Gate drivers: more features for the powerstack “brain”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gate drivers: more features for the
powerstack “brain”
Gate Driver Unit (GDU) Market for Power Transistors report
LYON, France – November 7, 2014 – The power electronics industry is
still looking for the improvement of power module performance and
reliability. Under this context, industrials pursue the development of its
artificial intelligence by adding new features to the gate driver units
(GDU), considered as the powerstack’s brain.
Yole Développement (Yole) announces its new technology & market
analysis, Gate Drive Unit Market for Power Transistors. Yole’s analysts
propose an overview of the GDU technical challenges and solutions,
dedicated to power electronic applications. They provide a
comprehensive description of the GDU playground. Moreover, the
research market and consulting company offers an in-depth analysis of
GDU technology and cost aspects. Market figures have been also
detailed until 2020.
… Yole announces a 10%
CAGR for the gate driver
board market between
2013 and 2020. The
market will reach a total
value of ~US$250M by
2020, driven by
renewable energies,
smart-grid
implementation and
automotive applications
…
Industrials develop plenty of circuits, boards, designs and technology
solutions for power electronics applications. Each solution is
dedicated to solving a specific issue. However, the current GDU
market offers no standard solution – only same functions such as:
overvoltage clamping and shape control of the current driver during
turn-OFF – isolation - short-circuit monitoring - VCE FAULT monitoring
Several ongoing improvements are focused on both silicon and
wideband gap materials, especially in using the materials’ entire highfrequency capability. With such technologies, industrials’ strategy is to
follow powerstacks trends: development of effective switching
solutions, insurance of higher frequency to reduce modules’ size,
“standard” solution identification that could work with different
power module brands …
“This complex market includes captive and open players”, explains Dr
Kamel Madjour, Technology & Market Analyst, Power Electronics at
Yole Développement. “There are several player types that develop
GDUs – pure players, IC makers, power module and inverter makers,
and integrators”, he adds.
Some companies are also proposing improvements in IGBT/MOSFET
performance through their driver technology, based on new design
and software. With new software, some players, mainly pure GDU
players, are developing intelligent monitoring solutions to improve the
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YOLE DEVELOPPEMENT
maintenance of systems. This is particularly critical for rail and avionics
applications, explains Yole in this GDU market report.
Moreover, according to Yole’s report, no one manufacturer has
differentiated itself via a cutting-edge technology. Indeed, analysts
explain: power module makers and integrators have specific needs,
and want to keep their know-how in-house.
In parallel, same companies can utilize different business models
depending on requirements. Integrators and power module makers
can implement solutions from either external GDU providers or their
customers, depending on specific needs… All results including business
models analysis are presented in Yole’s report.
Under its technology & market analysis, Yole announces a 10% CAGR
for the gate driver board market between 2013 and 2020. “The market
will reach a total value of ~US$250M by 2020, driven by renewable
energies, smart-grid implementation and automotive applications”,
comments Dr Pierric Gueguen, Activity Leader, Power Electronics at
Yole Développement.
The power device market’s recent instability, with a huge growth in
2011, followed by a big drop in 2012, had a strong impact on power
module sales, and consequently on GDUs. Yole’s report evaluates the
potential future growth of the GDU market, which depends on the
following power electronics market trends:
 Significant increase in the automotive sector following Electric
Vehicle (EV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) ramp-up
 Renewable energies and smart-grid implementation driving
industry sector ramp-up
 Steady erosion of the consumer segment, including UPS, due
to price pressure. However, volume (units) will continue
increasing.
Gate Driver Unit Market for Power Transistors report takes into
account GDUs that are only used inside power modules and IPM (i.e.
> 400 volt & >3 amperes).
More information about Power Electronics reports is available on
http://www.i-micronews.com/power-electronics-reports.html
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YOLE DEVELOPPEMENT
About Gate Driver Unit (GDU) Market for Power Transistors report – Publication date: October 2014
 Authors:
Dr. Kamel Madjour joined Yole Développement in 2013 as Technology & Market analyst for Compound
Semiconductors, Power & RF Electronics. He holds a Ph.D. and a M.Sc in microelectronics from the EDSPI
School of Lille and a second M.Sc in Sales and Marketing from Polytech’Lille. As Research Scientist within the
Institute of Micro & Nano-Electronics at Lille, Kamel was mainly focused on the development of new layout
design, process and characterization of GaN based devices within national and international projects. He is
the authored and co-authored of international publications related to the development of new GaN based
devices for Microwave and Terahertz applications.
Dr Pierric Gueguen is leading the Power Electronics and Compound Semiconductor activities at Yole
Développement. He has a PhD in Micro and Nano Electronics and a master degree in Micro and
Nanotechnologies for Integrated Circuits. He worked as PhD student at CEA-Leti in the field of 3D Integration
for Integrated Circuits. He then joined Renault SAS, and worked for 4 years as technical project manager in
R&D division. During this time, he oversaw power electronic converters and integration of Wide Band Gap
devices in Electric Vehicles. He is author and co-author of more than 20 technical papers and 15 patents.
 Companies cited in this report:
ABB, Agile switch, Air Water, Allegro MicroSystems LLC, Alpha & Omega AOS, Alstom, Amantys, Applied
Power Systems, Arkansas Power Electronics, Athena Energy, Avago Technologies, Avogy Inc., AZZURRO,
BeMiTec, Bombardier, BYD, CamGaN, Cissoid, CorEnergy, CREE, CT-CONCEPT, Danfoss, Dow Corning, Dowa
Electronics Materials, Dynax Semiconductor Inc., Dynex, Empresa de Manutenção de Equipamento
Ferroviário (EMEF), EPC, EpiGaN, Fairchild, Freescale, Fuji Electric, Fujitsu Semiconductor, Furukawa, GaN
Systems, GeneSiC, Global Power Electronics and more...
 Rates: Euros 5,990.00 (Full report - Multi user license)
For special offers and the price in dollars, please contact David Jourdan ([email protected] or +33 472 83 01
90).
About Yole Développement – www.yole.fr / www.i-micronews.com
Founded in 1998, Yole Développement has grown to become a group of companies providing marketing,
technology and strategy consulting, media in addition to corporate finance services. With a strong focus on
emerging applications using silicon and/or micro manufacturing, Yole Développement group has expanded to
include more than 50 collaborators worldwide covering MEMS, Compound Semiconductors, LED, Image Sensors,
Optoelectronics, Microfluidics & Medical, Photovoltaics, Advanced Packaging, Manufacturing, Nanomaterials
and Power Electronics.
The group supports industrial companies, investors and R&D organizations worldwide to help them understand
markets and follow technology trends to develop their business.
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