Presentation GaN APEC 2015 GaN Applications 01_00 | Mar 18, 2015 | PDF | 2.66 mb

Professional Education Seminar S17
Practical Application of 600 V
GaN HEMTs in Power Electronics
Monday March 16, 2015 8:30 – 12:00
Eric Persson, GaN Applications
Seminar Outline




Limitations of today‟s 600 V Silicon
Topologies where superjunction performs well
Topologies where superjunction application is limited
GaN HEMT characteristics
– Depletion-mode, cascode, enhancement-mode
– GaN applied to hard and soft-switching topologies


Gate drive considerations for GaN
PFC Application examples
– Standard boost, dual boost, totem-pole bridgeless



LLC converter example
ZVS phase-shifted full-bridge example
Motor drive example
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
2
What needs improvement?
For same Rds(on), improve all the charge parameters:
 Reduce Coss nonlinearity
– Nonlinearity makes timing and dv/dt control challenging
 Reduce Qoss (and therefore Eoss) magnitude
 Reduce Coss dissipation factor
 Improve body diode dynamic performance
– Reduce/eliminate Qrr
 Reduce gate charge
 All of the above at affordable cost
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
3
Topologies where superjunction works well


Unipolar current flow, hard or soft-switched
Two-transistor forward
– Hard switched, partial valley switched

Boost PFC
– CCM or CrCM

Flyback
– Hard switched, partial valley switched

Why?
– Superjunction has low Rds(on)*Eoss figure of merit
– Body diode performance is not important
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
4
2-Transistor Forward Converter (2TF)
Vin
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
5
2TF voltage and current waveforms
Ref: Thierry Sutto, “2 switch forward current mode converter,” ON semi app note AND8373/D
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
6
2TF FET turn-on loss measurement
Ref: Thierry Sutto, “2 switch forward current mode converter,” ON semi app note AND8373/D
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
7
2TF FET turn-on loss analysis

This accounts for the “crossover” loss
– Where the transistor is supporting simultaneous V and I
 What is missing?
 This suggests that if Δt goes to 0, Turn-on loss = 0
Ref: Thierry Sutto, “2 switch forward current mode converter,” ON semi app note AND8373/D
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
8
What about the Eoss of the FET itself?
Vd
SiC
Schottky
Simplified
Schematic
iD
Vd
v DS t 
Io
i D t 

Note: This is not Qrr
vDS
iG

Vd
DF
RG
Cak
PLOSSt 
C gd1
C ds

VGG
t
0
IO
C gs

Current Commutation
Qsw Discharge
Equivalent Circuit
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
9
2TF FET turn-off loss

Turn-off losses limited entirely by gate drive
– If you can turn-off the gate extremely fast, get ZVS
Ref: Thierry Sutto, “2 switch forward current mode converter,” ON semi app note AND8373/D
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
10
2 Transistor Forward Summary

This is a unipolar topology
– Superjunction already works well
– Body diode performance is unimportant

Switch losses are dominated by:
–
–
–
–
Conduction
Turn-on speed
Eoss
Turn-off speed
 Possible switch improvements
– For a given Rds(on):
– Reduced Eoss (stored energy in device Coss)
– Reduced Qg to enable faster switching
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
11
Flyback Converter

Avalanche risk
Vin
IL
Vds
Vgs
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
12
Flyback turn-on timing is critical


Eoss dissipated proportional to Vds2
Strong dependence on timing turn-on to waveform
– Turning on at peak versus valley – big difference in Eoss
Vds
Vds
Iin
Iin
Vgs
Vgs
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
13
Flyback Summary

This is a unipolar topology
– Superjunction already works well
– Body diode performance is unimportant
– Avalanche or overvoltage capability likely necessary

