Technology and cost status for today´s power IC´s

After a period of fast growing technology developments, cost has become an important issue for the potential users. The apparition of good targeted discrete products for specific applications: auto protected Darlingtons, Sensefets and also more dedicated low cost ICS, has brought some opportunities to the design decision markers in the power application field. A wide technology palette is now available which allows a large choice for one specific design. Therefore all technologies, whatever it is monolithic PIC, discrete, surface mounted, should be studied according to the application. The authors look first, at the cost estimate variation between the monolithic and the discrete solution and then go on to describe the best suited technology for a defined voltage and current range