Parallel Semiconductor Source Inductors for Current Balance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor circuits face issues with variations in drain current and potential malfunctions due to sharp noise and impedance, leading to power loss, heat generation, and reduced operating life, particularly when multiple semiconductor elements are connected in parallel.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor circuit design that incorporates inductor parts connected in series with semiconductor elements, utilizing magnetic interactions to induce electromotive forces in opposite directions, minimizing current variations and surge voltages without requiring large impedance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a common source inductance is provided to minimize drain current variation, then current balance is improved, but sharp noise is generated in the gate circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the common source inductance into separate individual inductances for each semiconductor element. Instead of using one shared inductance that affects all elements, each element has its own inductance, which segments the noise generation source and prevents sharp noise from propagating through a shared path while still providing the necessary current balancing effect locally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different inductance characteristics to different elements based on their specific drain current variations. By providing individual inductances rather than a uniform common inductance, each element can have optimized local inductance properties that minimize its specific current variation without generating harmful noise that would affect other elements.
2Manufacturing precision
If larger impedance is provided to handle sharp drain current, then current control is improved, but switching operation may cause malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inductances that dynamically respond to current changes rather than static high impedance. The inductances provide adaptive current control by generating back-EMF proportional to the rate of change of current, which naturally limits sharp current transitions without requiring fixed high impedance that would cause switching malfunctions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the impedance parameter from fixed high impedance to frequency-dependent inductive impedance. The inductances provide high impedance only at high-frequency switching transitions where sharp current changes occur, while maintaining low impedance at lower frequencies to allow proper switching operation, thus resolving the contradiction between current control and switching reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If individual inductances are provided for each semiconductor element, then current variation is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of current balancing and noise filtering into a single inductance component for each element, eliminating the need for separate common source inductance and individual balancing inductances. This combining approach achieves current balance without proportionally increasing device complexity, as each inductance serves multiple functions simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively reduces the impact on semiconductor devices by minimizing current variations and surge voltages, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs by eliminating the need for additional parts to generate induced electromotive forces.
Implementation Method 1
the first inductor part and the second inductor part are arranged to generate an induced electromotive force in the first inductor part and the second inductor part by way of a magnetic interaction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A semiconductor circuit includes: a first inductor part configured to connect in series with a source electrode of a first semiconductor element; and a second inductor part configured to connect in series with a source electrode in a second semiconductor element that is configured to connect in parallel with the first semiconductor element; the first inductor part and the second inductor part are arranged to generate an induced electromotive force in the first inductor part and the second inductor part by way of a magnetic interaction so that the currents flowing in the first inductor part and the second inductor part are reinforced in the same direction.