Switch losses are dominated by:
–
–
–
–

Conduction
Turn-on speed
Eoss (valley switching can minimize loss)
Turn-off speed
Possible switch improvements
– For a given Rds(on):
– Reduced Eoss (stored energy in device Coss)
– Reduced Qg to enable faster switching
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
14
Standard boost PFC
 SB typically superjunction
 DB SiC Schottky for lowest loss
 Can achieve >96% efficiency
REF: L. Huber, Y. Jang, M. Jovanovic, “Performance Evaluation of Bridgeless PFC Boost Rectifiers,” IEEE
TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 23, NO. 3, MAY 2008
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
15
Standard boost PFC

Typical operating frequency <70 kHz
– Keep fundamental and 2nd harmonic below 150 kHz EMI
– Increasing frequency increases switching loss

Control mode typically Continuous Conduction Mode
– CCM balances ripple current losses and switching loss

Can be operated Discontinuous or Critical mode
– Much higher ripple current
– But ZVS or near ZVS possible, much lower switching loss
 Either way, dominant loss is input bridge rectifier
– 1-2% total efficiency loss due to input bridge
– Even a “perfect” zero loss switch can‟t make-up for bridge
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
16
Standard boost PFC summary

This is a unipolar topology
– Superjunction already works well
– Body diode performance is unimportant

Switch losses are dominated by:
–
–
–
–
Conduction (especially severe for high ripple CrCM and DCM)
Turn-on speed
Eoss (only for CCM)
Turn-off speed
 Possible switch improvements
– For a given Rds(on):
– Reduced Eoss (stored energy in device Coss)
– Reduced Qg to enable faster switching
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
17
What about bridgeless PFC topologies?


Dual boost – semi bridgeless
S1 S2 commonly superjunction, D1 D2 SiC
Ref: A. F. Souza and I. Barbi, “High power factor rectifier with reduced conduction and commutation losses,” in Proc. Int. Telecommunication
Energy Conf., Jun. 1999, pp. 8.1.1–8.1.5.
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
18
Dual boost PFC summary

This is a unipolar topology
– Superjunction already works well
– Body diode performance is unimportant

Switch losses are dominated by:
–
–
–
–
Conduction (especially severe for high ripple CrCM and DCM)
Turn-on speed
Eoss (only for CCM)
Turn-off speed
 Possible switch improvements
– For a given Rds(on):
– Reduced Eoss (stored energy in device Coss)
– Reduced Qg to enable faster switching
Tradeoff: eliminate 1 diode drop, add an entire boost stage
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
19
Why not totem-pole PFC with superjunction?

Hard-switched half-bridge requires good body-diode
REF: J. C. Salmon, “Circuit topologies for PWM boost rectifiers operated from 1-phase and 3-phase ac supplies and
using either single or split dc rail voltage outputs,” APEC, Mar. 1995, pp. 473–479.
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
20
VSW = VDS(Q2)
Hard-switched half-bridge
Q1
IL
0
IQ2
t
IL
VSW
IQ1
This is Q1 Eoss.
Q2 Eoss discharge
current is internal,
not seen externally
Q2
P(t)Q2
Turn-on Reverse
Loss Recovery
Loss
EOSS
Loss
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
21
Summary: topologies with limited superjunction use

Bipolar current flow topologies
– Anywhere diode recovery is important

Half-bridge hard-switching
– Totem-pole bridgeless boost CCM (except line polarity
switch)
– Inverters, motor drives

Half-bridge soft-switching or resonant? Depends…
– Limited frequency range
– Risk of hard-switching
– Frequency dependent losses in Qoss
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
22
GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT)

Depletion-mode basic HEMT
– Normally-on is a problem for power electronics

2 methods to achieve normally-off
– Cascode
– Enhancement-mode



GaN cascode characteristics
GaN enhancement-mode characteristics
GaN application summary
– Hard-switching
– Soft-switching & resonant
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
23
GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT)



