Chapter 4.

Switch Realization

4.1. Switch applications

Single-, two-, and four-quadrant switches. Synchronous rectifiers

4.2. A brief survey of power semiconductor devices

Power diodes, MOSFETs, BJTs, IGBTs, and thyristors

4.3. Switching loss

Transistor switching with clamped inductive load. Diode
recovered charge. Stray capacitances and inductances, and
ringing. Efficiency vs. switching frequency.

4.4. Summary of key points

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 1 Chapter 4: Switch realization

 SPST (single-pole single-throw) switches

Buck converter
SPST switch, with
voltage and current with SPDT switch:
polarities defined 1 L iL(t)
+
1
2
Vg + C R V
i –
+
v –

– with two SPST switches:

0 iA A L iL(t)
+ vA – +
–
All power semiconductor Vg + vB B C R V
–
devices function as SPST +
iB
switches. –

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 2 Chapter 4: Switch realization

 Realization of SPDT switch using two SPST switches

G A nontrivial step: two SPST switches are not exactly equivalent to one
SPDT switch
G It is possible for both SPST switches to be simultaneously ON or OFF
G Behavior of converter is then significantly modified
—discontinuous conduction modes (chapter 5)
G Conducting state of SPST switch may depend on applied voltage or
current —for example: diode

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 3 Chapter 4: Switch realization

 Quadrants of SPST switch operation

1 Switch
i on state A single-quadrant
+ current
switch example:
v
ON-state: i > 0
– OFF-state: v > 0
0
Switch
off state voltage

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 4 Chapter 4: Switch realization

 Some basic switch applications

switch switch
on-state on-state
Single- current
Current- current

quadrant bidirectional
switch two-quadrant
switch
off-state voltage switch switch
off-state
voltage

switch switch
on-state on-state
current current

Voltage-
Four-
bidirectional
quadrant
two-quadrant switch switch
off-state switch off-state
switch voltage voltage

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 5 Chapter 4: Switch realization

 4.1.1. Single-quadrant switches

1
Active switch: Switch state is controlled exclusively
i by a third terminal (control terminal).
+
v Passive switch: Switch state is controlled by the
applied current and/or voltage at terminals 1 and 2.
–
SCR: A special case — turn-on transition is active,
0 while turn-off transition is passive.
Single-quadrant switch: on-state i(t) and off-state v(t)
are unipolar.

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 6 Chapter 4: Switch realization

 The diode

• A passive switch
i
• Single-quadrant switch:
1 on • can conduct positive on-
+ i state current
off v
v • can block negative off-
state voltage
–
• provided that the intended
0 on-state and off-state
operating points lie on the
diode i-v characteristic,
Symbol instantaneous i-v characteristic then switch can be
realized using a diode

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 7 Chapter 4: Switch realization

 The Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) and the
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)

1 • An active switch, controlled

BJT i by terminal C
i +
C • Single-quadrant switch:
v on
– • can conduct positive on-
off v
0 state current
• can block positive off-state
IGBT 1
voltage
i +
C • provided that the intended
v
on-state and off-state
– operating points lie on the
0 instantaneous i-v characteristic transistor i-v characteristic,
then switch can be realized
using a BJT or IGBT

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 8 Chapter 4: Switch realization

 The Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect
Transistor (MOSFET)

• An active switch, controlled by

i terminal C
• Normally operated as single-
1 on quadrant switch:
i +
C off v • can conduct positive on-state
v current (can also conduct
– negative current in some
on
(reverse conduction) circumstances)
0
• can block positive off-state
voltage

Symbol instantaneous i-v characteristic • provided that the intended on-

state and off-state operating
points lie on the MOSFET i-v
characteristic, then switch can
be realized using a MOSFET
Fundamentals of Power Electronics 9 Chapter 4: Switch realization
 Realization of switch using
transistors and diodes

Buck converter example

iA A L iL(t)
+ vA – +
–
+ vB B
Vg C R V
–
+
iB Switch A: transistor
–
Switch B: diode
iA iB
Switch A Switch B
SPST switch on iL on iL

operating points
Switch A Switch B
off off
Vg vA –Vg vB

Switch A Switch B

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 10 Chapter 4: Switch realization

 Realization of buck converter
using single-quadrant switches

iA vA L
+ – iL(t)
+ –
vL(t)
–
Vg + vB
–
+
iB

iA iB
Switch A Switch B
on iL on iL

Switch A Switch B
off off
Vg vA –Vg vB

Fundamentals of Power Electronics 11 Chapter 4: Switch realization