Digi-Key at embedded world 2023 with onsemi

onsemi is a leading provider of power and sensing technologies, driving disruptive innovations to help build a better future. With a focus on automotive and industrial end-markets, the company is accelerating change in megatrends such as vehicle electrification and safety, sustainable energy grids, industrial automation, and 5G and cloud infrastructure.

“onsemi is on an exciting path. We’re focusing on intelligent sensing and intelligent power, and in that sense SiC plays a key role for us and we are investing a lot into our EliteSiC and rolling out a lot of products and expanding the voltage ranges and use cases for these exciting technologies,” says Paul Klausner.

Silicon carbide is one of the most promising semiconductor materials used to manufacturer high power electronic devices. Belonging to the wide bandgap group, onsemi’s SiC family offers many advantages over more traditional semiconductor materials.

A bandgap shrinks as temperatures rise, and because SiC has a wide bandgap, it can continue to function in much higher temperatures, often up to 400°C. Heat can also be distributed more effectively with SiC, often eliminating the need for fans and heat sinks.

Looking at design aspects with SiC, systems will be more compact, exhibit better efficiency and require smaller-sized magnetics for power applications.

Challenges with silicon carbide

There are a lot of challenges regarding the production of SiC, explains Klausner. “Silicon carbide is 400 times stiffer than silicon.” Due to its diamond-like hardness, SiC requires higher temperatures, more energy and more time for crystal growth and processing.

“We had to come up with innovative sawing technologies which we are doing.. we are working on every production step to increase the volume, output and maintain high quality,” says Klausner.

Using its knowledge and know-how from its past, onsemi’s SiC technology helps to overcome some of these challenges. “We are one of very few semiconductor manufacturers who produce their own silicon raw material.”

onsemi utilise its own manufacturing knowledge, and its knowledge from GT Advanced Technologies, a company it acquired in 2021. The acquisition enhances onsemi’s ability to secure and grow supply of SiC.

onsemi is a leader in silicon carbide. Utilising the fact it was already a key player in the automotive industry, and its knowledge in manufacturing silicon, onsemi has a unique combination of skillset to serve its customers in the best way.