Insulated gate bipolar transistors
Question 1:
What is an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), and what advantages does the IGBT provide over both power MOSFET and traditional BJT devices?
Follow-up question: describe some typical applications for the IGBT which make use of these advantages.
Notes:
The given answer is accurate, yet not very specific. Ask your students to explain exactly what attributes of MOSFET and BJT are exhibited by the IGBT, and why.
Question 2:
Complete the schematic diagram showing an equivalent circuit for an N-channel IGBT, using an N-channel E-type MOSFET and a PNP bipolar transistor:
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Notes:
You should discuss with your students the fact that IGBT's are not actually made of two discrete transistors connected as shown. Instead, they are fabricated as monolithic devices, all on the same semiconductor substrate. The "model" of an IGBT consisting of a MOSFET coupled to a BJT is similar to the model commonly used to emulate an SCR: a circuit whose sole purpose it is to show the operation of a special device in terms of other, well-understood devices.
Question 3:
The equivalent circuit for an IGBT - comprised of a MOSFET coupled to a BJT - bears resemblance to a couple of other BJT circuits you may have seen before:
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Which of these two paired-BJT circuits most resembles the IGBT equivalent circuit, in terms of what two terminals the control signal voltage must be applied between to turn the device on?
Notes:
It is important for students to realize what two terminals of the device the input (control) signal must be applied to in order to turn the device on. This is really the point of the question, not so much a review of Darlington versus Sziklai pairs.
Question 4:
Draw a complete schematic diagram showing how this IGBT can be used to control a DC motor, at the command of the toggle switch:
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Note: the DC power supply voltage is 240 VDC, and the IGBT's maximum gate-to-emitter control voltage is 20 volts!
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Follow-up question: calculate the values necessary for the two resistors shown, to provide a gate-to-emitter voltage of 10 volts, using 1/2 watt resistors.
Challenge question: why might it be a good idea to include a diode in the circuit, like this?
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Notes:
Ask your students what purpose the voltage divider serves. The first purpose should be obvious, as hinted in the "Note" at the end of the question. However, a second purpose is not so obvious. If the lower resistor were to fail open, the IGBT would turn on when the switch closes, but it would not turn off (at least not reliably) when the switch opens! Present this scenario to your students, and ask them to explain why this would happen.
Check your students' math when they present resistor values. Do not be surprised if some students specify the resistor values such that the actual power dissipation runs right at 1/2 watt each! Use this as an opportunity to discuss component reliability versus power dissipation, and good engineering practices.
Regarding the challenge question, the diode is not there to provide a path for inductive "free-wheeling" current. Some of your students may suggest this as its purpose, but a close examination of polarity will show otherwise. The true answer to this question, in the context of a DC motor control circuit, has to do with the behavior of DC motors.
Question 5:
Examine the schematic diagram for this photographic strobe light control system:
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Explain its operation, and explain why an IGBT is a good transistor type for this application.
Notes:
Even if students have never seen a strobe light circuit, they should at least be able to determine what happens when the transistor is immediately turned ön." The fact that professional flash tubes require currents in excess of a hundred amps is not obvious from this schematic, so you should mention this fact in the discussion.
This schematic was adapted (simplified) from one found in a Fairchild IGBT application note (AN9006 - ÏGBT Application Note For Camera Strobe").