Semiconductor Devices Mauro Zambuto

This textbook provides an in-depth treatment of the physics of power semiconductor devices that are commonly used by the power electronics industry. Drawing upon decades of industry and teaching experience and using numerous examples and illustrative applications, the author discusses in detail the various device performance attributes that allow practicing engineers to develop energy-efficient products. Coverage includes all types of power rectifiers and transistors and analytical models for explaining the operation of all power semiconductor devices are developed and demonstrated in each section of the book.

This book presents physics-based electro-thermal models of bipolar power semiconductor devices including their packages, and describes their implementation in MATLAB and Simulink. It is a continuation of our first book Modeling of Bipolar Power Semiconductor Devices. The device electrical models are developed by subdividing the devices into different regions and the operations in each region, along with the interactions at the interfaces, are analyzed using the basic semiconductor physics equations that govern device behavior. The Fourier series solution is used to solve the ambipolar diffusion equation in the lightly doped drift region of the devices. In addition to the external electrical characteristics, internal physical and electrical information, such as junction voltages and carrier distribution in different regions of the device, can be obtained using the models.

The invention of semiconductor devices is a fairly recent one, considering classical time scales in human life. The bipolar transistor was announced in 1947, and the MOS transistor, in a practically usable manner, was demonstrated in 1960. From these beginnings the semiconductor device field has grown rapidly. The first integrated circuits, which contained just a few devices, became commercially available in the early 1960s. Immediately thereafter an evolution has taken place so that today, less than 25 years later, the manufacture of integrated circuits with over 400.000 devices per single chip is possible.

This book presents physics-based models of bipolar power semiconductor devices and their implementation in MATLAB and Simulink. The devices are subdivided into different regions, and the operation in each region, along with the interactions at the interfaces which are analyzed using basic semiconductor physics equations that govern their behavior. The Fourier series solution is used to solve the ambipolar diffusion equation in the lightly doped drift region of the devices. In addition to the external electrical characteristics, internal physical and electrical information, such as the junction voltages and the carrier distribution in different regions of the device, can be obtained using the models.

The Brown Boveri Symposia are by now part of firmly established tradition. This is the seventh event in a series which was initiated shortly afer Corporate Research was established as a separate entity within our Company; the Symposia are held every other year. The themes to date have been 1969 Flow Research on Blading 1971 Real-Time Control of Electric Power Systems 1973 High-Temperature Materials in Gas Turbines 1975 Nonemissive Electrooptic Displays 1977 Current Interruption in High-Voltage Networks 1979 Surges in High-Voltage Networks 1981 Semiconductor Devices for Power Conditioning Why have we chosen these titles?

This symposium was the sCientific-technical event of the centennial celebration of the Asea Brown Boveri Switzerland. The purpose was to assess the present state of the art as well as shaping the basis for future progress in the area of power devices and related power circuits. The merger of Brown Boveri (BBC) with Asea to Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) three years ago gave new stimulus and enriched the technical substance of the symposium.