What are Power Semiconductors?

A "semiconductor" is a substance that, as its name suggests, is characterized for "conducting" electricity easily, while at the same time, working as an "insulator" to prevent the flow of electricity.
By using semiconductors, it becomes possible to perform "rectification" for the one-directional flow of electricity, "amplification" for increasing electrical signals, and "switching" to open and close the flow of electricity.

Power semiconductors can handle high voltages and large currents. They possess a structure that is different from regular semiconductors, enabling them to handle high voltages and large currents without damage. Failures may occur due to a rise in temperatures resulting from heat generated from handling large power. Therefore, we have worked to develop ways to reduce the amount of power semiconductor loss, which is the cause of the heat generation, while also effectively releasing the generated heat to the outside.

Power semiconductors are mostly used in power conversion such as in changing voltages and frequencies, as well as changing DC to AC and AC to DC. Power semiconductors play a huge and indispensable role in accurately driving motors from low to high speeds, supplying power grids with power generated from solar cells with less power loss, and providing a stable source of electricity to various home appliances and electrical equipment.
In recent years, there has been a greater awareness for the need of energy-savings and power consumption reductions, and as a result, the need for power semiconductors that minimize power loss has been increasing.

Fuji Electric Power Semiconductors

Fuji Electric offers the following power semiconductors to contribute to energy-savings and power consumption reductions in the world.

Applications	Fuji Electric Products	Application Example
Driving a motor		Inverters NC / Servos Automobiles MV, SVG Inverters Railroads
Changing DC to AC Changing AC to DC Changing voltage levels Changing frequencies		Solar Inverters Wind Power Inverters Welding Machine Inverters
Supplying a stable source of power		PC and Servers Flat-Screen TVs Switching Power Supplies UPS Railroads (auxiliary power)