Onsemi taps Swiss tech for SiC simulation tool
Onsemi has launched two online simulation tools to boost the development of power designs using silicon carbide (SiC) devices.
The Elite Power Simulator uses models developed by Plexim in Zurich via the Self-Service PLECS Model Generator to build system-level simulations of both hard and soft-switching architectures at an early stage of the development cycle.
The tools save power electronic engineers time by providing accurate simulation data from the EliteSiC range of devices tailored to customer applications, instead of costly and time-consuming hardware fabrication and testing.
To date, system-level simulators and their associated PLECS models have only been valid for hard switching topologies, with simulation results for soft switching applications such as LLC (inductor-inductor-capacitor) or CLLC (capacitor-inductor-inductor-capacitor) being highly inaccurate.
Now designers can create high-fidelity system-level PLECS models using the model generator, either uploading to the online simulator or downloaded for direct use. The models are generated based on typical or worst-case conditions to let the customer design within the technology boundaries. The capability to define application-specific parasitics ensures that the generated PLECS models provide highly accurate results for the customer’s system-level simulations.
“Our PLECS simulator has proven very popular with power designers due to speed and ease of use,” said Jost Allmelling, managing director and co-founder of Plexim, which started as a spinout of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich in 2002.
“It is particularly exciting to see the truly novel aspects here, including the ability to simulate soft switching accurately, the customized models via the onsemi Self-Service PLECS Model Generator and the ready-made models for corner cases.”
“This is a significant step for the industry, increasing its ability to get both hard and soft switching designs to market quickly,” said Asif Jakwani, senior vice president and general manager of the Advanced Power Division, which is part of the Power Solutions Group at onsemi. “Our tools enable our customers to understand how our devices perform in their application environment and fully optimize the performance within the boundaries of the technology.”
The Elite Power Simulator and Self-Service PLECS Model Generator are launched at the APEC 2023 power exhibition in the US today.
www.onsemi.com; www.plexim.com
