KYOCERA AVX Salzburg and VisIC Technologies expand their collaboration within e-mobility on next-generation GaN technology

Ness Ziona, Israel/ Salzburg, Austria 26/10/2022

Combining KYOCERA AVX’s leadership in discrete and module packaging along with VisIC’s expertise in GaN power devices to offer cutting-edge products, including the highest efficiency power module for lead EV OEM and Tier 1 traction inverters

KYOCERA AVX Salzburg, Kyocera-AVX Salzburg, a leading international manufacturer and supplier of advanced electronic components for the automotive industry with production sites in North America, China and Europe, and VisIC Technologies, a global leader in Gallium Nitride (GaN) solutions for high-voltage automotive applications, announce the expansion of their collaboration. The partners combine their strengths in packaging, assembly, and GaN wafer technologies with the target of providing high current components for high voltage applications such as charging and e-drivetrain.

The collaboration expansion aims to fulfill the demand of the automotive industry for reliable and highly efficient power solutions that will save EV costs. With the best thermal resistance, discrete GaN devices and half-bridge modules will be essential for future On-Board-Chargers (OBC) and traction Inverters, optimizing weight, size, costs, and driving range.

Based on VisIC’s 2nd generation, lowest RDS (on) D3GaN switches, the power module, which will provide groundbreaking power density and performance, has already been adopted for the next generation inverter sample of a major 1st tier automotive manufacturer.

In addition to the above collaboration developments, the companies have also achieved an approach to high-voltage battery disconnection, based on GaN power switches, through effective cooperation in a very short time. With the fastest switching time, the current and, therefore, thermal stress of the battery and board net can be limited. This design will be available for lead projects this year.

“The electrification of the automotive industry has generated significant demand for power components, which we foresee to continue its strong growth for the next decade. “, said Dr. Tamara Baksht, CEO and co-founder of VisIC Technologies. “Together with KYOCERA AVX Salzburg we will provide packaged discrete GaN devices and die-based power modules for major EV OEM and Tier 1 designs.”.

VisIC’s D3GaN technology was developed for the high-reliability standards of the automotive industry and for the lowest losses. It also simplifies the system solution and enables highly efficient and affordable powertrain platform solutions. These benefits are well perceived by premium automotive customers VisIC has been working for several years with.

“Gallium nitride semiconductors are the key to efficiency improvements and increasing the driving range of electrified vehicles. This technology offers significantly better switching speed and smaller and lighter package size, thereby reducing total system cost.”, said Martin Knosp, Product Line Director at KYOCERA AVX Salzburg. “We are happy to expand our cooperation with VisIC Technologies, leveraging our advanced design and manufacturing abilities to create more GaN products and devices for better serving the booming EV market demands.”. 

About VisIC Technologies

VisIC Technologies is a world leader in GaN semiconductors for EV applications, focused on high-power automotive solutions. It’s efficient and scalable products are based on deep technological knowledge of gallium-nitride and decades of experience. VisIC is committed to providing a step function improvement in terms of size and cost of energy conversion systems and is dedicated to high-quality customer support at all development phases. VisIC offers high power transistor products based upon compound semiconductor Gallium Nitride (GaN) material aiming to provide products for cost-effective and high-performance automotive inverter systems.

About KYOCERA AVX

KYOCERA AVX is a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future. As a wholly owned subsidiary of KYOCERA Corporation structured to capitalize on shared resources and technical expertise, KYOCERA AVX has an expansive global footprint comprised of several dozen research, development, and manufacturing facilities spanning more than 15 countries and staffed with talented personnel dedicated to innovation, component quality, customer service, and enabling a brighter future through technology. KYOCERA AVX designs, develops, manufactures, and supplies advanced capacitors, antennas, interconnects, circuit protection and timing devices, sensors, controls, filters, fuses, diodes, resistors, couplers, and inductors optimized for employment in the international 5G, IoT, aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, industrial, medical, and military markets.