1

Lab no. 2

OVERVIEW OF POWER SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

AND POWER MODULES

1. Introduction

The power structure of the static converters contains as basic elements various
power semiconductor devices which act as an electronic switch (static breaker).
During the on steady state these power devices never operate in their linear (active)
region, where they act as a variable resistance, because unacceptable power losses
would occur. For this reason, in power electronics the semiconductor devices operate
only in two stable modes: the full conduction mode (on-state) when the electric
current is fully permitted to flow through the device, ideally without a voltage drop
across it, and the blocking mode (off-state) when the current flow is completely
disrupted. The transitions between the two steady states can be induced by the power
circuit or by a control circuit and must be fast in order to minimize the switching
power losses. For this reason and in order to reduce the size of the power electronic
equipments by increasing the switching frequency, the transitions speed of the power
semiconductor devices wants to be great. Also, because the power semiconductor
devices operate, usually, with high voltages and/or large currents the semiconductor
structure of these devices is different than the structure of low-power devices.

2. Power semiconductor devices classification

Depending on the control modality (controllability criteria), these power

semiconductor devices can be divided into three categories:
1) Uncontrollable power devices – a category constituted by power diodes
that have only two power terminals, without control terminal. The conduction or
blocking state is dictated by the way these diodes are polarized (biased) inside the
power circuit.
2) Controlled turn-on power devices – a category that includes the thyristors
and the triacs. Historically speaking, the thyristor was the first power semiconductor
device with three terminals, two power terminals (anode, cathode) and a control
terminal known as the gate. In order to induce the on-state, a thyristor must be forward
biased and must be injected a short current pulse between the grid and the cathode
terminals. Once the on-state is obtained, the gate current can be interrupted because
the device remains latched in this state until the blocking conditions are met; more

Author: Ph.D.eng. Mihai Albu

2 „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Power Electronics Laboratory

precisely, a reverse voltage is applied on the device (reverse biased). The off-state
cannot be induced through the gate and for this reason one can say that the thyristor is
a half-controlled device. The research efforts to obtain a semiconductor structure
closer to the thyristor with controlled turn-off feature have lead to achieve the Gate
Turn-Off Thyristor (GTO). This is a device from the full controlled devices class. The
triac may be equated with a structure consisting of two thyristors connected in parallel.
3) Controllable power devices – there are switch elements which can be
brought into an on-state and an off-state through the control signals. With a few
exceptions (e.g. GTO, MOS Controlled Thyristor-MCT) the opening signal must be
continuously applied on the control terminal in order to maintain their on-state as long
as the device is forward biased. The off-state happens automatically when the signal is
removed or falls below a certain threshold. Yet, in many applications there is a
preference to obtain the turn-off transition and to maintain the off-state with a reverse
control signal in order to be sure that they won’t open accidentally. In this last
situation can appear short-circuits in the power electronic circuits.
Depending on the nature of the control signals, the controllable power devices
can be further divided into two distinct groups:
a. Current-controlled devices :
¾ Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT) – there are relatively a low-speed
devices (high switching power losses), but they have the advantages
of a low on-state voltage drop (small on-state power losses).
¾ Gate-Turn-Off Thyristors (GTO) – used in high power applications.
A positive current pulse with low amplitude is needed to opening
these devices (same as for the thyristor) and a negative current pulse
with high amplitude is needed to blocking them.
b. Voltage-controlled devices – they are also called power semiconductor
devices with MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) gate or isolated gate.
Taking into account their undisputed qualities (low control power, high
switching frequency etc.), the research concerning power semiconductors
and the technological efforts involved in manufacturing have been focused
on developing these particular devices. Today, the market offers a plethora
of these devices. The following MOS gate examples are those that are the
most used or have played a central role in power electronics’ evolution:
¾ MOSFET power transistors (MOS Field Effect Transistors) – are
fast devices (with small switching power losses) and for this reason
they are used in converters with high switching frequencies (tens or
hundreds of kHz). Their limitation involves a rapid increase in the on-
state resistance (rDS(on) – catalogue parameter) along with the rise of
the maximum blocking voltage rating. These increases will lead to
 Lab no.2: Overview of power semiconductor devices and power modules 3

important power losses during conduction. For this reason, they are
not used in high power applications.
¾ Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor – IGBT is a hybrid transistor, a
mixture between the bipolar junction transistor whose main quality is
the low on-state power losses and the MOSFET transistor from which
it borrowed the high switching speed (low switching power losses).
The result was a transistor that can be used in switch-mode converters
with high switched frequencies (kHz ÷ tens of kHz) and until powers
of megawatts. Today the IGBT transistor is the engine of power
electronics, the most widely used semiconductor device from this
technical field.
Taking into consideration the diversity of the controllable power devices and
their common capacity to be brought in on-state or in off-state through the control
signals, it results the need to represent these devices by a unique, a generic symbol in
the power schemes. In Fig. 2.1 there are two versions of the same symbol used in the
literature.

iT iT
+ +
T vT T vT
- -

a) b)

Fig. 2.1 - Symbols used for controllable semiconductor devices.

