Micronix Releases Full Bridge HVIC for HID Lighting Applications

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - IXYS Corp. subsidiary Micronix has developed the MX6895, a new high-voltage, full bridge gate driver designed specifically to address the growing High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon lamp marketplace, the parent company announced on Aug. 7. The MX6895 driver can operate from an output supply voltage of -80 to -550 volts while providing 3.3V to 12V logic compatible control inputs.

Requiring no external boost-related components, the MX6895 features soft turn-on level translators that minimize electromagnetic interference effects to directly and reliably drive a MOSFET bridge network, according to a press statement. Two separate input control lines determine circuit dead-time and the enabled half bridge output. The MX6895 is rated for junction temperatures of up to 150 degrees C and is offered in a thermally enhanced, 16-lead SOIC package to enable a wide range of operating temperatures, the release said.

"Our MX6895 was specifically designed to serve the low-cost high volume automotive Xenon headlight marketplace. The design takes unique advantage of our SOI HVIC BCDMOS wafer fabrication facility located in Beverly, MA to achieve a maximum operational voltage of nearly 600 volts," Bob DeCaro, General Manager of Micronix, commented in the press release. "The adoption of Xenon headlights is an important shift in vehicle headlamp design and the MX6895 is ideal for the extreme temperatures encountered in these applications. The MX6895 is yet another product that signals our commitment to high-voltage mixed signal circuits and we continue to place significant R & D efforts into this growing business area."

"The continued joint R&D investments that we have been making to develop our proprietary HVIC products, which was developed jointly with Clare and Micronix, take advantage of the synergies with our power products, and results in such higher value added products with growth for IXYS in the power management areas," added Dr. Nathan Zommer, CEO of IXYS Corp. "These products are in line with our energy efficiency solution for the lighting market."