Vishay's New Dual Photovoltaic MOSFET Driver SSRs Offer Industry-Best Combination of 14.6-V Open-Circuit Voltage and 42-µA Short-Circuit Current

MALVERN, Pa. — February 17, 2006 — Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) today announced a new solid state relay, dual photovoltaic MOSFET driver that offers the highest open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current combination available on the market. When coupled with Vishay Siliconix MOSFETs, the new VO1263AB provides longer product life, higher reliability, and faster switching compared to equivalent electrical mechanical relay designs.

The VO1263AB is optimized for MOSFET and SCR gate drive applications in end products including isolated medical equipment, uninterruptible power supplies, consumer appliances, automated test equipment, switching equipment, and industrial controls. Applications for the new device will include high-side switches, power solid state relays, floating power supplies, and isolation amplifiers.

The new driver features an open circuit voltage up to 14.6 V typical, and a short-circuit current up to 42 µA typical, the latter a 2.5x improvement over its Vishay predecessor, the LH1262CB. The higher open circuit voltage allows designers to choose from a wider range of low-voltage MOSFETs; the higher short circuit current decreases the time required to charge the MOSFET's gate. This combination of open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current is the industry's best, boosting the life, reliability, and switching speed of end products.

Housed in a DIP-8 package with lead (Pb)-free terminations, the VO1263AB consists of two LEDs optically coupled to two photodiode arrays that provide a floating source with adequate voltage and current to drive a large breadth of low-voltage MOSFETs. Optical coupling provides a high isolation voltage of 5300 V.

Samples of the new VO1263AB are available now, with production quantities scheduled for February. SMD versions of the same device (VO1263AAC/VO1263AACTR) are also available. Lead times will be six to eight weeks for larger orders.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics and selected ICs) and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, sensors, and transducers). These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. Its product innovations, successful acquisition strategy, and ability to provide "one-stop shop" service have made Vishay a global industry leader. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.