The first version (Fig. 2.1.a) is similar to the symbol used for an electric
contact of a contactor or a relay. The second version (Fig. 2.1.b) is more stylized and
highlights the unidirectional current conduction feature of these devices (the arrow of
the contact) [Mohan et al.]. The variables iT and vT represent the current that flow
through the device T and the voltage drop across it, respectively. In the following
laboratory works, version (b) will be preferred to version (a), because the latter is
more adequate for the bidirectional electronic switch used in matrix converters.
A second classification criterion of power semiconductor devices could be the
number of steady state volt-ampere (i-v) characteristics obtained by each device. All
of these, ideally defined, are presented in Fig. 2.2 on the iT – vT axes system. The
following characteristics and their corresponding states of the power semiconductor
devices can be thus emphasized:
9 Forward blocking characteristic – is obtained when the device blocks forward
(positive) voltages. No current flows through the device in this off-state.

Author: Ph.D.eng. Mihai Albu

4 „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Power Electronics Laboratory

9 Forward conduction characteristic – is obtained when the device is in full

conduction with a positive current determined by the forward voltage. The
voltage drops on an ideal device in the on-state is considered to be zero.
9 Reverse blocking characteristic – is obtained when the device blocks reverse
(negative) voltages. No current flows through the device in this off-state.
9 Reverse conduction characteristic – is obtained when the device allows
flowing reverse (negative) currents. This characteristic is specific to the
bidirectional devices.

iT
Forward conduction
characteristic
Controllable turn-on
Reverse blocking (turn-off)
characteristic
uT

Forward blocking
Controllable turn-on characteristic
(turn-off)
Reverse conduction
characteristic

Fig. 2.2 All the ideal steady state current-voltage (i-v) characteristics which
can be obtained by a power switch.

The majority of the semiconductor devices used in power electronics cannot

obtain all the characteristics above mentioned. Thus, the diodes can operate only on
two characteristics from Fig.2.2, the forward conduction and the reverse blocking
characteristics, the transition between the two is made uncontrollably, depending on
the external bias voltage. The controllable devices can accomplish two or three
characteristics, such as: the forward and reverse blocking characteristics, as well as the
forward conduction characteristic, noting that the passing between the two forward
characteristics is made if the control signal is used.
As mentioned before, the elementary (discrete) power semiconductor devices
are, in general, unidirectional valves for the current that flows through them. In some
modern power electronics structures certain power devices are necessary which are
able to materialize all the four steady state i-v characteristics presented above, known
as a bidirectional devices or bidirectional switch cells. In order to obtain a fully
controllable and bidirectional switch, two power transistors can be anti-parallel
connected. If the used transistors have a small reverse blocking capacity, fast diodes
are added and connected as shown in Fig.2.3.
 Lab no.2: Overview of power semiconductor devices and power modules 5

(a) (b)
Fig.2.3 Bidirectional and controllable switch cells obtained with diodes and discrete
controllable devices having a low reverse blocking capacity.

3. Capsule, semiconductor structure, symbols and operating

parameters of the power semiconductor devices

All the solid state power devices contain an active part built from a
semiconductor chip, hermetically sealed in a capsule. The chip is divided into layers
or regions different doped with impurities. Thus, a semiconductor structure is formed
(e.g. a silicon wafer) on which depend the operating parameters of the device. The
surfaces of the semiconductor chip in contact with the terminals are metallized and the
semiconductor superficial layer under the metallized area is heavily doped in order to
avoid a high contact resistance. The surfaces that remain are passivated and protected
with dielectric materials added or formed directly from the semiconductor material
such as, the silicon dioxide (SiO2).
The capsule of the device has different shapes and sizes depending on its type,
on the producer, on the rating voltages, on the maximum current, of the cooling
method, etc. There is a tendency of the companies to align themselves to the same
standard whether it is the size of the capsule or that of the modules. The capsule has a
multiple role: it gives mechanical resistance to the devices, it assures the protection of
the semiconductor structure against any environment factors such as humidity,
sustains the connection terminals, and last, but not least, assures the heat transfer,
sometimes with galvanic isolation, between the semiconductor chip and the exterior.
The symbol of a semiconductor device is a graphical representation which
defines the device type and highlights all of its power and control terminals. Through
the use of the graphic symbol, the exact position of a semiconductor in a scheme can
be marked and pinpointed, as well as its connexions with other circuit elements or
with other functional blocks.
In order to define the operating performances of a semiconductor device and
having the criteria by which one can compare it with other types of devices, one must
first define its characteristics. These one can be grouped into two categories:
• static (steady state) characteristics: through which the rated voltages are
highlighted, the forward or reverse breakdown voltages, the rating, maximum
and leakage currents, the on-state voltage, the on-state power losses, the

