STM Boosts Bipolar Power Transistor

STMicroelectronics, a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications and a leading supplier of power semiconductors, has introduced the first member in a new family of high-performance bipolar power transistors. The new transistors offer an outstanding combination of high current capability, collector-emitter blocking voltage and ultra-low collector-emitter saturation voltage, making them ideal for use in LED drives, motor and relay drives and DC-DC converters. The 3STR1630 is an NPN transistor manufactured using a new low-voltage planar technology. The planar technology incorporates a double-metal process that allows the cell density to be almost doubled without requiring the use of sophisticated photolithography equipment. In addition to increasing the current capability by about 50 percent for the same die size, the double-metal process enables transistors with Vceo ratings up to 100V, higher working switching frequencies (up to 300kHz), and a 40 percent reduction in Vce(sat). The first member of the new family, the 3STR1630, has a minimum BVCEO of 30V, offering the best compromise between a 28V blocking voltage capability and minimum Vce(sat), with an equivalent on-resistance of only 100 milliOhms at hFE figure of 50. In addition, it can handle a continuous current as high as 6A while being housed in a small outline SOT-23 package. The 3STR1630 is now in full production and is available at $0.24 in quantities of 1000. www.st.com