Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) and Silicon Austria Labs GmbH (SAL) have collaboratively developed and demonstrated a proof of concept for eFuse technology in high-voltage applications using silicon carbide (SiC)-based power devices. This new technology promises significant improvements in safety while also reducing material and maintenance costs for systems like on-board chargers (OBC) in electric vehicles. The increasing use of SiC- and gallium nitride (GaN)-based power devices necessitates the replacement of traditional mechanical fuses with more advanced solutions to protect against overcurrents and reduce maintenance expenses. AKM’s CZ39 coreless current sensor, which boasts a response time of 100 nanoseconds and high accuracy, forms the backbone of this eFuse system, enabling precise overcurrent detection and rapid system shutdowns. In collaboration with SAL, AKM has created an eFuse system that addresses the limitations of mechanical fuses, providing necessary overcurrent and short circuit protection for next-generation high-voltage EV systems.
The integration of AKM’s current sensor into the eFuse system not only enhances overcurrent protection but also allows for efficient current regulation in connected subsystems, thereby minimizing the overall component count. Toshinori Takatsuka, General Manager of AKM’s current sensor business, highlights the successful collaboration with SAL and anticipates that the eFuse technology will lead to smaller and lighter EV onboard chargers. Thomas Langbauer of SAL emphasizes the improved reaction times and protection capabilities brought by the latest AKM current sensing technologies. The successful joint research will be presented at PCIM Europe 2024 in Nuremberg, Germany, with both companies looking forward to further developments and a positive market impact.
