Cree CPW5 Z-Rec diodes extend benefits of SiC into Megawatt power systems market, improving efficiency and reducing cost
DURHAM, N.C. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — March 5, 2014 — Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE) introduces the new CPW5 Z-Rec® high-power silicon-carbide (SiC) Schottky diodes, the industry’s first commercially available family of 50 Amp SiC rectifiers. Designed to deliver the cost reduction, high efficiency, system simplicity and improved reliability of SiC technology to high power systems from 50kW to over 1MW, these new diodes can address demanding applications that include solar / PV inverters, industrial power supplies, induction heating, battery charging stations, wind turbine converters and traction inverters.
Developed to facilitate the direct matching of 50 Amp diodes to 50 Amp MOSFETs or IGBTs, Cree® CPW5 Schottky diodes reduce system complexity and cost by enabling the replacement of multiple low-voltage, low-current SiC Schottky diodes, or silicon PiN diodes, with a single CPW5 rectifier. Additional cost savings can be achieved through reduced maximum voltage ratings and the elimination of snubber circuitry due to the diminished voltage overshoot during switching in silicon carbide.
"Cree’s CPW5 family of SiC Schottky diodes are a critical component in our high performance power modules and power electronic systems,” said Ty McNutt, director of business development, APEI, Inc. “The low forward voltage drop, fast switching speed and extended temperature capability allow us to push power density and efficiency across many applications, such as high power motor drives and solar inverters."
Cree CPW5 diodes enable a new generation of high-current Si/SiC IGBT modules. Hybrid Si/SiC IGBT modules can deliver up to a 43 percent reduction in switching losses over conventional modules, while also reducing voltage- and current-overshoot, switching dead time and cooling requirements. As an added benefit, design engineers can use the same gate driver design and circuits used with conventional modules, allowing easy and immediate implementation. Cree CPW5 diodes also provide a peak forward surge resistance greater than 500 Amps repetitive and 2000 Amps non-repetitive, delivering increased reliability under the harshest electrical conditions.
“As the sole distributor of Cree SiC-based power products in wafer and die form, SemiDice is excited to offer the CPW5 family of Z-Rec Schottky diodes,” said Dan Cormack, CEO of SemiDice, Inc. “We are seeing increased customer demand for 50 Amp Schottky diodes and we know that as a global leader in the manufacture of advanced SiC diodes, Cree will deliver the quality and performance that our customers expect to help them minimize system cost and size.”
The CPW5 family of Z-Rec Schottky diodes includes 1700V/50A, 1200V/50A, 650V/50A and 650V/30A combinations. The new CPW5 diodes are available immediately in bare die form from SemiDice. Please visit www.cree.com/power or www.semidice.com/OurPartners/CreeInc.asp for more information.
About Cree
Cree is a market-leading innovator of semiconductor products for power and radio-frequency (RF) applications, lighting-class LEDs and LED lighting solutions.
Cree's product families include LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and RF devices. Cree products are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, electronic signs and signals, power supplies and solar inverters.
For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including the risk that actual savings will vary from expectations; the risk we may be unable to manufacture these new products with sufficiently low cost to offer them at competitive prices or with acceptable margins; the risk we may encounter delays or other difficulties in ramping up production of our new products; customer acceptance of our new products; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Cree’s products obsolete; and other factors discussed in Cree’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2013, and subsequent filings.
Cree® and Z-Rec® are registered trademarks of Cree, Inc.
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Cree, Inc.
Casey Allen, Corporate Communications
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