Beijing (ZXZC)- The semiconductor developing arm of China’s renowned carmaker BYD, BYD Semiconductor, announced today that it has successfully developed and mass-produced a 1200V power device driver chip, supplying automakers in December. 

Photo credit: BYD Semiconductor

The chip, dubbed BF1181, is a magnetic isolated single-channel gate driver chip dedicated to driving 1200V power devices. The chip is compatible with 1200V IGBT and SiC, broadly applying to various fields, including EV/HEV power module, industrial electric motor control drive, industrial power supply, and solar energy inverter.

BF1181; photo credit: BYD Semiconductor

In order to ensure safe and reliable usage of the power devices, a corresponding driver chip is required to control the switch of the MCU low voltage driver signal-controlled power devices. The said driver chips are currently used to accommodate multiple automotive functions, such as electric motor drive on new energy vehicles, the frequency conversion and heating of onboard air-conditioners, and the power-steering system on vehicles.

For a long time in history, China relied heavily on importation regarding auto-grade power device driver chips. The localization of the said chips is long overdue in China’s automotive industry. The BYD BF1181 driver chip should be considered a critical achievement among China’s new energy vehicle development, as it has successfully turned the situation around.