In the growing industry of solar energy, energy storage, solar power optimizers, microinverters, and string inverters operate in a power dense conditions across many different voltage levels and power levels. Some of the topologies in those systems include LLC converters, phase shifted full bridge converters, and totem pole PFCs. For these topologies, the 120V half-bridge driver can be utilized when voltage levels do not exceed the 120V rating of the driver. Figure 5 shows an example of a solar energy system with energy storage and grid connection where DC-DC converters are utilized which typically require a half-bridge driver.

The high-power, efficiency demanding applications in solar energy and energy storage require a gate driver that is robust, efficient, and provides high current capabilities. In these bidirectional, power dense topologies, the gate driver requirements are important for efficiency and reliability. The UCC27301A(-Q1) offers high drive current of 3.7A and 4.5A and small package options, such as the 3mm x 3mm SON 10-pin DRC package that are critical for power dense systems. In addition, the 20V absolute maximum VDD supply rating and high noise immunity provide additional robustness and reliability. These drivers are offered with fast switching characteristics with 7.2ns of rise time with 5.5ns of fall time to make sure of efficiency. A few additional features that make the UCC27301A(-Q1) a great option for solar and energy storage applications are the robust integrated bootstrap diode, input interlock, and the enable pin functionality with low shutdown current that help when enabling and disabling phases during low and high-power scenarios. Solar and energy storage systems often utilize 48V battery systems and 20V to 60V solar panel arrays that require these 120V half-bridge drivers. Figure 2-6 shows an example of a microinverter schematic that features a full bridge LLC power stage in the DC-DC portion of the circuit that can utilize the UCC27301A(-Q1) 120V half-bridge gate driver.