IXYS’ Westcode Launches New Generation 4.5kV 3kA GTO Thyristor For High Power High Voltage Switching Applications

IXYS Corporation (NASDAQ:IXYS) an international power and IC semiconductor company, today announced that Westcode, its UK subsidiary, introduced a new 4.5kV 3kA gate turn-off thyristor (GTO) thyristors. The new device, which offers a more robust design, is fully compatible with earlier designs of the same nominal rating.

Frank Wakeman, Westcode’s Marketing & Technical Support Manager, commented, "The advantage of our new gate design enabled us to use a simpler and therefore more robust and cost effective fully hermetic industry standard outline with 75mm (2.95 inch) Anode/cathode electrodes. This is a configuration that offers one of the highest power densities in GTOs in the market today. The device is supplied as standard with a heavy duty coaxial gate lead; however, customised options to meet specific applications can also be accommodated. The new GTO thyristor has designation G3000TF450 and has a maximum turn-off current of 3000A with a 6 microfarad snubber capacitor and maximum circuit loop inductance of 300nH. The device is suitable for applications which require a nominal DC link voltage up to 2.8kV.”

"We have been extending the power range of our Bipolar product lines beyond what has been capable with our IGBTs for gate turn-off applications. With the recent extensions of our GTO’s range, we complement our high power MOSFETs and IGBTs, to offer our customers the complete solution for power switching with high efficiency and lower cost,” commented Dr. Nathan Zommer, CEO and Founder of IXYS Corporation. "In many high power applications, GTOs have been the ideal power semiconductor due to their ruggedness and better surge current and voltage blocking capabilities than MOSFETs and IGBTs.”

Further products are planned: 68mm (2.68 inch) silicon device with turn-off current rating of 2kA and a 91mm (5.58 inch) silicon device with a turn-off current rating of 4kA. Launch dates are expected to be announced in early 2012.

Typical applications for this device include: main drives, auxiliaries and choppers for traction, as well as AC drives for motor control. The device is suitable for all snubber circuit topologies, as well as conventional RCD.

For data sheets please go to the Westcode website at www.westcode.com or please contact us at (email: WSL.sales@westcode.com) or telephone: +44 (0)1249 444524 for quotation.

About Westcode

Located in Chippenham, England, Westcode Semiconductors Ltd is the IXYS leading manufacturing site for very high power thyristors, SCRs and rectifiers ranging up to 6500 Volts and 15,000 Amps. Westcode continues to supply high technology components for a wide range of applications such as wind and solar energy, welding, AC and DC motor drives for oil, marine and water treatment facilities, uninterruptible power supplies, motor soft starters, transportation, induction heating, mining equipment and many other industrial applications.

About IXYS Corporation

Since its founding, IXYS Corporation has been developing power semiconductors and mixed signal ICs to improve power conversion efficiency, generate solar and wind power and provide efficient motor control for industrial applications. IXYS, and its subsidiary companies, offer a diversified product base that addresses worldwide needs for power control in the growing cleantech industries, renewable energy markets, telecommunications, medical devices, transportation applications, flexible displays and RF power.

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Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including the performance, features and suitability of products for various applications, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results of IXYS to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2011. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements.