV85003/AHV85043 chipset allows designers to use an external transformer optimized for cost, size, or isolation requirements specific to their application.
The expanded Power-Thru isolated gate driver family is intended to support compact, efficient, and scalable high-voltage power conversion designs in next-generation EV platforms, particularly as manufacturers transition to higher battery voltages and increased switching frequencies.
Filed Under: Onboard Charging, Power Electronics, Technology News