EL SEGUNDO, CA. August 2000 - International Rectifier (NYSE: IRF) introduces five new ultra-fast recovery diodes specifically developed to increase power and improve reliability and efficiency in high-frequency (HF) inverter welder output stages.

Faster output stage rectifiers enable higher welding frequencies, which, in turn, make bulky magnetic components such as transformers and coils smaller, less expensive and more reliable. Reducing magnetic component size contributes to overall welding equipment efficiency and reliability.

Dr. Francesco Vallone, IR's High Power Product Marketing Manager, says, "IR's welding-specific diodes have at least three percent lower forward voltage drop among devices of comparable recovery speed available on the market. This means the device is more efficient, and requires less heat-sinking, which reduces cost, size and weight of the overall system."

Typical voltage and current requirements for arc welders are 20-50V at 50-500A DC with low ripple for optimum weld quality. Many discrete diodes are limited to 60A, but most welders are rated for continuous operation at more than 60A.

Four of the five new welding diodes - the 80EBU02, 150EBU02, 80EBU04 and 150EBU04 - are available in IR's unique POWIRTAB™ package, and are rated at 80A. The high-power devices reduce parallel package count by a factor of two to three, reducing assembly cost and improving reliability. The fifth device (60EPU02) is rated at 60A and is packaged in the industry-standard TO-247 package, for mounting flexibility in existing designs.

IR's new ultra-fast welding diodes in the POWIRTAB package are ideal for high-current arc welding applications. Internally, the large anode tab allows more wire bonds to the silicon die chip, which improves forward voltage drop and increases surge-handling capability to as high as 1600A.

The POWIRTAB package is designed for mounting flexibility and assembly ease for either printed circuit board or bus bar construction. The tab does not transfer mounting torque to the plastic case, and prevents costly mechanical failure.

Part Number	VR (V)	VF (V)	Iavg (A)	trr (ns)	Package
60EPU02	200	1.08	60	35	TO-247
80EBU02	200	1.13	80	35	POWIRTAB™
150EBU02	200	1.13	150	45	POWIRTAB
80EBU04	400	1.30	80	50	POWIRTAB
150EBU04	400	1.30	150	60	POWIRTAB

Pricing and Availability

Pricing for the new ultra-fast welding diodes begins at US $1.30 each in quantities of 10,000.