Depletion-mode (normally-on) HEMT
Si substrate for low cost
Normally-on potential problem for power electronics
Ref: Jones, E.A.; Wang, F.; Ozpineci, B., "Application-based review of GaN HFETs," Wide Bandgap Power Devices and
Applications (WiPDA) 2014, pp.24-29, 13-15 Oct. 2014
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
24
Depletion-mode HEMT

Normally-on
–
–
–
–
Essentially a resistor that can be turned-off with -gate bias
Potential issues with power-up and power-down
Requires additional master enable switch
Requires negative gate drive
 Low area specific on-resistance
 Bi-directional conduction
– No intrinsic body diode
 Can be made bi-directional blocking
 Lateral device – monolithic integration possibilities
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
25
Cascode Provides Normally-OFF Function

Native d-mode GaN HEMT + LV Si FET in cascode
– Rds(on) is compromised to shift threshold positive
 Cascode has easy gate drive
 Cascode includes excellent body diode
 2-chip solution no more difficult than IGBT
 Almost zero “Miller Effect”
D
– C dv/dt immunity
– Enables turn-off ZVS
in almost any topology
Depletion-Mode
GaN HEMT
Low Voltage
Si MOSFET
G
Hybrid Semiconductor Device, US Pat. 8,017,978
Hybrid semiconductor device having a GaN transistor and
a Silicon MOSFET, US Pat. 8,368,120
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
S
26
Cascode Conduction Modes
Ref: Xiucheng Huang, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li, “Characterization and Enhancement of 600V Cascode GaN Device,”
CPES PMC Review, March 11, 2015
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
27
Body diode reverse-recovery

>100x lower Qrr for GaN cascode
GaN cascode switch
10 A/div
Superjunction
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
28
Comparing GaN cascode to superjunction

1st Generation GaN cascode
Parameter
GaN cascode
Equivalent SJ
Package
6x8 mm PQFN
8x8 mm PQFN
Vdss
600 V
650 V
Rdson typ 25°C
135 mΩ
115 mΩ
Rdson typ 125°C
225 mΩ
230 mΩ
GaN 1.67x; SJ 2x
Qg (10V Vgs, 480V Vds)
8.8 nC
35 nC
GaN ~4X lower than SJ
Qrr (100A/µs, 25°C)
49 nC
6,400 nC
GaN >100X lower than SJ
Coss (400V)
47 pF
53 - 579 pF
Energy vs time equivalent
Rθ J-C (°C/W)
1.65
1.22
Consistent with package
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
GaN 25% smaller package
29
Turn-on waveform, 135 mΩ (typ) cascode

Hard-switching Rg = 2Ω. ~9 µJ EON
Vds 100 V/div
5 A/div
Vgs 10 V/div
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
30
GaN HEMT Safe Operating Area

Measured destruct current >2x higher than calculated thermal limit
100 μs
Drain Current, ID (A)
10
1 ms
10 ms
1
Experimental data from 190 mΩ max cascode prototype
0.1
100
Drain-Source Voltage, VDS (V)

Lines represent calculated thermal limit – points are measured failures
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
31
GaN performance interdependent on package

Two key factors for minimizing losses:
– Minimize GaN – Si interconnect inductance
– Eliminate common-source inductance with Kelvin connection
REF: Z. Liu, X. Huang, FC Lee, Q. Li, “Investigation of Package Influence on High Voltage Cascode GaN HEMT with
Simulation Model,” CPES review 2-13-2013, Milpitas, CA
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
32
Die-on-die cascode construction
 Minimizes parasitic impedance between HEMT and FET
– Faster switching transitions, less ringing and overshoot
D
Depletion-Mode
GaN HEMT
LV Si MOSFET mounted on
Source pad of GaN on Si die
Low Voltage
Si MOSFET
G
S
US Pat. No. 8,847,408
GaN on Si
HEMT die
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
33
E-mode GaN HEMT Structures
a) P-gate enhancement-mode
b) P-gate enhancement-mode (gate injection)
Ref: Jones, E.A.; Wang, F.; Ozpineci, B., "Application-based review of GaN HFETs," Wide Bandgap Power Devices and
Applications (WiPDA) 2014, pp.24-29, 13-15 Oct. 2014
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
34
Enhancement-Mode HEMT (Gate Injection)
off
Ref: http://www.semicon.panasonic.co.jp/en/news/contents/2013/apec/panel/APEC2013_GaN_FPD_WEB.pdf
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
35
Gate Characteristics (Enhancement Mode)

