Thin-film resistors offer 4x power dissipation

Article By : Vishay Intertechnology

The devices are effective whether the application needs full power capability or a fraction of the nominal rated dissipation for improved stability.

Vishay Intertechnology has extended its wide terminal thin film chip resistors family by supplementing the existing MCW 0406 AT line with an additional case size for power handling of up to 1W. For power electronics in industrial and automotive applications, Vishay Beyschlag MCW 0612 AT Professional devices provide high power dissipation, high-temperature performance, and renowned long-term thin film stability.

Offering up to four times higher power dissipation when compared to standard resistors in the 1206 footprint, the devices released today significantly lower costs by replacing multiple resistors of the same size or larger devices with equivalent power ratings. Furthermore, the wide terminal contact geometry of the MCW 0612 AT Professional series allows for superior robustness against thermal cycling. In addition, the resistors offer high operating temperatures to 175°C for 1000 hours and advanced sulphur resistance as verified according to ASTM B 809 by exposure to sulphur vapour at 90°C and 80% to 90% relative humidity for 42 days.

These specifications allow designers to use MCW 0612 AT Professional series resistors in harsh and high-temperature environments without compromising power rating or electrical performance, as well as to comply with current requirements for miniaturisation. The devices are equally effective whether the application requires their full power capability or only a fraction of the nominal rated dissipation in order to gain improved stability. The resistors feature TCR down to ±25ppm/K, tolerance to ±0.5%, and a resistance range from 10Ω to 100kΩ.

The MCW 0612 AT Professional series is the perfect choice for most fields of modern professional power electronics in which power dissipation, reliability, stability, and robust design are major concerns. Typical applications will include power measurement and control in lighting, inverters for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV), engine control units, gear box controls, and braking and steering systems. For automotive applications, the resistors are qualified according to AEC-Q200.

Samples and production quantities of the MCW 0612 AT Professional series are available now, with lead times of eight to 10 weeks for large orders.