Extended Monolithic Integration Levels for Highly Functional GaN Power ICs

Extended Monolithic Integration Levels for Highly Functional GaN Power ICs
Author: Michael Basler
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2022
Genre:
ISBN:

Abstract: A new generation of power electronic systems with reduced size, losses and costs is emerging due to the rapid development of gallium nitride (GaN) transistors. These transistors are fabricated in the GaN-on-Si technology and have a lateral structure, which enables the monolithic integration with peripheral functions such as driver, sensing, protection, and control. In this manner, the first GaN power integrated circuits (ICs) with gate driver have successfully entered the market. This work extends the monolithic integration in the GaN technology by introducing and investigating building and function blocks for power ICs. A GaN power IC platform with devices and building blocks is investigated regarding its characteristics and its related design issues are analyzed. This leads to new design approaches and methods, which are presented in this thesis. Integration levels are introduced for the classification of GaN power ICs. Emphasis is placed on a schematic and layout design framework which provides circuit designers an effective way to implement custom power ICs. Two types of transistors and diodes as well as design approaches for layout structures with high current carrying capabilities are analyzed. Besides the investigation of active devices, also new approaches for integrated passives are introduced, such as dog bone layouts for high impedance resistors, p-GaN gate and stacked MIM capacitors as well as spiral inductors with high current carrying capabilities. Another focus is on the building blocks with digital and analog basic circuits. Area-efficient designs for logic gates with reduced static losses are presented. In addition, there are investigations into multi-stage comparators based on differential amplifiers and temperature-compensated voltage references. Based on this GaN power IC platform, two case studies are presented for a DC-DC synchronous buck converter and AC-DC active rectifier diode. The case studies on the one hand highlight the capability to implement complex functions and even systems consisting of devices and function blocks with their design approaches on a single chip and to use them advantageously for power electronics applications. Experimental measurements on implemented hardware prototypes, on the other hand, verify the advantages of highly-integrated GaN power ICs. The key findings of this work on GaN power integration are given. Beyond this comparisons of GaN and Si IC technologies as well as GaN power ICs are elaborated and perspectives, challenges and social benefits are discussed. This work contributes significantly to the progress and development of highly-integrated high-performance GaN ICs for power electronics

Monolithic Integration in E-Mode GaN Technology

Monolithic Integration in E-Mode GaN Technology
Author: Maik Peter Kaufmann
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 185
Release: 2022-10-26
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3031156250

This book is a comprehensive, all-in-one source on design of monolithic GaN power ICs. It is written in handbook style with systematic guidelines and includes implementation examples. It covers the full range from technology fundamentals to implementation details including design techniques specific for GaN technology. It provides a detailed loss analysis based on comparative measurements between silicon and GaN based converters to provide an understanding of the relations between design choices and results which can be transferred to other power converter systems.

Highly Integrated Gate Drivers for Si and GaN Power Transistors

Highly Integrated Gate Drivers for Si and GaN Power Transistors
Author: Achim Seidel
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 137
Release: 2021-03-31
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3030689409

This book explores integrated gate drivers with emphasis on new gallium nitride (GaN) power transistors, which offer fast switching along with minimum switching losses. It serves as a comprehensive, all-in-one source for gate driver IC design, written in handbook style with systematic guidelines. The authors cover the full range from fundamentals to implementation details including topics like power stages, various kinds of gate drivers (resonant, non-resonant, current-source, voltage-source), gate drive schemes, driver supply, gate loop, gate driver power efficiency and comparison silicon versus GaN transistors. Solutions are presented on the system and circuit level for highly integrated gate drivers. Coverage includes miniaturization by higher integration of subfunctions onto the IC (buffer capacitors), as well as more efficient switching by a multi-level approach, which also improves robustness in case of extremely fast switching transitions. The discussion also includes a concept for robust operation in the highly relevant case that the gate driver is placed in distance to the power transistor. All results are widely applicable to achieve highly compact, energy efficient, and cost-effective power electronics solutions.​

Power GaN Devices

Power GaN Devices
Author: Matteo Meneghini
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 383
Release: 2016-09-08
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319431994

This book presents the first comprehensive overview of the properties and fabrication methods of GaN-based power transistors, with contributions from the most active research groups in the field. It describes how gallium nitride has emerged as an excellent material for the fabrication of power transistors; thanks to the high energy gap, high breakdown field, and saturation velocity of GaN, these devices can reach breakdown voltages beyond the kV range, and very high switching frequencies, thus being suitable for application in power conversion systems. Based on GaN, switching-mode power converters with efficiency in excess of 99 % have been already demonstrated, thus clearing the way for massive adoption of GaN transistors in the power conversion market. This is expected to have important advantages at both the environmental and economic level, since power conversion losses account for 10 % of global electricity consumption. The first part of the book describes the properties and advantages of gallium nitride compared to conventional semiconductor materials. The second part of the book describes the techniques used for device fabrication, and the methods for GaN-on-Silicon mass production. Specific attention is paid to the three most advanced device structures: lateral transistors, vertical power devices, and nanowire-based HEMTs. Other relevant topics covered by the book are the strategies for normally-off operation, and the problems related to device reliability. The last chapter reviews the switching characteristics of GaN HEMTs based on a systems level approach. This book is a unique reference for people working in the materials, device and power electronics fields; it provides interdisciplinary information on material growth, device fabrication, reliability issues and circuit-level switching investigation.

GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion

GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion
Author: Alex Lidow
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 470
Release: 2019-08-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1119594421

An up-to-date, practical guide on upgrading from silicon to GaN, and how to use GaN transistors in power conversion systems design This updated, third edition of a popular book on GaN transistors for efficient power conversion has been substantially expanded to keep students and practicing power conversion engineers ahead of the learning curve in GaN technology advancements. Acknowledging that GaN transistors are not one-to-one replacements for the current MOSFET technology, this book serves as a practical guide for understanding basic GaN transistor construction, characteristics, and applications. Included are discussions on the fundamental physics of these power semiconductors, layout, and other circuit design considerations, as well as specific application examples demonstrating design techniques when employing GaN devices. GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion, 3rd Edition brings key updates to the chapters of Driving GaN Transistors; Modeling, Simulation, and Measurement of GaN Transistors; DC-DC Power Conversion; Envelope Tracking; and Highly Resonant Wireless Energy Transfer. It also offers new chapters on Thermal Management, Multilevel Converters, and Lidar, and revises many others throughout. Written by leaders in the power semiconductor field and industry pioneers in GaN power transistor technology and applications Updated with 35% new material, including three new chapters on Thermal Management, Multilevel Converters, Wireless Power, and Lidar Features practical guidance on formulating specific circuit designs when constructing power conversion systems using GaN transistors A valuable resource for professional engineers, systems designers, and electrical engineering students who need to fully understand the state-of-the-art GaN Transistors for Efficient Power Conversion, 3rd Edition is an essential learning tool and reference guide that enables power conversion engineers to design energy-efficient, smaller, and more cost-effective products using GaN transistors.

Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Power Devices

Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Power Devices
Author: B. Jayant Baliga
Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
Total Pages: 420
Release: 2018-10-17
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0081023073

Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Power Devices: Materials, Physics, Design and Applications provides readers with a single resource on why these devices are superior to existing silicon devices. The book lays the groundwork for an understanding of an array of applications and anticipated benefits in energy savings. Authored by the Founder of the Power Semiconductor Research Center at North Carolina State University (and creator of the IGBT device), Dr. B. Jayant Baliga is one of the highest regarded experts in the field. He thus leads this team who comprehensively review the materials, device physics, design considerations and relevant applications discussed. Comprehensively covers power electronic devices, including materials (both gallium nitride and silicon carbide), physics, design considerations, and the most promising applications Addresses the key challenges towards the realization of wide bandgap power electronic devices, including materials defects, performance and reliability Provides the benefits of wide bandgap semiconductors, including opportunities for cost reduction and social impact

Control of Series-Parallel Conversion Systems

Control of Series-Parallel Conversion Systems
Author: Xinbo Ruan
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2018-12-11
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9811327602

Series-parallel conversion systems, in which multiple standardized converter modules are connected in series or parallel at the input and output sides, to meet the demands of various applications. This book focuses on the control strategies for the series-parallel conversion systems with DC-DC converters and DC-AC inverters as the basic modules, respectively, to achieve input voltage/current sharing and output voltage/current sharing among the constituent modules. The detailed theoretical analysis with design examples and experimental validations are presented. This book is essential and valuable reference for graduate students and academics majoring in power electronics and engineers engaged in developing DC-DC converters, DC-AC inverters and power electronics transformers.

Power Electronic Packaging

Power Electronic Packaging
Author: Yong Liu
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 606
Release: 2012-02-15
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1461410533

Power Electronic Packaging presents an in-depth overview of power electronic packaging design, assembly,reliability and modeling. Since there is a drastic difference between IC fabrication and power electronic packaging, the book systematically introduces typical power electronic packaging design, assembly, reliability and failure analysis and material selection so readers can clearly understand each task's unique characteristics. Power electronic packaging is one of the fastest growing segments in the power electronic industry, due to the rapid growth of power integrated circuit (IC) fabrication, especially for applications like portable, consumer, home, computing and automotive electronics. This book also covers how advances in both semiconductor content and power advanced package design have helped cause advances in power device capability in recent years. The author extrapolates the most recent trends in the book's areas of focus to highlight where further improvement in materials and techniques can drive continued advancements, particularly in thermal management, usability, efficiency, reliability and overall cost of power semiconductor solutions.

Semiconductor Detector Systems

Semiconductor Detector Systems
Author: Helmuth Spieler
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 513
Release: 2005-08-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0191523658

Semiconductor sensors patterned at the micron scale combined with custom-designed integrated circuits have revolutionized semiconductor radiation detector systems. Designs covering many square meters with millions of signal channels are now commonplace in high-energy physics and the technology is finding its way into many other fields, ranging from astrophysics to experiments at synchrotron light sources and medical imaging. This book is the first to present a comprehensive discussion of the many facets of highly integrated semiconductor detector systems, covering sensors, signal processing, transistors and circuits, low-noise electronics, and radiation effects. The diversity of design approaches is illustrated in a chapter describing systems in high-energy physics, astronomy, and astrophysics. Finally a chapter "Why things don't work" discusses common pitfalls. Profusely illustrated, this book provides a unique reference in a key area of modern science.