Typical non-insulated gate characteristic
– Gate injection uses small DC current (e.g. 10 mA)
Ref: Jones, E.A.; Wang, F.; Ozpineci, B., "Application-based review of GaN HFETs," Wide Bandgap Power Devices and
Applications (WiPDA) 2014, pp.24-29, 13-15 Oct. 2014
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
36
Output Characteristics (Enhancement Mode)

HEMT turns back ON when drain goes below G, S
Ref: Jones, E.A.; Wang, F.; Ozpineci, B., "Application-based review of GaN HFETs," Wide Bandgap Power Devices and
Applications (WiPDA) 2014, pp.24-29, 13-15 Oct. 2014
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
37
Reverse Bias Diode-Like Behavior
+
Vg1
-
Equivalent Circuit
when Vg = 0
D
G
+
Vg2
-
VGS’ = VD’S’
D
D’
G
G
S
S
S’
S’ = drain acting as source in reverse bias
D’ = source acting as drain in reverse bias
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
38
Forward and Reverse I-V Characteristics

HEMT eventually saturates at very high current
Ref: http://www.semicon.panasonic.co.jp/en/news/contents/2013/apec/panel/APEC2013_GaN_FPD_WEB.pdf
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
39
GaN, superjunction, (& SiC) transfer curves
Cascode superjunction and SiC ~135 mΩ typical
E-mode GaN (non GIT) ~50mΩ (135 mΩ @ 150°C)
Transfer curve
E-mode GaN
Cascode GaN
10
SiC
SJ
1
ID (A)


0.1
0.01
0
2
4 (V)
VGS
6
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
8
10
40
Comparing GaN vs SJ Qoss
REF: M. Treu, E. Vecino, M. Pippan, O. Häberlen, G. Curatola, G. Deboy, M. Kutschak, U. Kirchner,” The role of silicon,
silicon carbide and gallium nitride in power electronics,” IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting, December, 2012
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
41
Comparing Coss, Qoss, Eoss GaN vs SJ
Blue = superjunction
Red = e-mode HEMT
Both ~70 mΩ max Rds(on)
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
42
Comparing GaN vs superjunction turn-off

LLC topology looking at low-side switch
– 400 V bus, 2 A
– Same Rds(on)
Cascode GaN
Superjunction
Vds
Vgs
Vds
Vgs
Id
Id
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
43
Avalanche and overvoltage

Superjunction has junction with avalanche capability
– Useful in circuits with unclamped inductive energy (flyback)

GaN has no junction, no avalanche behavior
– GaN ultimately breaks down destructively at ~2x rating
– Overvoltage spikes are allowed depending on supplier

GaN is best suited for half-bridge topology
– Fast body diode helps to mitigate overvoltage spikes
– Overvoltage spikes are clamped to bus
– With proper design, no risk of breakdown
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
44
GaN Device Summary


Both cascode and enhancement mode –
compared to superjunction:
Provides MUCH lower Qrr (zero for e-mode)
– Enables use of efficient half-bridge topologies

Provide smaller, more linear Qoss
– Reduces deadtime in resonant and ZVS circuits

Provide lower gate charge Qg
– Lower gate drive power and faster switching speed


Eoss not much difference
Does not have avalanche behavior
– Does have overvoltage capability
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
45
Applications of GaN
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
46
Gate Drive

