A circuit-level simulation model of PNPN devices

A numerical model of a three-junction device is presented. It allows the simulation of the external characteristics of the PNPN family devices, and in this work the simulation of the gate turn-off thyristor is particularly considered. The reasons that led to the realization of this model are explained by reviewing previous works in this area. The model is based on the Ebers-Moll equations extended to include the three-junction devices, and it is implemented (built-up) in the source code of the SPICE2 circuit simulator. A detailed description of the implementation of the model equations and different tests are reported and discussed. The results are in accordance with the measurements from the devices reported on data sheets and the computation time is sufficiently short. >

[1]  Mamoru Kurata A new cad-model of a gate turn-off thyristor , 1974 .

[2]  S. N. Ghani Low-frequency switching circuit model of a thyristor , 1979 .

[3]  I. Getreu,et al.  Modeling the bipolar transistor , 1978 .

[4]  M. Kurata,et al.  2500-V 600-a gate turn-off thyristor (GTO) , 1981, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices.

[5]  M.S. Adler,et al.  The evolution of power device technology , 1984, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices.

[6]  W. McMurray Efficient snubbers for voltage-source GTO inverters , 1985, 1985 IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference.

[7]  Paresh C. Sen,et al.  Effect of Gate-Drive Circuits on GTO Thyristor Characteristics , 1986, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[8]  R. Allan,et al.  Power semiconductors , 1975, IEEE Spectrum.

[9]  E. Dallago,et al.  A SPICE2 SCR model for power circuit analysis , 1984 .

[10]  Toshiaki Suzuki,et al.  A Consideration on Turn-Off Failure of GTO with Amplifying Gate , 1987 .

[11]  Gottfried Moltgen Converter engineering: An introduction to operation and theory , 1984 .

[12]  Fred C. Lee,et al.  A Unified SCR Model for Continuous Topology CADA , 1983, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[13]  Paolo Antognetti,et al.  Semiconductor Device Modeling with Spice , 1988 .

[14]  Alberto L. Sangiovanni-Vincentelli,et al.  Relaxation-based electrical simulation , 1983, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices.

[15]  A.L. Sangiovanni-Vincentelli,et al.  A survey of third-generation simulation techniques , 1981, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[16]  B. W. Williams State-space thyristor computer model , 1977 .