Analog Devices introduces isolated half-bridge grid-level drivers

     Analog Devices introduces the industry's fastest and most reliable isolated half-bridge grid-level drivers, the 4 A ADuM3223 and ADuM4223. The devices integrate Analog Devices' award-winning digital isolator technology to deliver up to four times the speed of optocoupler devices and a 50-year operating life. Analog Devices' new grid-level driver stages are designed to improve the performance and efficiency of AC-DC and DC-DC power supplies, solar inverters and motor control designs, while meeting the safety requirements required for these applications.

     The ADuM3223 and ADuM4223 isolated precision half-bridge gate drivers have propagation delays of less than 55 ns and delay matching of less than 5 ns, which is four times faster than gate drivers using relatively inefficient optocoupler technology. The new gate-level driver meets the 5 kV rms enhanced isolation safety standard and also provides 700 VPEAK current isolation between the driver's high and low outputs, minimising cross conductivity and improving reliability and equipment safety.

     Bob Briano, marketing manager, Digital isolators Division, Analog Devices, said: "Optocoupler gate drivers often suffer from poor timing performance, which extends dead time and affects overall productivity. The optocoupler also uses high-power leds, which are prone to wear and limit grid-level driver life. "Taking a typical power supply as an example, ADI's new isolated grid driver stage significantly improves reliability, switching speed and temperature, and the package size is also smaller, resulting in higher power density and overall power efficiency."

     The ADuM3223 and ADuM4223 grid drivers have two built-in isolated channels that operate at 3.3V to 5.5V input voltages, making them compatible with low-voltage systems. The continuous operating voltage of each output relative to the input is up to 400 V rms. Differential voltages between high and low can be as high as 700 VPEAK, making these devices ideal for providing reliable control over a wide bus voltage range.