Dual channel gate driver replaces optocouplers and pulse transformers

The semiconductor specialist says that the dual-channel gate driver is effective for driving high-voltage switching field-effect transistors (FETs) in synchronous rectification dc/dc converter applications. By integrating digital isolation and a 4-A gate driver into a small soic package, ADI describes the ADuM3220 as a replacement to traditional discrete gate driver solutions. According to the company it saves up to 70% of the board space and reduces costs by up to 30% for small dc/dc module designs. "Working closely with our power supply customers, we learned that many designers use discrete isolators and gate drivers, which can take up quite a lot of board space," said Peter Henry, vice president, Power Management Products, Analog Devices. "ADI's iCoupler digital isolation technology integrates the gate driver function with two channels of high-performance digital isolation technology; this radically simplifies design and reduces design costs."