The power density factor related to power electronics equipment designs has improved remarkably in the past two decades (Figure 1). The main contribution in this growth came from using new power device components based on IGBT chip technologies, including different generations of IPMs. In the beginning, IPMs were applied only in low-volume and specialized categories of industrial drive applications. In a few years time after its debut, followed by introduction of the revolutionary DIP-IPM, application of this unique product family expanded rapidly starting with the high volume zone of inverter controlled home appliances. This primarily included air-conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines. The trend to apply an IPM, instead of an IGBT was adopted by designers of other systems and, Fig. 1 The trend of power density enhancement related to medium power class power electronics equipment from their needs, various new versions of IPMs were developed and applied into different power electronics equipment covering industrial motor controls, traction drive and auxiliaries installed in hybrid vehicles and railway systems, windmill power generation systems, solar power generation systems etc. The first feature of an IPM created by its invention is that, an integrated sensing and protection circuit scheme detects any over current situation of an internal IGBT power switch almost instantaneously, and turns off the switch's current safely at a subdued shutdown speed to suppress destructive surge voltage. The scheme, thus, effectively enlarges the SOA of the internal IGBT. The second feature is that only a unipolar positive supply is required to drive and protect the internal IGBTs of an IPM. This is achieved by creating a low impedance circuit across the gate-emitter of each internal IGBT at
The state-of-the-art Intelligent Power Modules (IPMs) have been reviewed in the beginning of this paper along with a brief overview of its history and the purpose of its development. In the following part, the paper reviews the key IPM concept and the technologies that supported its evolution as a major power electronics component family so far. The paper will also highlight on the status and future possibilities of IPM based power semiconductors for far future power conversion applications.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.