Impact of current measurement on switching characterization of GaN transistors

Lautner J, Piepenbreier B (2014)


Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2014

Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

Edited Volumes: 2nd IEEE Workshop on Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Applications, WiPDA 2014

Pages Range: 98-102

Conference Proceedings Title: Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Applications (WiPDA)

Event location: Knoxville, USA

DOI: 10.1109/WiPDA.2014.6964632

Abstract

Gallium nitride (GaN) power devices promise better performance and efficiency compared to silicon transistors. How-ever, the switching characterization of GaN devices is challenging, because of the high switching speed. In this paper the switching behavior of a GaN transistor is investigated with special focus on the impact of current measurement. A circuit simulation model including the critical parasitic elements was built to analyze parasitic effects and their impact on the switching transients. To confirm the simulation results by experiments, a PCB board was designed and different current measurement methods are compared. It is shown that the current sensor adds additional inductance in the power loop and causes ringing and oscillations. Furthermore, it can be seen, that the current sensor resistance damps the oscillations and improves the switching transients. Therefor, both variables should be small in order to reproduce the real switching characteristics as accurate as possible.

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How to cite

APA:

Lautner, J., & Piepenbreier, B. (2014). Impact of current measurement on switching characterization of GaN transistors. In Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Applications (WiPDA) (pp. 98-102). Knoxville, USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc..

MLA:

Lautner, Jennifer, and Bernhard Piepenbreier. "Impact of current measurement on switching characterization of GaN transistors." Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE Workshop, Knoxville, USA Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2014. 98-102.

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