As modern washing machines become smarter, more efficient, and quieter, there is increasing demand for reliable semiconductor components to ensure optimal performance, energy efficiency, and durability. JJM offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor devices, including thyristors, diodes (TVS), MOSFETs, IGBTs, and optocouplers, that address the key challenges in modern washing machine designs.

Below is a simplified block diagram of a washing machine's key subsystems:

Motor Control – Triacs, MOSFETs, IGBTs and gate drivers

The heart of any washing machine is its drum motor, which can be either an AC universal motor or a BLDC motor (as illustrated in the above system block diagram). JJM provides key components to drive both types of motor:

• Triacs:

Ideal for phase control for universal motors and heater circuits. JJM’s Triacs offer high surge tolerance and excellent dV/dt robustness.

• IGBTs and MOSFETs:

For inverter-driven BLDC or PMSM motors, JJM’s 650V JJT series IGBTs provide efficient and robust switching performance with low losses and high thermal stability.

For high frequency inverter design, JJM offers 650V super junction MOSFETs which integrate fast recovery body diode. The following table lists some recommended MOSFETs that help achieve efficient and robust high frequency inverter design.

• Optocouplers

JJM also offers photo-based gate drivers to drive IGBTs and MOSFETs used in the inverter. They provide both isolation and gate driving function with minimum propagation delay. Following table lists some of the recommended gate driver photocouplers:

2. Water-inlet valve, Drain Pump and Drain valve – Triacs and Optocouplers

The water inlet valve is an electromechanical valve that controls the flow of water into the tub. The valve consists of electrically operated solenoid, which is usually controlled by relay or TRIAC to switch the AC power on/off to open or close the valve. On the other hand, the drain pump and drain valve work at the end of a wash or rinse cycle to remove water from the drum/tub. Both the drain pump and valves are usually controlled by Triacs, which are typically controlled by MCU through Thyristor optocouplers such as JOC305X and JOC306X.

JJM provides Triacs with high commutation immunity and long-term field reliability. Following are some recommended Triacs commonly used for valve control and drain pump motor drives:

3. Heating Control - Triacs and Optocouplers

The heating element is an important part of the washing machine. It is in charge of heating the water in the washing machine to the desired temperature, which is essential for effective cleaning as well as dust mite removal. JJM offers robust triacs for heating control:

4. Power Supply – Diodes, MOFETs, Shunt Regulator and Optocouplers

The AC-DC power supply provides isolated low voltage for the MCU, its peripherals as well as gate drivers. JJM’s power devices ensure high efficiency and durability of the power supply:

• Bridge Rectifiers, Fast Recovery Diodes, and Schottky Diodes:

Used in front-end and secondary side rectification with high surge capability.

• TVS Diodes:

Protect control boards and sensitive MCU against surge or ESD events.

• MOSFETs:

JJM offers high-voltage MOSFETs (https://www.jjm.com/promosfet6/) for flyback converter commonly found in SMPS units.

• Shunt Regulator and Optocouplers:

JJM offers JVR431 (Shunt Voltage Reference) and JOC817 (Optocoupler) typically used in flyback converters’ feedback loop for output voltage regulation.


5. User Interface & Sensing – Optocouplers and ESD Protection

JJM supports the digital transformation of washing machines with reliable isolation and signal transmission devices:

• Optocouplers:

Used for inter-module communication, JJM’s high speed optocouplers 6N13x and JOC501/JOC601 offer high data transfer rate and CTR stability.

• TVS / ESD Devices:

JJM’s surge protection devices such as CP0800TC, CP4200SB, JEB03CX, JT58SB ensure robust protection of touch panels, communication ports (such as UART or Wi-Fi modules), and front-panel interfaces.

Start Designing with JJM Today

With JJM’s extensive portfolio of thyristors, diodes, MOSFETs, IGBTs, and optocouplers, there is a growing number of leading home appliance makers integrating JJM devices into their washer/dryer platforms to deliver reliable and high-performance solutions. Now is the perfect time to discover our proven, cost-effective, and reliable solutions. Visit JJM.com or contact our technical support team to find the ideal components for your next washing machine design.