Results from WP4 - Packaging and Demonstration

Our goal of this last technical work package will be the development of two innovative packaging systems and two demonstrators in order to fully exploit the potential of the GaN devices.

  1. Towards simulation OnSemi has performed an operational analysis on CE+T’s inverter using spice; developed a mixed-mode simulation strategy dedicated to the inverter and applied the virtual prototyping methodology to investigate power loss in the converter when using a 45mΩ GaN e-mode and 45mΩ GaN cascade. Furthermore the impact of a lower Ron device on power loss and the effect of higher switching frequency and operating temperature have been explored. The main results show that when the conduction losses are dominant (neutral half-bridge), the relative decrease in power loss is the highest when using a smaller Ron device. In addition, an increased switching frequency and temperature has only minor impact on the power losses in the neutral halfbridge.
  2. For the involved packaging technologies, the pad configuration of the GaN Chips, the required top metallization as well as layout adaption for the assembly process have been discussed and designed. In this context, comparative shear-test analysis on Ag-sinter pastes (Bosch-research-own/ commercial pastes) have been performed. First results on SiC and Si-Chips suggest no obvious barriers for the planned Ag-sinter process on GaN-Chips. Furthermore, an agreement towards the timeline for the future GaN-device availability (non-functional dies followed by Engineering samples) has been found. With regard to the gate driver development first key aspects for the motor drive inverter have been identified and conceivable concepts were derived.

From the lab:

News from 2020:

 A compact interconnection technology based on a ceramic-polymer concept has been designed and realized for first demonstrator HB-modules

Some details of the planar interconnecting structures (Gate contact, plated-through Source contact, Drain interconnect) are shown in the above figure. The design considers low inductive aspects such as current path symmetry, short planar interconnection lines and a compact layout.

 

Final design, realization and functional tests of gate drive with capacitive load
For later the system integration a test-setup for the Gate drive has been realized. The figure below shows the gate drive on a PCB with capacitors. The functionality of gate voltage generation (+6V, -2V) and functionality of the gate driver board with capacitive load has been demonstrated.
was demonstrated.


 

News from 2019:

 DC2AC converter (CE+T) built up with GaN Systems power devices and SiC (CREE)



For realization of the DC2AC demonstrators first PCB’s are assembled and tested at hardware level with impedance check. Based on simulations implemented by OnSemi & CE+T of such triple half-bridge GaN based topology, the AC/AC efficiency shall go over 97% and 96% for DC//AC conversion. The IGBT has a switching frequency about 20kHz but GaN switches will be used advantageously at higher frequency, as far as it is advantageous to increase frequency.

 

 Realization of first prototypes for the motor drive output stage with pre-driver and signal conditioning



The first concept of the output stages for the motor drive inverter was realized with discrete MOSFETs (no integrated gate driver circuit), see figure above. The prototype was designed for three chips in parallel were each chip is driven by its own output stage. The pre-driver on the prototype ensures that no short currents occur in the output stages during the switching process. Furthermore, measurements for the output voltages on a passive (capacitive) load were executed and evaluated.

 

News from 2018:

Packaging/ Interconnection technologies of wide-band-gap power devices

For packaging of the power modules two low inductive packaging concepts are developed: a pure ceramic material stack (BOSCH) and a planar ceramic-polymer concept (Siemens). In the double-sided ceramic module approach the GaN-power semiconductor will be surrounded only by typical ceramic circuit carriers. One basic advantage is here the inherent temperature robustness above 200°C for ceramic circuit carriers.

The surrounding of the chip from back and top side using ceramic LTCC-substrates (Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics) provides a special track design flexibility for a commutation cell and design flexibility of realizing or integrating the capacitor. By positioning a lower capacitor value quite close in a near-chip stepped DC-link design offers preferable low inductive effects while switching.

Towards the hybrid ceramic-polymer concept a compact interconnection technology replacing conventional wire bonding is being developed. For this purpose flexible planar metal interconnects on insulating layers are employed, providing the required low inductance. The concept of the technologies has been presented at a poster session (PCIM fair May, 2017, Berlin). 

In comparison to state of the art vertical wide-band-gap SiC power devices even smaller pad geometries have to be handled by applying lateral wide band gap GaN power devices. Especially the application of the Ag-sinter process on all three-chip top-side pads is crucial. 

In this context appropriate sinter paste material and sinter processes/ deposition have been developed. The comparative shear-test analysis on Ag-sinter pastes (Bosch-research-own/ commercial pastes) was successfully performed on LTCC dummy substrates. The results on SiC and Si-Chips suggest no obvious barriers for the planned Ag-sinter process of GaN-Chips on LTCC (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: shear values of Ag-sintered dummy chips on LTCC substrate

For the both involved packaging technologies the pad configuration of the GaN Chips, the required top metallization as well as layout adaption for the assembly process have been designed. 

 

Main achievements in WP4:
  • System and device specification based on three reference drive systems and first available target characteristics of the GaN devices
  • Mixed-mode simulation strategy dedicated to the inverter and applied the virtual prototyping methodology to investigate power loss in the converter when using a 45mΩ GaN e-mode and 45mΩ GaN cascade
  • First design/ layout adaption for the assembly process of the GaN Chips have been compiled  (e.g. top metallization, pad layout)
  • comparative shear-test analysis on Ag-sinter pastes have been performed
  • Gate driver development: first key aspects for the motor drive inverter have been identified and conceivable concepts were derived