MTBF analysis in OEM Company: Applications to ZCZVT PWM soft-transition inverters

Abstract

MTBF Mean Time Between Failure is a life unit as a million hours or years of the electronic product or systems. Reliability engineering as a scientific discipline is introduced in this paper, with an emphasis on the specific nature of reliability analysis. Applications of reliability analysis in the form of reliability tests are discussed for the ZCZVT (Zero Current Zero Voltage Transition) PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) soft-transition inverter in the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) Company. A reliability test plan for the ZCZVT PWM soft-transition inverter is proposed, after a brief introduction to the subject, consisting of several board level environmental tests and component level lifespan tests. The results for the reliability tests are analyzed using Relex Reliability software adhering to the MIL-STD-217F using the Parts Count method.