Power Cycling and Thermal Characterization

Lifetime testing of power semiconductors and modules including wide-bandgap devices for product development or qualification e.g. according to AQG324:

• Generation of lifetime data incl. PCmin, PCsec
• Statistical analysis and interpretation of measured lifetime data
• Transient thermal characterization incl. thermal resistance Rth 
• Lifetime modelling and prediction for die attach technologies and power modules
• Long time experience on power cycling tests and analyzing of failure mechanisms
• Consultancy on test planning, failure modes, and result interpretation

• 7 independent test benches available
• Up to 40 devices in one test run
  
• Heating current from 0.1A up to 2000A
• Heating voltage up to 35V
• Heating and cooling power up to 20kW
• Coolant temperatures from -60 ... +350°C possible
• Thermal impedance Zth measurement during each cycle and all samples
• Foster-Cauer network calculation and modelling Digital Power-Cycling Twin
• On-line measurement and control system for each device under test (indirect measurement principle)
• Individual setting of gate-voltage for every device under test
• Automatic end-of-life-detection
  
  

• Active temperature cycling is an accelerated lifetime test for power electronic devices
• Reliability characterization of new packaging concepts, materials, devices and technologies
• The device is heated up via DC-current by semiconductor power losses
• Intrinsic semiconductor characteristics act as a thermometer (virtual junction temperature)
• After heating the samples are cooled down by the heat sink coolant

• IGBTs, mosfets, thyristors
• Resistors
• Schottky-diodes, pn-diodes
• Si, SiC and GaN devices

• Power modules with or without baseplate
• PCB-Boards with discretes (TO-devices, D2Paks, etc.)
• In-house test layouts and samples

• Liquid and air cooling
• Coolant temperatures from -60.. +350°C possible
• Coolant pressure up to 8bar possible
• Various coolants possible
• Interaction of power cycling with temperature or pressure swings in coolant possible

• Constant heating current (application near)
• Constant temperature swing (academic by adjusting the gate voltage)
• Constant heating power