Infineon Technologies AG and Robert Bosch GmbH announced a new ultra-low-loss diode called Active Rectifying Diode for light vehicle generators. It enables an increase in generator efficiency of up to eight percent compared to conventional power conversion methods and facilitates generators to qualify as eco-innovations as defined by the European Union. Deploying the new diode can reduce the CO 2 emissions of a car by up to 1.8 g/km. Since it can replace standard devices one-to-one, the Active Rectifying Diode can easily be applied even to generators and cars that are already in series production.

“Infineon is known for its great efforts to support e-mobility. At the same time, we are aware that it remains crucial for carmakers to reduce CO 2 emissions also in conventional cars,” said Finn Felsberg, Vice President and General Manager Power Integration and Supply at Infineon’s Automotive Division. “Given the still very large number of combustion engine cars, our new diode represents a quick and cost-efficient step for OEMs towards reaching strict fleet emission targets.” For Bosch Oceania Vice President Automotive Electronics, Mark Jackman said “This innovative product perfectly fits in Bosch’s range of robust and high quality automotive components 'Invented for Life’.”

In a conventional car, the generator produces the electric energy for charging the battery and supplying a growing number of safety and comfort features such as driver assistance systems, air conditioning and infotainment. The new diode allows generators to achieve a power conversion efficiency beyond 80 percent. Today, they usually reach levels of up to 72 percent.

The Active Rectifying Diode is based on a new chip technology from Infineon that integrates MOSFETs, capacitors and control logic on a single die, thus avoiding the complex mounting of separate chips. The Infineon chip is then assembled by Bosch into the body of the diode in a pressfit package. The new diode is unique for several reasons including its extremely low diode forward voltage of 0,1 V at 100A I RMS (root mean square current) and lowest leakage current. Additionally, it features a simple assembly process, mechanical robustness as well as high reliability and electromagnetic compatibility.

The Active Rectifying Diode is in production at Bosch and being rolled out to generator manufacturers worldwide.