Power Device Temperature Control During Avalanche Breakdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power devices experience excessive power dissipation and temperature rise during avalanche breakdown, leading to potential damage due to increased junction temperature, which existing solutions attempt to mitigate through larger resistors or clamping circuitry, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A circuit comprising a power device, a thermal sensor, and a driver circuit that senses temperature and activates the power device to reduce dissipation by modulating its operation during overstress conditions, thereby controlling temperature without the need for additional clamping circuitry or large resistors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If avalanche breakdown protection is implemented using larger resistors or clamping circuitry, then device reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power device uses its own channel current to provide avalanche protection by turning on the channel during avalanche breakdown, allowing the device to protect itself without external clamping circuitry or additional components
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful avalanche breakdown phenomenon into a beneficial protective mechanism by utilizing the avalanche-induced current to turn on the channel, which then limits further power dissipation and protects the device
2Temperature
If avalanche breakdown protection is implemented using clamping circuitry, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power device autonomously controls its own temperature by sensing avalanche breakdown through its channel current and automatically turning on the channel to limit power dissipation, eliminating the need for external temperature control circuits
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback control by monitoring the channel current during avalanche breakdown and using this information to control the channel state, thereby regulating power dissipation and junction temperature
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
Effectively reduces power dissipation and temperature of power devices during avalanche conditions, preventing damage while minimizing costs by eliminating the need for expensive clamping circuitry and larger resistors.
Implementation Method 1
A thermal sensor is configured to sense temperature of the power device and provide a sensor signal responsive to the sensed temperature
Implementation Method 2
The power device is configured to conduct current between the voltage inputs responsive to a control input signal
Implementation Method 3
Avalanche breakdown relates to a phenomenon that can occur in both insulating and semiconducting materials when an electric field across a p-n junction has energy sufficient to create free charge carriers that collide with bound electrons to create more free charge carriers
Data Source
AI summary
In a described example, a circuit includes a power device having voltage inputs and a command input. A sensing circuit has a sensor input and a sensor output, in which the sensor input is coupled to the power device. A control circuit has a control input and a control output, in which the control input coupled to the sensor output. A driver circuit has a driver input and a driver output. The driver input is coupled to the control output, and the driver output is coupled to the command input of the power device.