powerZONE Products for the week of February 16, 2004
International Rectifier Says . . .
IRAMS10UP60B: iMOTION Family of Power Modules Simplify
Variable-Speed Motion
International Rectifier, IR, the world leader in power management technology, today introduced three new advanced integrated power modules (IPMs), expanding the iMOTION family of integrated power modules. The new IPMs simplify variable-speed electronic motor control circuits commonly found in today's energy-efficient appliances and feature a three-phase inverter power stage with gate drivers and auxiliary circuitry in a compact, high-performance, isolated package.
All three new devices combine IR's low loss, non-punch-through (NPT) short circuit-rated IGBT with a three-phase, high-voltage, high-speed driver IC and over 20 individual parts into a single unit. The new modules, plus a few external components and one microcontroller, enable a complete variable-speed motor drive. EMI emissions are minimized due to shorter connection routing, optimized component layout and internal shielding.
The 6A-rated IRAMS06UP60A and IRAMS06UP60B are designed for motor drive applications in appliances and light industrial products such as compressors in refrigerators or fan controllers in heating and ventilation systems up to 400W. The IRAM06UP60A has open emitter configuration and therefore enables multi-shunt current feedback for sophisticated vector control loops.
The IRAMS10UP60B includes a current feedback shunt, and is designed for appliances such as air conditioners and energy-efficient washers up to 750W. The IRAMS06UP60B is the best choice for simplified V/Hz control type motor drivers, with no circuit layout limitations.
Alberto Guerra, Director, Consumer & Industrial Business Unit at
International Rectifier said, "The iMOTION integrated power modules
save design time, decrease system cost and are ideal solutions for variable-speed
appliance motors. Variable-speed motors can reduce energy use by up to 30%.
They are the right answer for manufacturers of advanced appliance products,
such as energy-saving washing machines and refrigerators."
analogZONE Says...
We don't see much change in the look of appliances in the US in their fundamental design; most of us still throw our clothes into the top of the washer, and into the front of the dryer; we tolerate the noise, we don't think much about the lack of intelligence in having to manually choose settings on the machines. But that is going to change. Going beyond Energy Star, anybody who has sat down and had a conversation in front of a modern European washing machine understands what can be done. With both tougher European, Japanese and, eventually, US rules on efficiency, and standby power, things have to change. The iMOTION products will help us all get there. Variable speed motor control is a significant step towards higher efficiency in many appliances, from washing machines to refrigerators.
The pick of the latest round of releases is the 10-A IRAMS10UP60B power module which is perfect for the control of 3-phase appliances the size of air conditioners. The part is in IRF's leadformed module which mounts vertically occupying 62 mm length, about 32 mm height above the PCB, and about 9 mm in width, including the splayed leads. It can be bolted up against a heatsink.
The motor driver requires an external controller, which provides the three PWM signals correctly phased. Switching frequencies are typically below 20 kHz with fairly small bootstrap capacitor values of 2.2 µF recommended from 6 kHz to 20 kHz. Below 6 kHz the recommended values fairly quickly increase with 15 µF being recommended below 1kHz. Lower switching frequencies allow for higher current loading.
Quiescents are of the order of 2 mA while the part can be used on motor power up to 750 W from 85 to 253 Vac.
The driver feeds back to the controller fault indications, current feedback and the reading for temperature from an NTC thermistor that is on-chip.
The new 6-A parts are pin-to-pin compatible with earlier 10 A and 16 A devices allowing manufacturers to produce single designs with different load requirements.
All three parts are in production and pricing starts at $9.25 in 10-k piece lots.