Author: Ph.D.eng. Mihai Albu

6 „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Power Electronics Laboratory

saturation and the active regions, the safe operating aria (SOA) etc. All these
parameters are defined for a steady state operation, conduction and blocking
state. Some of these parameters are presented in the device’s catalogue and
other depends on the control signal value. In general, the static parameters are
given through the volt-ampere (i-v) characteristics drawn in the electric plan
presented in Fig. 2.2.
• dynamic (transient) characteristics: through which the dynamic
performances of the devices are evaluated, more precisely the transition
parameters from the off-state to the on-state and vice versa. These parameters
are: the switching times, the maximum switching frequencies, the switching
power losses, the increase and decrease slopes of the current or voltage
waveforms, the rates of recombination of the charges that contributed to the
conduction, the switching overvoltages, etc.

4. Power losses in the semiconductor devices

A very important aspect tied to the operation of the power semiconductor

devices is represented by their losses. The power losses are a fraction of the electrical
power that flows through the device which is retained by it and converted into heat.
Taking into account the low size of the semiconductor devices (low thermal constant),
the temperature device can rapidly rise which can leading to the thermal destruction.
It must be outlined that, during forward or reverse blocking state, the real
devices act like an ideal switch, because the leakage currents are negligible, being a
few microamperes (µA), consequently no losses occur in this state. Instead, once the
on-state is activated the current iT appear in the presence of a nonzero voltage drop uT.
This will determine the absorption of an instantaneous electric power by the device,
formulated by the following equation:
pT (t ) = vT (t ) ⋅ iT (t ) (2.1)
Two situations can be highlighted in which power semiconductor devices do
indeed switch. In the first situation, in switch mode or hard switching, during the
switching intervals (crossover time intervals - tc), an important voltage drop across the
device occur simultaneously with an increasing current (during turn-on transition →
tc(on)) or with a decreasing current (during turn-off transition → tc(off)). For this reason,
the instantaneous power at the device level is important, resulting in the so called
switching power losses (Ps).
Soft-switching without losses can be obtained in the case of semiconductor
devices included in resonant converters. In the following lines the discussion will
focus on the switch mode, because it is widely used and the it is most relevant when
talking about losses.
 Lab no.2: Overview of power semiconductor devices and power modules 7

It must be outlined that during the switches, the voltage and the current
waveforms evolve in different directions, either simultaneously or separately (e.g. the
switching cells with recovery diodes). In the case of a separate evolution, the current
transitions through the power semiconductor device appear all the time when the
voltage drop is quite high. Thus, during a turn-on transition, first there will increase
the current from zero to the Id value, after which the voltage will drop to its on-state
voltage Von (saturation value); during the turn-off transition, the voltage will first rise
from the Von value to the source value Vd, after which the current drops to zero. In
order to generally evaluate the losses, only the last case will be taken into account,
because it covers every situation. From a quantitative point of view, the power losses
can be equated to the energy retained by the static switch in a second time interval,
value which, in fact, corresponds to the average power converted into heat. With these
specifications and knowing that fs opening-blocking transitions pairs occur per second,
it can be obtained the switching power losses equation [see Mohan et al.]:

Ps =
1
2
(
⋅ U d ⋅ I d ⋅ f s ⋅ tc ( on ) + tc ( off ) ) (2.2)

where: tc(on) and tc(off) are mentioned above, fs = 1/Ts is the switching frequency of the
device, Ts = ton + toff is the switching time period, ton is the on-state time interval and
toff is the off-state time interval.
From the (2.2) equation one can conclude that the switching power losses
increase proportionally with the switching frequency and with the rise of the switching
times. Thus, in order to obtain a high switching frequency for a power electronic
equipment, so as to diminish its mass and size, fast and ultra fast devices must be
chosen with very short switching times (e.g. MOSFET type power transistors).
The instantaneous power pT, which determines the losses in the device,
appears not only during the device’s transition, but also during the on-state. The losses
afferent to the conduction state, called on-state power losses (Pon), can be calculated
using the average power taken by the device in the ton time intervals [see Mohan et
al.]:
t
Pon = f s ⋅ Von ⋅ I d ⋅ ton = Von ⋅ I d ⋅ on = Von ⋅ I d ⋅ D (2.3)
Ts
where: D = ton Tc is the duty ratio (duty cycle) of the device.
It can be observed that on-state power losses are proportional with the on-state
voltage Von, with the Id value of the steady state current that flows through the device
and with the on-state time interval ton. In order to increase the Id current without
exceeding the on-state power losses, a device with low on-state voltage Von must be
chosen (e.g. BJT or IGBT type power transistors).
The total power losses during the device operation are given by the sum of the
switching and on-state power losses:

Author: Ph.D.eng. Mihai Albu

8 „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Power Electronics Laboratory

Ptot = Ps + Pon (2.4)

These losses are limited by the heat transfer capacity of the device – radiator
assembly and by the maximum temperature at which the device can operate without
thermal destruction.

5. Power modules

In the beginning of power electronics, only discrete semiconductor devices

were used in order to obtain the power topologies. These ones were mounted on the
radiators placed in a certain order. The connections between terminals were manually
manufactured with wires whose section was calculated depending on the currents
values. This kind of architecture had to be designed with care in order to avoid
parasitical inductances, to minimize the losses in the wires and to decrease the
electromagnetic disturbances induced by the switching currents. In the case of a
structure with more identical sections, e.g. the three-phase structures, a
symmetrization is needed. It is also necessary to design the entire system compact
with the lowest possible size, maintaining at the same time a maximum heat transfer
capacity of the radiators. Using these old manufacturing solutions, the above demands
were difficult to transpose into the practice.

The constructive solution that won over time resulted from the observation
that mostly of the modern power electronic structures use well-known repetitive
combinations: transistors associated with discharge diodes, half bridge structures with
diodes, thyristors or power transistors, etc. Consequently, the idea of “packaging” has
arisen in order to gather all these standard structures in a single capsule as power
modules. Over time, the concept was adopted and developed by the majority of the
important companies, a certain level of standardization being obtained. This
standardization is reflected today in the topologies incorporated in the modules, in the
capsule shapes, in the arrangement and the numbering of the terminals, in the
manufacturing technology, in the rating voltages and currents etc.
By using the modules in power electronics, the following advantages are
obtained:
9 size decrease and compactness of the power electronic system;
9 increased immunity to the disturbances;
9 decrease of the parasitical inductances and electromagnetic emissions;
9 power losses decrease during operations;
9 radiator isolation from the under voltage parts;
9 easy assembly and cost reduction for the whole system;
 Lab no.2: Overview of power semiconductor devices and power modules 9

The first manufactured modules were restricted to the integration in a

monolithic form of the most widely used power electronic structures. These ones are
the most simple and form the so called category of Power Integrated Modules (PIMs).
They still retain the widest market share due to their diversity, of their quality,
robustness, low price and last, but not least, due to their high power, voltages and
currents for which their were made. As the manufacturing technologies were
perfected, the complexity of these modules has increased. Today, one module may
contain several converter structures such as: converter-inverter-brake circuit → CIB).
Practical realization of a power structure with controllable devices implies the
addition of the control circuits (drivers). In the case of the MOS gate power
transistors, the control power is negligible, thus the drivers being made on a small
scale like a specialized integrated circuit (IC). These observations offered a foundation
for the “packaging” into same capsule of the MOS gate transistors with their drivers.
Therefore in the 1990’s emerges the concept of smart power. And the products having
been made using this procedure are called smart power devices.
The „smart power” concept has entered and developed mostly in the field of
the power modules. In a first stage, the module received a complex control circuit
capable to manage intelligently the operation of the entire ensemble (control,
protection, communication with the outside, etc.). These devices are referred by the
majority of the manufacturing companies and by the specialists as Intelligent Power
Modules (IPMs).
A second stage in developing of the intelligent modules and a third in power
modules evolution implies the association to the power structure and to the drivers of a
Digital Signal Processor (DSP) with the control function of the entire power
electronic system obtained with the power module. Thus, this module can be
programmed in order to operate in different applications. Once the control algorithm is
loaded, it can function independently. This facility justifies the name of
programmable IPM or programmable power module.
To conclude, three categories of power modules can be outlined:
• Power Integrated Modules – PIM;
• Intelligent Power Modules – IPM;
• Programmable power modules;
There is a power threshold over which the manufacturing of the intelligent
and programmable modules becomes too expensive. The integration technology used
in the field of microelectronics cannot be applied identically for high power modules,
because the manufacturing conditions of semiconductor structures are different: the
current densities, the temperatures and the electric fields. For this reason over a certain
power thresholds, there is a preference for the silicon devices non-integrated in
intelligent modules. Their control and protection is made in a classical way with
drivers placed outside of the modules. A future solution to this problem is constituted
by the use of more stable semiconductor materials capable to withstand high

