Mitsubishi Electric adds V1 series to high output intelligent power modules lineup

TOKYO, JAPAN: Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has launched the new V1 Series of high output intelligent power modules (IPM), mainly for use in motors to control industrial machinery.

The V1 Series features low power loss and a compact package for inverters with volumes of 37 kilowatts (kW) or greater and servo systems with volumes of 15kW or greater. Shipments will begin in March 2010 through Mitsubishi Electric sales sites in the Americas, Europe, China and Korea.

An IPM is a type of power device with multiple chips combined into one package, including power chips using IGBTs and their driving circuits, as well as a variety of protection circuits. To use energy more efficiently, variable frequency inverters have recently become widely employed in motor control systems.

In the output stage of these inverters, IPMs are commonly used for switching electric current at high speeds. There is growing demand for IPMs with lower power loss, higher output volume and smaller package size.

In 1998, Mitsubishi Electric launched the V Series, which has 2 IGBT chips embedded into one module. With the addition of the V1 Series, motor control system manufacturers will be able to choose from the two series to best suit their needs.