Cascode – standard Si gate drivers work
–
–
–
–
–
Vgs(th) is potential issue
Common Source Inductance is a concern as always
C dv/dt induced gate currents
Kelvin gate-source connections
Advantages of floating gate drive
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
47
Gate drive challenges for low threshold devices
DC Bus
DC Bus
L
Isolated
L
Isolated
?
 Common Source Inductance distorts Vgs
 Kelvin source connection eliminates CSI
 …BUT can cause system grounding problems for driver
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
48
Isolated gate drive + Kelvin source connection
DC Bus
DC Bus
L
Isolated
L
Isolated
?
 Isolating both high and low-side drivers solves system ground
bounce issues which can affect current sense and logic ground
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
49
Gate drive for gate injection
REF: T. Morita, H. Hanada, S Ujita, M Ishida,
T. Ueda, “99.3% Efficiency Boost-up
Converter for Totem-pole Bridgeless PFC
Using GaN Gate Injection Transistors,” Proc.
PCIM Europe, 20-22 May 2014
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
50
Gate drive summary

Cascode GaN:
– Standard FET gate driver compatibility
– Lower Qg for given current-handling capability
– ZVS turn-off easier to achieve

Enhancement-mode GaN
–
–
–
–
–
Low threshold, noise sensitivity, negative drive can help
Tighter limits on Vgs
Very low Qg
Kelvin source connection mandatory
Floating driver helpful especially at higher power
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
52
Totem-Pole PFC Full-Bridge
High Frequency
Half-Bridge
This half-bridge
is GaN cascode
Q1
60Hz
Polarity
Switch
Q3
This half-bridge
is superjunction
DC
Bus
AC
LINE
EMI
Filter
Q2
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
Q4
53
Totem-Pole PFC Full-Bridge



2.5 kW all SMD power stage proof-of-concept
GaN boost stage 70 mΩ max enhancement-mode
superjunction sync line rectifiers
Bottom View of PCB
Q1
GaN
Q3
Superjunction
Superjunction
GaN
EMI
Filter
Q2
Q4
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
54
Totem-Pole PFC Full-Bridge



Input 230 VAC
Output 400 VDC, 6.25 A
CCM 45 to 65 kHz
PFC Inductor
Output EMI filter + Bus Capacitors
FAN
Output
Heatsink
Input
Input EMI filter
Aux power supply
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
Control board
55
Totem-Pole PFC full-bridge performance
>99% efficiency from 18-70% load
Measured Efficiency - PFC, VIN=230VAC
99.4
99.2
Efficiency (%)

99.0
98.8
 45kHz
 65kHz
98.6
98.4
98.2
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
POUT (W)
Complete Power Stage. Vin=230 V, Tamb=25° C
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
56
Totem Pole PFC




No diode drops – only switch conduction voltage
Very high efficiency possible >99%
Lower component count than other bridgeless
topologies
Topology is enabled by GaN HEMT
– Traditional Si FETs have too much body-diode Qrr
Large recovery currents and high losses

Topology is Intrinsically bi-directional power flow
– Can also be used in inverter/UPS applications
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
57
Totem Pole PFC Future



MHz ZVS – still achieving 99% efficiency
Multiphase architectures to minimize ripple
Digital control to optimize performance & efficiency
Ref: Zhengyang Liu, Fred C. Lee, QiangLi, “Digital Control for MHz Totem-pole PFC Rectifier,” CPES PMC Review, Mar.11, 2015
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
58
LLC Resonant DC-DC



Popular topology today using superjunction
Frequency range <200 kHz typically
Caution required to prevent hard-switching
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
59
LLC typical waveforms and circuit
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
60
GaN enables shorter deadtime vs SJ @ 1MHz

