IGBT in general

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User17669
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5 questions asked First question asked First reply posted
Hi,

can you please broadly explain the structure and usage of IGBTs?

Many thanks in advance,
nick
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1 Solution
Giuseppe_De_Fal
Moderator
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10 solutions authored 10 replies posted 10 sign-ins
@ Nick,
here you find an interesting application note explaining the structure of an IGBT: https://www.infineon.com/dgdl/Infineon-IGBT_Characteristics-AN-v01_00-EN.pdf?fileId=5546d462533600a4....
It is quite old (2012) but most of the concepts are still valid for nowadays IGBTs.

Also, you can have a look at this presentation that also explains the area of application of IGBTs: http://publish.illinois.edu/grainger-ceme/files/2014/06/Spring4_7_14JohnShen_Slides1.pdf.

@JoFoe,
in many applications there is the need to let the current flow bidirectionally. A 'standard' IGBT only allows current to flow in one direction. For this reason, practically an IGBT comes almost always Co-Packed with a diode that allows the current to flow in the opposite direction of the IGBT current. An Reverse Conducting IGBT (RC-IGBT) has a diode integrated in the same structure of the IGBT, that means that if you opened a packed of an RC-IGBT device you would only find one chip.

@AnniLe,
the main trend of the IGBT technology has always been to reduce the conduction losses (by allowing a always lower VCEsat) and at the same time minimizing more and more the switching losses by means of an accurate engineering of the tail current. In terms of device structure, this is generally translated in having thinner devices. Also, as the cost of the devices are continuously decreasing, newer technologies have generally allowed for higher current denisities.

Regards,
Giuseppe

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3 Replies
User17756
Level 1
Level 1
First question asked First reply posted
Hi,

I have another question: What is the reverse conducting RC IGBT?


Thanks and all the best,

JoFoe
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User17671
Level 1
Level 1
5 questions asked First question asked First reply posted
Hi all,

I would like to add another question that fits into this context.
How has the IGBT technology evolved?

Thanks!
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Giuseppe_De_Fal
Moderator
Moderator
Moderator
10 solutions authored 10 replies posted 10 sign-ins
@ Nick,
here you find an interesting application note explaining the structure of an IGBT: https://www.infineon.com/dgdl/Infineon-IGBT_Characteristics-AN-v01_00-EN.pdf?fileId=5546d462533600a4....
It is quite old (2012) but most of the concepts are still valid for nowadays IGBTs.

Also, you can have a look at this presentation that also explains the area of application of IGBTs: http://publish.illinois.edu/grainger-ceme/files/2014/06/Spring4_7_14JohnShen_Slides1.pdf.

@JoFoe,
in many applications there is the need to let the current flow bidirectionally. A 'standard' IGBT only allows current to flow in one direction. For this reason, practically an IGBT comes almost always Co-Packed with a diode that allows the current to flow in the opposite direction of the IGBT current. An Reverse Conducting IGBT (RC-IGBT) has a diode integrated in the same structure of the IGBT, that means that if you opened a packed of an RC-IGBT device you would only find one chip.

@AnniLe,
the main trend of the IGBT technology has always been to reduce the conduction losses (by allowing a always lower VCEsat) and at the same time minimizing more and more the switching losses by means of an accurate engineering of the tail current. In terms of device structure, this is generally translated in having thinner devices. Also, as the cost of the devices are continuously decreasing, newer technologies have generally allowed for higher current denisities.

Regards,
Giuseppe
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