Measuring IGBT Conduction Loss to Maximize Efficiency

Higher performance IGBTs are constructed with both an IGBT and a diode in the same semiconductor package where each contributes to the combined losses. Readers will learn one of the most effective ways to decrease switching losses through the manipulation of an IGBT’s voltage and current waveforms during the turn-ON and turn-OFF phases. The paper also illustrates how this approach helps to significantly reduce, or even eliminate, losses that occur during the overlap time.