Circuit protection equipment producer and existing investor Littelfuse has provided $15m in funding for US-based silicon carbide technology developer Monolith Semiconductor, giving it a majority stake.
Founded in 2012, Monolith supplies silicon carbide diodes and metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors that help inverters and motor drives to operate at higher switching frequencies than conventional silicon, making them more efficient and affordable to run.
Ian Highley, Littelfuse’s chief technology officer and general manager of its semiconductor products division, said: “We are pleased to expand our partnership with Monolith’s experienced team of silicon carbide and power semiconductor experts.
“With the increasing needs to make power electronic devices that will be stronger and more efficient, we are excited about the opportunities this game-changing technology provides.”
Littelfuse invested in Monolith in late 2015, providing an amount later indicated by a regulatory filing to be $3.5m. It has agreed to supply additional funding in future if the company reaches undisclosed milestones.