EL SEGUNDO, CA. August 2001 - International Rectifier, IR(®), (NYSE: IRF) expands its fast recovery epitaxial diode (FRED) family to include 300V ultrafast diodes. The new 300V family includes 8A (8ETH03), 15A (15ETH03) and 30A (30EPH03, 30CPH03) devices optimized for 48V switch-mode power supply (SMPS) systems for telecom and datacom applications.

IR's new FREDs have improved characteristics (50% lower reverse recovery current compared to the best competitive device, lower reverse recovery time and smaller conduction loss than 400V devices), and results in best-in-class performance with 3% lower losses than the industry-best 300V device and up to an 18% reduction in power loss when compared to the industry-best 400V ultrafast diode.

IR's 300V ultrafast diodes run up to 4°C cooler than the best-performing 400V ultrafast diode resulting in increased reliability which is critical to power supplies used to power telecom and datacom systems.

Stephen Oliver, International Rectifier Marketing Manager for AC-DC Sector, said, "IR's new 300V ultrafast diodes can replace 400V or 200V devices for increased converter efficiency. More efficiency can reduce heat sink size, or increase power density within the same footprint in a circuit upgrade. More efficiency also translates in lower temperature and increased reliability."

IR's 300V ultrafast diodes complement the wide selection of 200V and 400V device offerings for traditional output rectification designs. Generally, two to four diodes are used in the output rectification circuit in a single power supply for the datacom and telecom market.

Technical Details

In 48V input power converters, the required breakdown voltage in the output rectification stage is in the 200V to 300V range.

International Rectifier's new FREDs provide a sufficient safety margin for 48V output circuits, yet eliminates the snubber circuit required by 200V diodes. The new 300V diodes optimize the balance between forward voltage drop and reverse recovery time. IR's devices also show a softer recovery wave shape. The Pt diffusion process employed in the manufacture ensures ultra-fast and soft recovery characteristics, which are critical at high frequencies and also to reduce the size of bulky magnetic components.

Pricing and Availability

The new 300V ultra-fast diodes are available immediately. Pricing ranges from US $0.56 to $1.35 each in 10,000-unit quantities.

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