Effectively improve energy efficiency using semiconductor technology

With the economic situation ahead, it is a good time to think about what we can do as individuals to stimulate economic recovery, and one way is to achieve clean, low-cost energy and promote energy conservation. Power management semiconductor suppliers are well-positioned to play a driving role in energy-efficient electronics. Our products are critical in expanding the use of alternative energy in many forms, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric. We have the technology to deliver more efficient appliances, air conditioning, lighting, computing, entertainment, communications, and motors, thereby significantly reducing power consumption in homes, businesses, and industries. In addition, our transportation is also undergoing a transformation, moving from various fuels to the cleanest energy source - electricity. The semiconductor industry has brought about a very significant change in our lifestyle, productivity, and living standards, far more than any other industry. We will continue to work in the fields of IT technology and consumer electronics, and in the coming years, reducing energy costs; increasing energy availability; and using energy efficiently will likely become even more important.

As human-caused global warming becomes more evident, calls for clean, renewable energy sources are growing. Why don’t we hear the same strong calls for energy-efficient products? Sure, there has been some progress and awareness, but not enough. Part of the problem is the idea that saving energy means not using it, which is not always the case, and is often the opposite. It turns out that the investment required to cut energy consumption through more efficient electronic devices is only a fraction of the investment required to produce excess energy, and there are no side effects on the atmosphere and the environment.

We should certainly support large-scale solar and wind infrastructure. We should also ensure that we invest in advanced power electronics to convert the raw electricity into a usable form. We should also create an enabling environment for the development of small, distributed generators, such as those used in homes, agriculture, and business. And we should also provide more incentives to improve the energy efficiency of lighting, environmental controls, amenities, and recreational facilities, because they are also power users.

Semiconductor suppliers must continue to innovate in product areas that have the potential to reduce the burden on the grid, and the best example is lighting. Incandescent lamps must be phased out as soon as possible. Typical incandescent lamps have an efficiency of 15 lumens per watt and a lifespan of 1,000 hours; LEDs have an efficiency of up to 50 lumens per watt and a lifespan of 50,000 hours. High-brightness LEDs are compound semiconductor products that are implemented using advanced wide-bandgap semiconductor technology (gallium nitride and silicon carbide). Even commonly used fluorescent lamps contain gases that are harmful to the environment. Eventually, linear fluorescent lighting will be completely replaced by semiconductor technology.

LEDs and other high-efficiency lighting products (such as compact fluorescent lamps) are powered by high-efficiency power supplies based on semiconductor technology, which use the latest power switches and control chips. Fairchild Semiconductor's newly developed SuperFET™ and SupreMOS™ technologies (also called "charge balance" or "superjunction" technology) make these power supplies smaller, lower cost and more efficient. Better processes and device designs are currently being developed to integrate power devices and control circuits, which will realize a fully integrated "chip-level power supply" (power supply on a chip) for 5-20 watt lighting applications.

Some common appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, and fans are all using semiconductor technology to improve energy efficiency. In these applications, as well as other common motor applications, the AC induction constant speed motor must be replaced by a variable speed permanent magnet DC motor and corresponding drive circuits. Because variable speed motors can optimize motor speed according to the application and load, the energy efficiency improvement is quite amazing, sometimes reducing the loss part as much as the power output of the previous device, and improving efficiency from 50% to 90%. Improved IGBTs and ultra-fast recovery diodes have made this possible. Advanced laser annealing technology, ultra-thin silicon wafers, and electromagnetic radiation processing processes that improve switching performance have all contributed to reducing energy consumption. New technologies are being developed to reduce energy consumption by integrating both power and control components on a single chip. The power loss inevitably generates heat, which is managed by advanced "smart power modules". Such modules use the continuous development of system-in-package technology to keep the system cool, connect efficiently, and minimize energy consumption and electromagnetic interference with other circuits.

People now recognize the need to change their lifestyles, and consumers are becoming more green-conscious and doing their part to reduce their impact on the environment. Governments and organizations such as ENERGY STAR®, Green Grid™, and Climate Savers™ are initiating stringent energy efficiency regulations to reduce the burden on the grid and batteries. Since most of these measures involve electronic products, semiconductor suppliers are critical in enabling OEMs to meet energy efficiency regulations and consumers to purchase power-optimized products. And all of the alternative technologies are using solar and wind power to produce electricity, one of the cleanest sources of energy. In short, semiconductor manufacturers will have a lot to do.