Author: Ph.D.eng. Mihai Albu

10 „Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Power Electronics Laboratory

temperatures in comparison with silicon. This could be silicon carbide (SiC) and in a
distant future, the diamond.
The power semiconductor devices based on silicon carbide were already
obtained. The laboratory testing phases are over and the first devices have been
launched on the market. The tests show remarkable advantages, especially at high
temperatures (around 200°C) at which its can operate without losing their properties.
Consequently, the current densities flowing through the power switches made out of
SiC can increase a few times, while the size, for the same current, diminishes in
comparison with the silicon devices.
Similar to germanium and silicon, the carbon is a tetravalent element. The
crystalline structure of carbon under the form of diamond resembles with the
crystalline structure of the classic semiconductor elements. To be considered an
acceptable semiconductor material for manufacturing controllable switches, the
structure of the diamond has to be perfect. Not even the purest natural diamonds can
be used in these applications. The normal synthetic diamonds obtained through the
sedimentation of carbon vapors do not reach the standards necessary for a usable
semiconductor material. Only via special conditions can the manufactured diamonds
achieve the crystalline structure capable to sustain greater electron mobility than the
silicon carbide. The final result is that of a semiconductor material with a higher
conductivity than presently used, i.e. lower power losses. Moreover, the diamond has
superior advantages due to the stronger electric fields and resistance to higher
temperatures. Therefore, it can be obtain static switches with normal sizes that may
sustain currents of tens of kilo amperes and voltages of tens of kilovolts without
connecting several devices in parallel or in series. It will be the perfect switch.

6. Objectives and procedures

1. It will be studied the classification of the power semiconductor devices according

to the controllability criterion and the achieved steady state characteristics. The
usually semiconductor devices will be identified in the context of these
classifications with its particular characteristics;
2. The definitions for the capsule, for the semiconductor structure, for the symbol
and the static and dynamic characteristics of the power semiconductor devices it
will be respectively analyzed.
3. It will be identified the power losses that occur at the level of a semiconductor
device when it operates in switch mode and the parameters and variables on
which these losses depend.
4. It will be analyzed the advantages brought by the integration principle in power
electronics and it will be reviewed the types of modules existing today on the
market as a result of the integration technology;
 Lab no.2: Overview of power semiconductor devices and power modules 11

5. It will be analyzed the developing perspectives in the field of the semiconductor

power devices;
6. It will be study in the laboratory of various samples of the power
semiconductor devices and power modules;

References

[1] Mohan N., Undeland T., Robbins W.: Power Electronics: Converters, Applications
and Design, Third Edition, Published by John Willey &Sons Inc., USA, 2003.
[2] Baliga B.J., Modern Power Devices, John Willey &Sons, New York, 1987.
[3] Sum Kit K., Switch Mode PowerConversion – Basic Theory and Design, Ed. Marcel
Dekker, New York, 1984.
[4] Masuda H., New Advanced Power Semiconductors, PCIM Europe, Issue 6, 1998,
pp.316-320.
[5] Thurau J., Innovative IGBT Module Concepts for Inverter Technique, PCIM Europe,
Issue 5, 2000, pp.10-15.
[6] Noda S., Hussein K.H., Yamada S. et al., Compact Intelligent Module for Drives,
PCIM Europe, Issue 4, 1997, pp. 226-227.
[7] Backhaus K., Intelligent Power Module Family SKIIP Pack 3-rd Generation, PCIM
Europe Issue 8/9, 2000, pp. 10-14.
[8] Majumdar G., More Functional Integration, PCIM Europe – Special 10 years, 1999,
pp. 23-24.
[9] Arlt B., Smart Power in Electronic, PCIM Europe, May 2003, pp. 10-11.
[10] Heinzel T., IPM for Low Power Drives, PCIM Europe, Issue 4, 1999, pp. 8-14.

Author: Ph.D.eng. Mihai Albu