Automotive power modules target EV traction-drive systems and on-board chargers (OBC), packaging power switches together with drive and protection circuitry. Beyond the power density automotive power modules must deliver, they add automotive-grade reliability and qualification requirements — withstanding vibration, wide-temperature cycling and long-term power cycling, while offering batch traceability to match OEM supply-chain management.
Reading the Key Parameters
- Vces (collector-emitter voltage): parts in our catalog span three classes — 650V, 750V and 1200V. The 650V and 750V classes generally serve OBC, auxiliary-inverter and hybrid/boost mid-voltage scenarios, while the 1200V class targets high-voltage platforms such as main-drive inverters. Derate against the vehicle bus voltage plus switching-off spikes.
- IC (collector current): catalog values range from 100A to 820A, spanning OBC/auxiliary-inverter low-power needs through main-drive high-current requirements. Rated current should be referenced against continuous duty rather than peak — sustained full-load operation accelerates aging.
- VCE(sat)_Typ (conduction drop): catalog values fall between 1.1V and 1.7V, directly setting conduction loss. Lower is generally better but typically trades off against switching loss, requiring evaluation against the specific topology.
- (Eon+Eoff)@Tj=125°C (switching loss): catalog values range from 8.1mJ to 96mJ, varying significantly by current rating and package. High-switching-frequency applications should weigh this value carefully against thermal design margin.
- Rth(J-C) (junction-to-case thermal resistance): catalog values fall between 0.038 and 0.512 K/W — lower means better heat dissipation, setting the sustainable power dissipation for a given maximum junction temperature.
Three Steps to Select
- Match the vehicle circuit topology (half-bridge, Tri-Pack, three-phase bridge, boost chopper, DC switch module) to fix the circuit configuration and package family.
- Set the Vces class (650V/750V/1200V) based on bus voltage plus derating margin.
- Check IC and Rth(J-C) against peak/continuous current conditions to confirm thermal and lifetime margins.
Common Pitfalls
- Sizing only against peak IC while ignoring continuous-duty derating.
- Assuming package families (H-series, A-series, DCM, etc.) are interchangeable — their thermal paths and mounting differ.
- Applying industrial-grade selection logic without accounting for automotive-specific power-cycling life and wide-temperature qualification requirements.
Use the online selector to filter and compare part numbers against the ranges above; for engineering support, reach our engineers via a part-number inquiry.