Shorter deadtime lowers rms current
I2 Primary
I2 Secondary
Gate Drive
GaN
3.84A2
48.0A2
0.24W
Superjunction
4.93A2
64.6A2
1.88W
Difference
+28.3%
+34.6%
+685%
GaN
80ns dead time
Vds
SJ FET
200ns dead time
icentertap
iprim
Vgs
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
61
Nonlinear Qoss Charge Affects Deadtime
500
450
3.3X longer charge-up time
400
350
Volts
300
250
200
150
Qoss Measurement Circuit
100
50
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Time (µs)
90
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
100
110
120
130
140
150
62
Cascode Charge Balance During ZVS Turn-ON
Improper charge balance
results in loss of ZVS
Properly balanced Cascode
achieves full ZVS
 Significant energy loss
 No energy loss
IL
Vsw
VDS-Si
X. Huang, W. Du, Z. Liu, F. C. Lee, and Q. Li, “Performance
Analysis of Cascode GaN Device,” CPES Review, Nov 18, 2013
Measured Results: IR-Infineon Cascode
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
63
Cascode Charge Balance During ZVS Turn-OFF
Improper charge balance
results in Si avalanche
Properly balanced Cascode
no avalanche, full ZVS
 Significant energy loss
 No energy loss
Avalanche
VDS-Si
X. Huang, W. Du, Z. Liu, F. C. Lee, and Q. Li, “Performance
Analysis of Cascode GaN Device,” CPES Review, Nov 18, 2013
Vsw
IL
Measured Results: IR-Infineon Cascode
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
64
ZVS phase-shifted full-bridge


ZVS over most of power range except light-load
Current-doubler output effective for 12 V and below
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
65
ZVS phase-shifted full-bridge



1 kW 380 V to 12 V
350 kHz
120 W/in3
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
66
ZVS phase-shifted full-bridge

Waveforms at 50% load
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
67
ZVS phase-shifted full-bridge efficiency
Efficiency vs Percentage Load
97
96
380V to 12V
fsw = 350 kHz
95
94
93
92
91
90
Load
Efficiemcy
10%
89.5%
20%
94%
40%
96.1%
50%
96.4%
80%
96.3%
100%
95.7%
89
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
LOAD in % (1000W max)
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
68
Efficiency vs Frequency at half-load

Comparing GaN cascode vs superjunction
Freq
[Khz]
Efficiency_GaN
[%]
Efficiemcy_SJ
[%]
100
96.7
96.5
200
96.5
96.2
300
96.4
95.4
350
96.3
95
400
95.9
94
450
500
95.6
95.4
97
96.5
96
95.5
Efficiency
GaN efficiency
95
SJ efficiency
94.5
94
93.5
0
100
200
300
400
500
freq[Khz]
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
69
Why GaN for Motor Drive Applications?
 Switching speed is not necessarily a key issue for drives:
 Typically want dv/dt <6V/ns (GaN can switch >10x faster)
– I=C dv/dt currents in motor windings can result in failures
– Corona and partial-discharge creates ozone and erodes insulation
– Common-mode currents forced through bearings, eroding races
 Yet customers still want higher efficiency, increased density
 Compressor drives have even more constraints:
– Very low leakage current mandates small Y-cap values (EMI)
– Newer “green” refrigerants have very high permittivity
 Goal is to improve light-load efficiency (<25% of full power)
 EU2013 directive for Energy Saving A+++ Class
 Reducing losses also improves packaging density
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
70
Typical Compressor Drive Today
LINE
INPUT
BIAS
POWER
SUPPLY
EMI
FILTER
INPUT
RECTIFIER
CONTROL &
PWM
AC
MOTOR
GATE
DRIVERS
DC BUS
CAP
OUTPUT INVERTER
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
71
Conduction Voltage for Same Footprint Size
Comparing Conduction voltage of IGBT vs FET (measured data)
3.0
2.5
2.0
Vds or Vce (Volts)
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
IRGR4045D
0.8Ω Si
-0.5
0.16Ω GaN
-1.0
-1.5
-2.0
-2.5
-3.0
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
Drain or Collector current (Amps)
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
72
Total Power Loss Summary (per switch)
1.60
1.40
Watts loss @ Iout = 1A rms
1.20
1.00
conduction
turn-off
0.80
turn-on
Fixed
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
Si FET
IGBT
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
GaN cascode
73
Cascode GaN dv/dt control via Gate Modulation
2A Turn on
2A Turn off
50ns/div
100ns/div
Vsw
Vgs
Vgs
3.7V/ns
3.3V/ns
Vsw



