VI characteristics of IGBT
Electronic devices Electronics tutorial IGBT

VI Characteristics of IGBT and it’s Working Principle

The VI characteristics of IGBT is as shown in Figure. In the forward direction, they are similar to those of bipolar transistors. The only difference here is that the controlling parameter is the gate to source voltage Vgs and the parameter being controlled is the drain current. The working principle of IGBT is based on Conductivity modulation.

An insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is a three-terminal semiconductor device it is a hybrid of MOSFET and BJT for high efficiency and fast switching. Read this article to know about the structure of IGBT working and applications of IGBT.

Symbol of IGBT

The power BJT has the advantage of low on state power dissipation, but it cannot be switched at faster rates due to longer turn-off time, whereas MOSFETs have a very high switching speed but their power handling capacity is not as good as that of BJTs.

VI characteristics of IGBT:

Thus, IGBT is a voltage-controlled device with an insulated gate. The drain current increases with increase in Vgs at a constant value of Vds

The IGBT possesses all the advantages of MOSFET due to the insulated gate. It also has all the advantages of the BJT due to bipolar conduction.

VI characteristics of IGBT

As seen from the VI characteristics of IGBT the drain current (or the collector current) increases with an increase in the voltage between gate and source (Vgs).

Also, note that the gate to source voltage Vgs is positive. Vds is the forward breakdown voltage.

This is the value of Vds at which the avalanche breakdown takes place. At this point the voltage across the device and current through it both are high.

Therefore, the power dissipated in the device will be very large and will damage it. The device must be therefore operated below this voltage.

Types of IGBTs:

Depending on whether the n+ buffer layer has been included in the structure of IGBT or not, they are classified into two categories:

  • Non-punch through IGBT (n+ layer is absent). Punch through IGBT (n+ layer present).
  • The non-punch through type IGBTs have a symmetrical blocking capacity. That means without breaking down they can block high positive and negative voltages ( Vds) successfully.
  • The punch through IGBTs has asymmetrical blocking capacity. That means they can block positive Vds successively but cannot block negative voltage successfully.

Principle of Operation of IGBT:

The principle of operation of IGBT is similar to that of a MOSFET.

The operation can be divided into two parts: Creation of the inversion layer and

  • Creation of inversion layer.
  • Conductivity modulation.

Creation of inversion layer:

The operation of IGBT is based on the principle of creation of an inversion layer which is the same as that for the power MOSFET.

In IGBTs also when the positive gate to source voltage Vgs is greater than Vgs (threshold), the n-type inversion layer is created beneath the SiO2 (oxide) layer as shown in Figure.

Working of IGBT inversion layer

Due to the formation of the n-type induction layer in the p-type body layer, a channel is formed ( n+ n n- ) which helps to establish the electron current.

The only difference between the MOSFET and IGBT is that there is no “conductivity modulation” of the drift layer in MOSFET.

Therefore, the on-state resistance Rds and hence the on-state power loss is very high in MOSFET. In IGBT however, the conductivity modulation takes place which reduces the on-state loss as explained as follows:

Conductivity modulation:

In IGBT the conductivity modulation of the n- drift layer takes place.

Working of IGBT conductivity modulation

The effect of conductivity modulation is a reduction in the on-state resistance and hence the on-state power loss. Therefore, the on-state losses in IGBT are less than that in MOSFET.

The conductivity modulation in the n- drift layer can be explained with the help of Figure.

Due to the application of a forward voltage between the drain (collector) and source (emitter) the junction J3 is forward biased.

Due to the creation of the inversion layer. electrons from the source are injected into the n- drift layer via the n+ pn- channel.

As the junction J3 is already forward biased, it will inject holes into the n+ buffer layer from the p+ layer.

The electrons injected in the n- drift layer creates a space charge which will attract holes from the n+ buffer layer which were injected by the p+ layer.

In this way “double injection” (of electrons and holes) takes place into the n- drift region from both sides.

This increases the conductivity of the drift region and reduces the resistance to its minimum. In this way, the conductivity modulation will reduce the on-state voltage across the IGBT.

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