Active Standard Cell Integrated Power Electronics Module (SC-IPEM)

A new class of integrated power electronics module (IPEM) has been developed that offers significant advantages for future generations of power electronics equipment. The active Standard Cell Integrated Power Electronics Module (SC-IPEM) combines several key elements that make up the heart of most power converters into a compact, robust package. The phase-leg topology selected for the active SC-IPEM is particularly attractive because it serves as the basic building block for a very wide variety of power converter topologies and applications.

Several CPES technology advances are being incorporated into the active SC-IPEM design. Embedded power technology has been adopted to eliminate all wire bonds in favor of a planar interconnection scheme that minimizes dangerous voltage transients caused by undesired parasitic inductances. In addition, the flat upper surface is valuable for mounting gate drives, sensors, and cooling components to extract extra heat from the top side of the module. Such advances contribute to reducing the module size while increasing its long-term robustness.

Other advanced technology features that are planned for demonstration using the active SC-IPEMs include new types of integrated current sensors and advanced gate drive features. Two examples of the new gate drive features are active dv/dt control during switching transients to reduce EMI, and active thermal control to increase module reliability by reducing temperature excursions of the power switches.

New generations of active SC-IPEMs are being developed for use in the integrated power supply (IPS), integrated modular motor drive (IMMD), and power conversion system (PCS) testbed projects, providing several platforms for testing and improving the concept.