LEIDEN, Netherlands and CHIPPENHAM, United Kingdom, March 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IXYS Corporation (NASDAQ:IXYS) an international power and IC semiconductor company, today announced that its wholly owned UK subsidiary, IXYS UK Westcode Ltd., launched its first 1.7 kV press-pack IGBT. The new device is reverse conducting with a fully rated diode integrated in the package and represents the first in a planned range of 1.7 kV devices. The device has a DC current rating of 960A and repetitive peak collector current of 1920A with a continuous DC voltage of 900V.

The 1.7 kV device is based on IXYS’ IGBT technology, and is constructed in a proprietary rugged and thermally efficient package. The device is encapsulated in a fully hermetic industry standard metal and ceramic package. The 26 mm thick package has a 63 mm electrode contact diameter with an industry standard overall diameter of 100 mm. With a package weight of only 0.65 kilograms, the new device offers unrivalled power density due to its double side cooling capabilities.

The robust internal construction is bond free with the individual die directly pressure contacted through metallic pressure plates to the external copper electrodes. The direct bond free contact ensures high reliability and unrivalled thermal cycling properties, far exceeding those of a conventionally packaged plastic package module. The package design is based on IXYS UK’s well established and proven technology, with the same advantages of enhanced rupture capability, resisting more than ten times the short circuit energy of a conventional plastic packaged module device and the additional advantage that the device is virtually guaranteed to fail to a stable short circuit.

These unique properties make the new device an ideal solution where high reliability, maximum power density and predictable failure are important. The device is suited for harsh environments and where maintenance access is difficult, such as offshore marine and wind. The hermetic structure and high rupture resistance are properties which are particularly relevant in harsh environments where explosive failure and plasma leak are unacceptable, such as mining, gas and oil instillations.

“This device is the first of a planned range of 1.7 kV products with prospective current ratings from 600A to 2500A. Parts will be available both reverse conducting and symmetrical blocking without an integral diode. As the product will use the same mechanical packaging as IXYS UK’s established 2.5 kV parts, introduction time cycles can be very short and customers requiring other rating options should consult our factory,” commented Frank Wakeman, IXYS UK’s Marketing and Technical Support Manager.

The part number for this reverse-conducting press-pack IGBT is T0960VC17G.

Typical applications for this device include: traction such as light rail, trams, trolley bus and other electric vehicles; AC drives for harsh environments such as mining, marine and offshore, gas and oil installations; renewable energy for wind turbines, hydro generation, wave generation and solar; plus any application where high power density and reliability are key considerations.

Data sheets may be obtained from the IXYS UK website at www.ixysuk.com or by contacting IXYS UK at (email: sales@ixysuk.com) or telephone: +44 (0)1249 444524 for quotation.

About IXYS UK

Located in Chippenham, England, IXYS UK Westcode Ltd is the IXYS leading manufacturing site for very high power thyristors, SCRs and rectifiers ranging up to 7200 Volts and 15,000 Amps. IXYS UK continues to supply high technology components for a wide range of applications such as wind and solar energy, welding, AC and DC motor drives for oil, marine and water treatment facilities, uninterruptible power supplies, motor soft starters, transportation, induction heating, mining equipment and many other industrial applications.

About IXYS Corporation

Since its founding, IXYS Corporation has been developing power semiconductors and mixed signal ICs to improve power conversion efficiency, generate solar and wind power and provide efficient motor control for industrial applications. IXYS, and its subsidiary companies, offer a diversified product base that addresses worldwide needs for power control in the growing cleantech industries, renewable energy markets, telecommunications, medical devices, transportation applications, flexible displays and RF power.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including the performance, features and suitability of products for various applications, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results of IXYS to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements.

Contacts:  

Frank Wakeman, IXYS UK Westcode Limited, Chippenham, SN15 1GE, United Kingdom. +44 (0)1249 444524
Ray Segall, IXYS Long Beach 562-296-6584 (US sales enquiries only)