Dv/dt control possible by modulating cascode gate-drive current
This places HEMT in linear region increasing switching times and losses
Unknown if this affects long-term reliability – further study needed
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
74
GaN HEMT Short-Circuit Capability
 Initial devices are high-gain – limited SCSOA
– Typically ~ 1 µs @ 300V
 Likely tradeoff between gain and SCSOA similar to IGBTs
Ref: Xing Huang; Dong Young Lee; Bondarenko, V.; Baker, A.; Sheridan, D.C.; Huang, A.Q.; Baliga, B.J., "Experimental
study of 650V AlGaN/GaN HEMT short-circuit safe operating area (SCSOA)," Proc. ISPSD pp.273,276, 15-19 June 2014
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
75
Summary

GaN HEMTs offer performance improvements for
power electronic applications
– Benefits are strongly topology-dependent
– Just dropping GaN into existing circuit may show little benefit

Half-bridge topology is good match for GaN
– Half-bridge requires good dynamic reverse conduction
– Both cascode and e-mode GaN devices benefit half-bridge

Higher efficiency at same frequency
– By use of better topologies i.e. totem-pole PFC

Higher frequency at high efficiency
– Lower charge of GaN helps HF performance
– E.g. LLC example and ZVS full-bridge example
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
76
Questions?
References
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
Alex Lidow, Johan Strydom, Michael de Rooij, David Reusch, “GaN Transistors for Efficient Power
Conversion, 2nd Edition,” Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-118-84476-2, Sept. 2014
Fedison, J.B.; Fornage, M.; Harrison, M.J.; Zimmanck, D.R., "Coss related energy loss in power MOSFETs
used in zero-voltage-switched applications," APEC 2014, pp.150-156, 16-20 March 2014
Strydom, J.T.; van Wyk, J.D.; Ferreira, J.A., "Capacitor measurements for power electronic applications,"
IEEE IAS „99, vol.4, pp.2435,2440, 1999
Jones, E.A.; Wang, F.; Ozpineci, B., "Application-based review of GaN HFETs," Wide Bandgap Power
Devices and Applications (WiPDA) 2014, pp.24-29, 13-15 Oct. 2014
Zhan Wang; Honea, J.; Yuxiang Shi; Hui Li, "Investigation of driver circuits for GaN HEMTs in leaded
packages," Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Applications (WiPDA) 2014, pp.81-87, 13-15 Oct. 2014
Lautner, J.; Piepenbreier, B., "Impact of current measurement on switching characterization of GaN
transistors," Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Applications (WiPDA) 2014, pp.98-102, 13-15 Oct. 2014
Chang-Yeol Oh; Yun-Sung Kim; Won-Yong Sung; Nam-Jin Cho; Byoung-Kuk Lee, "Analysis of MOSFET
failure modes in bi-directional phase-shift full-bridge converters," APEC 2014, pp.43-48, March 2014
Xiucheng Huang, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li, “Characterization and Enhancement of 600V Cascode GaN
Device,” CPES PMC Review, March 11, 2015
Xing Huang; Dong Young Lee; Bondarenko, V.; Baker, A.; Sheridan, D.C.; Huang, A.Q.; Baliga, B.J.,
"Experimental study of 650V AlGaN/GaN HEMT short-circuit safe operating area (SCSOA)," Proc. ISPSD
pp.273,276, 15-19 June 2014
APEC 2015 Seminar S17
78