February/March 2021

CONTENTS www.power-mag.com Issue 1 2021 Power Electronics Europe 3 Editor Achim Scharf Tel: +49 (0)892865 9794 Fax: +49 (0)892800 132 Email: PowerElectronicsEurope@t-online.de Production Editor Chris Davis Tel: +44 (0)1732 370340 Financial Manager Clare Jackson Tel: +44 (0)1732 370340 Fax: +44 (0)1732 360034 Reader/Circulation Enquiries Perception Tel: +44 (0) 1825 701520 Email: dfamedia@dmags.co.uk INTERNATIONAL SALES OFFICES Mainland Europe: Victoria Hufmann Norbert Hufmann Tel: +49 911 9397 643 Fax: +49 911 9397 6459 Email: pee@hufmann.info Eastern US Ian Atkinson Tel: +44 (0)1732 370340 Fax: +44 (0)1732 360034 Email: ian@dfamedia.co.uk Western US and Canada Ian Atkinson Tel: +44 (0)1732 370340 Fax: +44 (0)1732 360034 Email: ian@dfamedia.co.uk Japan: Yoshinori Ikeda, Pacific Business Inc Tel: 81-(0)3-3661-6138 Fax: 81-(0)3-3661-6139 Email: pbi2010@gol.com Taiwan Prisco Ind. Service Corp. Tel: 886 2 2322 5266 Fax: 886 2 2322 2205 Publisher & UK Sales Ian Atkinson Tel: +44 (0)1732 370340 Fax: +44 (0)1732 360034 Email: ian@dfamedia.co.uk www.power-mag.com Circulation and subscription: Power Electronics Europe is available for the following subscription charges. Power Electronics Europe : annual charge UK/NI £95, overseas $160, EUR 150. Contact: DFA Media, 192 The High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BE Great Britain. Tel: +44 (0)1732 370340 . Fax: +44 (0)1732 360034 . Refunds on cancelled subscriptions will only be provided at the Publisher’s discretion, unless specifically guaranteed within the terms of subscription offer. Editorial information should be sent to The Editor, Power Electronics Europe , PO Box 340131, 80098 Munich, Germany. The contents of Power Electronics Europe are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. Printed by: Warners. ISSN 1748-3530 PAGE 6 Research PAGE 9 Market News PEE looks at the latest Market News and company developments PAGE 15 Industry News EPC eGaN Gate Acceleration Reliability Testing Yokogawa Launches NextGen ScopeCorder PAGE 26 Web Locator New Developments in RET Technology Resistor-Equipped Transistors (RETs) – also known as digital transistors or pre-bias transistors – offer many benefits, including saving space, reducing manufacturing costs and increased reliability. Bipolar transistors are controlled using the base current. However, because the voltage drop across the base- emitter path is highly temperature-dependent, in most applications a series resistor is required to keep the base current at the desired level, thereby ensuring the stable and safe operation of the transistor. To reduce the component count and to simplify board designs, RETs combine single or dual bipolar transistors with the bias resistors which are integrated on the same die. Because these internal resistors have higher tolerances than commonly used external resistors, RETs are suitable for switching applications where the transistor operates in either on- or off-state. This is why RETs are often referred to as digital transistors. RETs are available in many voltage, current and resistance values, in NPN or PNP configuration and a variety of packages including SOT23 and SOT323 and SOT363. This article looks at their structure and design considerations, and considers the suitability of new, 80 V parts that target emerging 48 V EV systems. Cover image supplied by Nexperia To receive your own copy of Power Electronics Europe subscribe today at: www.power-mag.com FEATURE STORY