• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2023

The potential performance benefits of Silicon Carbide(SiC) MOSFETs in high power, high frequency power switching applications have been well established over the past 20 years. In the past few years, SiC MOSFET offerings have been announced by suppliers as die, discrete, module and system level products. In high-voltage SiC vertical devices, major design concerns is the edge termination and cell pitch design Field Limiting Rings(FLR) based structures are commonly used in the edge termination approaches. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of variation of FLR and JFET region on the performance of a 3.3 kV SiC MOSFET during. The improvement in MOSFET reverse bias by optimizing the field ring design and its influence on the nominal operating performance is evaluated. And, manufacturability of the optimization of the JFET region of the SiC MOSFET was also examined by investigating full-map electrical characteristics.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 2017

This paper describes the design and implementation of a unit module for a 10 kVA class 13.2 kV/220 V unidirectional solid-state transformer (SST) with silicon-carbide metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. The proposed module consists of an active-front-end (AFE) converter to interface 1320 V AC voltage source to 2500 V DC link and an isolated resonant DC-DC converter for 500 V low-voltage DC output. The design approaches of the AFE and the isolated resonant DC-DC converters are addressed. The control structures of the converters are described as well. The experiments for the converters are performed, and results verify that the proposed unit module can be successfully adopted for the entire SST operation.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.206-213
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• 2022

This paper presents setting up a laboratory-scale testbed to estimate the aging of power MOSFET devices and integrated power modules by measuring its on-state voltage and current. Based on the aging mechanisms of the component inside the power module (e.g., bond-wire, solder layer, and semiconductor chip), a system to measure the on-state resistance of device-under-test (DUT) is designed and experimented: a full-bridge circuit applies current stress to DUT, and a temperature chamber controls the ambient temperature of DUT during the aging test. The on-state resistance of SiC MOSFET measured by the proposed testbed was increased by 2.5%-3% after 44-hour of the aging test.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 2023

In this paper, we introduce the development trends of power devices which is the key component for power conversion system in electric vehicles, and discuss the characteristics of the next-generation wide-bandgap (WBG) power devices. We provide an overview of the characteristics of the present mainstream Si insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) devices and technology roadmap of Si IGBT by different manufacturers. Next, recent progress and advantages of SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) which are the most important unipolar devices, is described compared with conventional Si IGBT. Furthermore, due to the limitations of the current GaN power device technology, the issues encountered in applying the power conversion module for electric vehicles were described.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2022

In this paper, WBG semiconductor such as SiC and GaN were applied as power switches for LCL circuit that can be applied to satellite power systems and the test results of the LCL circuit are reported. P-channel MOSFET and N-channel MOSFET, which were generally used in the conventional LCL circuit, were applied together to expand the utility of the test results. The design and stability evaluation were performed using a Micro Cap circuit simulation program. For the test circuit, a module using each switch was manufactured, and a total of 5 modules were manufactured and the steady state and transient state characteristics were compared. From the experimental results, the LCL circuit for power supply of the satellite power system constructed in this paper satisfied the constant current and constant voltage conditions under various operating conditions. The P-channel MOSFET showed the lowest efficiency characteristics, and the three N-channel switches of Si, SiC and GaN showed relatively high efficiency characteristics of up to 99.05% or more. In conclusion, it was verified that the on-resistor of the switch had a direct effect on the efficiency and loss characteristics.

• JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL WORLD
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• s.297
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• pp.66-72
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• 2001

1957년에 사이리스터가 발표된 이래 파워반도체디바이스(이하 ''파워디바이스''라 한다)의 발전과 더불어 이것을 사용하여 전력변환$\cdot$제어와 이를 응용한 파워일렉트로닉스 산업도 현저한 발전을 이루어 왔다. 21세기를 맞이하여 지구의 유한성을 강하게 인식하고 자원과 에너지를 고도이용하는 순환형 사회에로의 전환을 도모하는 기술혁신과 IT(정보기술)를 구사한 기술보급의 움직임이 활발해지고, 파워일렉트로닉스와 그 키파트인 파워디바이스가 수행하여야 할 역할은 점점 더 중요해지고 있다. 이와 같은 배경 하에서 파워디바이스는 인버터제어를 주목적으로 사이리스터, GTO(Gate Turn-off Thyristor), 바이폴라트랜지스터, MOSFET(Metal Oxide Silicon Field Effect Transistor)에서 IGBT(Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor)에로 진전되고, 그 응용분야도 가전제품에서 OA, 산업, 의료, 전기자동차, 전철, 전력에 이르는 폭넓은 분야로 확대되었다. 현재 파워디바이스를 취급하는 전력의 범위는 수W의 스위칭 전원에서 GW급의 직류송전까지 9단위까지에 이르러 광범위한 전력 제어가 가능하게 되었다. 한편 응용의 중심이 되는 IGBT는, 고속화와 저손실화 및 파괴 내량의 향상을 지향한 개량을 거듭하여 제5세대제품이 나타나기 시작하였다. 또한 IGBT에 구동$\cdot$보호$\cdot$진단 회로 등을 넣어 모듈화한 IPM(Intelligent Power Module)이 그 편리성과 소형화를 특징으로 파워디바이스의 주역의 자리에 정착하였다. 가전$\cdot$산업$\cdot$자동차$\cdot$전철의 각 분야에서는 시장 니즈에 최적 설계된 IPM이 개발되게 되어 보다 더한 시장확대가 기대되고 있다. 또한 종래의 Si(실리콘)에 대신하는 반도체 재료로서 SiC(실리콘 카바이드 : 탄화규소)에 대한 기대가 크고 MOSFET나 SBD 등의 파워디바이스의 조기실용화에의 대처노력도 주목할 만하다.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.17-23
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• 2018

Recently, electric semiconductors became an issue because of efficient use of energy and compaction of electronics. Silicon electric semiconductors are difficult to put into it because of its physical limitations. Hence, the study of WBG (Wideband Gap) semiconductors like SiC and GaN began. These devices received attention because it can be miniaturized and worked at high temperatures over $300^{\circ}C$. WBG MOSFET electric semiconductors can show performance like silicon IGBT. This can solve the current problem of IGBT tail. The current study shows the technical principles and issues related to SiC and GaN power semiconductors. WBG devices can achieve high performance compared to silicon, but its performance can't be fully utilized because of lack in bonding technology. Therefore, this review introduces research on WBG devices and their packaging issues.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.496-502
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• 2020

The reliability of a solid-state transformer (SST) is one of the important aspects to consider when replacing a conventional low-frequency passive transformer with SST for urban railway vehicles. Lifetime evaluation of SST in the design phase is therefore essential in guaranteeing a certain SST reliability. In this study, a lifetime evaluation of power semiconductor devices in SST is performed with respect to temperature stress. For a case study, a 3 MW SST with three kinds of power modules (one IGBT module and two SiC-MOSFET modules) is used for the lifetime estimation under the operation profile of urban railway vehicles.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2024

This study offers a comprehensive evaluation of the role and impact of advanced power semiconductors in solar module systems. Focusing on silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) materials, it highlights their superiority over traditional silicon in enhancing system efficiency and reliability. The research underscores the growing industry demand for high-performance semiconductors, driven by global sustainable energy goals. This shift is crucial for overcoming the limitations of conventional solar technology, paving the way for more efficient, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable solar energy solutions. The findings suggest significant potential for these advanced materials in shaping the future of solar power technology.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2021

This study proposes a design method of high-power-density and high-efficiency low-voltage DC-DC converters using SiC MOSFET and the optimized planar transformer design procedure based on the figure-of-merit. The secondary rectifying circuit of the phase-shifted full-bridge converter is compared to achieve high power density and high efficiency, and the phase-shifted full bridge converter with a current-doubler rectifier is selected. The planar transformer is designed by the proposed optimized design procedure and verified by FEA simulation. To validate the proposed design method, experimental results from a 3 kW prototype are provided. The prototype achieved 95.28% maximum efficiency and a power density of 2.98 kW/L.