IXYS Introduces 45MHz Dual 15A Ultrafast Gate Driver IC For High Frequency MOSFET And IGBT.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 13, 2001

IXYS Corporation (Nasdaq:SYXI), a leader in power semiconductors for power conversion and motion control applications, announced today the introduction of the IXDD415, a new CMOS high speed, high frequency MOSFET/IGBT Driver IC. Each IC has two driver channels, each capable of 15 amperes peak into a capacitive load, making them ideal for controlling high current, high frequency power MOSFETs and IGBTs.

An outstanding feature of this driver IC is its high speed, high frequency drive capabilities, featuring very low rise and fall times on the order of 2 nanoseconds, which are matched, and switching frequencies up to 45 megahertz. It operates over a very wide supply voltage range of 8 to 30 volts. It can be driven by either TTL or CMOS input signals. Each driver is fully immune to latch-up within the range of 0 to 15 A output current. A very low propagation delay time and a very low output impedance make it extremely useful for driving high frequency, medium current MOSFETs or medium current fast IGBTs. It is available in the standard 28-pin SOIC package (IXDD415SI).

This driver also features the IXYS proprietary Tri-State Outputs. With its ENABLE pin on high, the output voltage swings in response to the ENABLE signal. Once the ENABLE pin goes low, the output goes into a high impedance state. This allows an auxiliary circuit to slowly turn-off the MOSFET or IGBT to protect it from L*dI/dt generated voltage transients. This problem is particularly severe for many design engineers working with high voltage circuits, employing MOSFETs or high speed IGBTs, because there is little voltage guardband between the high bus voltage and device voltage ratings.

"The IXDD415 represents a quantum leap in Gate Driver IC technology," commented Ron Sherwood, President of IXYS' subsidiary Directed Energy, Inc. (DEI) located in Fort Collins, Colorado. "A gate driver design using discrete components with the performance of the IXDD415SI could easily require 60 to 70 components. With the IXDD415SI, this is reduced to one IC."

The IXDD415 Driver will find numerous applications in the RF and power electronics industries. Class D and E switching RF amplifiers, multi-megahertz DC to DC converters and switch-mode power supplies, pulse transformer drivers, pulse generators, pulsed laser diode drivers and acoustic transducer drivers are a few of the applications in which the IXDD415 will perform admirably. Prototyping samples are available off the shelf, with delivery of production quantities having lead times of 8-12 weeks.

These products are available through your local authorized IXYS distributor or sales representative, or IXYS Corporation, www.ixys.net, telephone [phone], fax [phone], email [e-mail], or from IXYS' wholly owned subsidiary, Directed Energy, Inc. (DEI), www.directedenergy.com, telephone [phone], fax [phone], email [e-mail].

IXYS develops and markets primarily high performance power semiconductor devices that are used in controlling and converting electrical power efficiently in power systems for the telecommunication and internet infrastructure, motor drives, medical systems and transportation. IXYS also serves its markets with a combination of digital and analog integrated circuits.

Statements in this press release regarding IXYS' business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to demand for the Company's products, the ability of the company to develop, manufacture, and market new products, demand by end-users for the products produced by the Company's customers, the effect that a slowdown or continued slowdown in the semiconductor industry in general could have on our operations, any disruption in the orderly flow of commerce as in the case of terrorists and/or widespread illegal activities may have and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Further information on other factors that could affect the Company's operations is detailed and included in the Company's Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which includes the IXYS Corporation audited financial statements as of March 31, 2001 and 2000. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements.