Super-small silicon-controlled rectifier developed by Microsemi

February 27, 2001–Santa Ana, California–Microsemi Corp. has announced a new silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) in its patented Powermite 3 surface mount package that is three times smaller than competing products having similar power handling capability.

Designated the UPGA301A, the new Microsemi device is ideal for range-finding applications, variable voltage controls, solenoid drives, electronic ignitions, lighting controls, electronic displays, and other high density, low current solid state switch applications.

The Powermite 3 design provides essentially the same physical size as competitive SOT-223 packages, Microsemi reports, but with up to four times the power handling capability and one-third the height of SCR and Triac devices found in competitive packages such as the COMPAK package.

The UPGA301A is designed for high current narrow-pulse switching applications where size and current handling capability are critical. These devices may be triggered using low power logic drivers (+0.8 V at 200 mA).

Ruggedized wire bond connections allow for high current surge capability for narrow pulse applications. Its high speed capability is useful where the speed of firing an infrared laser diode is critical in providing quick and clear signals.

Pointing to his new SCR as an example, Angelo Santamaria, vice president and general manager of the Powermite business unit observed: “Understanding the dynamics that packaging plays in improving semiconductor characteristics is a key element in our differentiation strategy. We’re constantly looking for designs in need of smaller packaging–opportunities to extend the success Microsemi already enjoys with Powermite 1 devices in mobile phones and radios. Re-packaging the SCR technology we developed for military imaging applications now allows us to offer more powerful solutions for many of the new circuits we see emerging in next-generation commercial applications.”

By uniting Microsemi’s high-speed military GA301A SCR with the patented Powermite 3 package, the UPGA301A is ideally suited for such portable commercial applications as digital cameras, binoculars, and the range finders found on golf carts, Santamaria said.

Powermite 3 packaging is designed to be used with the same pick-and-place equipment customers install for common DO-214 surface mount packages. In quantities of 10,000 pieces, the new UPGA301A SCR is priced at $2.30. Samples and production quantities are available immediately.

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