U.S. patent application number 15/965178 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-30 for power conversion device and drive device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Renesas Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Daisuke KONDO, Chang LIU, Nao NAGATA, Koji TATENO.
Application Number | 20180248492 15/965178 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56551146 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180248492 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KONDO; Daisuke ; et
al. |
August 30, 2018 |
POWER CONVERSION DEVICE AND DRIVE DEVICE
Abstract
A power conversion device includes a high-side transistor
including an IGBT, a low-side transistor including an IGBT, and
having a collector coupled to an emitter of the high-side
transistor, a high-side driver configured to drive the high-side
transistor; and a low-side driver configured to drive the low-side
transistor, wherein each of the high-side transistor and the
low-side transistor includes a first trench gate electrode arranged
in an active cell region, and electrically connected to a gate, and
a second trench gate electrode and a third trench gate electrode,
each of which is arranged at intervals on both sides of the first
trench gate electrode, and electrically connected to the emitter in
the active cell region. The high-side driver includes a first
pull-up transistor configured to apply a first voltage as a
positive voltage to the gate, based on the emitter of the high-side
transistor and a first pull-down transistor.
Inventors: |
KONDO; Daisuke; (Tokyo,
JP) ; TATENO; Koji; (Tokyo, JP) ; LIU;
Chang; (Tokyo, JP) ; NAGATA; Nao; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Renesas Electronics Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
56551146 |
Appl. No.: |
15/965178 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15168031 |
May 28, 2016 |
9966870 |
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15965178 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 29/0696 20130101;
Y02E 10/72 20130101; H03K 2217/0081 20130101; H03K 17/691 20130101;
H03K 17/168 20130101; H01L 29/0619 20130101; H01L 29/00 20130101;
H01L 29/7397 20130101; H03K 17/61 20130101; H03K 17/7955 20130101;
H01L 29/407 20130101; H01L 29/7396 20130101; H03K 17/127 20130101;
H01L 29/4238 20130101; Y02E 10/76 20130101; H02M 5/458 20130101;
H02M 1/08 20130101; H03K 17/567 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02M 5/458 20060101
H02M005/458; H01L 29/00 20060101 H01L029/00; H02M 1/08 20060101
H02M001/08; H03K 17/12 20060101 H03K017/12; H03K 17/567 20060101
H03K017/567; H03K 17/61 20060101 H03K017/61; H03K 17/691 20060101
H03K017/691; H03K 17/795 20060101 H03K017/795 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 7, 2015 |
JP |
2015-136132 |
Claims
1. A power conversion device comprising: a high-side transistor
including an IGBT; a low-side transistor including an IGBT, and
having a collector coupled to an emitter of the high-side
transistor; a high-side driver configured to drive the high-side
transistor; and a low-side driver configured to drive the low-side
transistor, wherein each of the high-side transistor and the
low-side transistor includes: a first trench gate electrode
arranged in an active cell region, and electrically connected to a
gate; and a second trench gate electrode and a third trench gate
electrode, each of which is arranged at intervals on both sides of
the first trench gate electrode, and electrically connected to the
emitter in the active cell region, wherein the high-side driver
includes: a first pull-up transistor configured to apply a first
voltage as a positive voltage to the gate, based on the emitter of
the high-side transistor; and a first pull-down transistor
configured to couple the gate of the high-side transistor to the
emitter, and wherein the low-side driver includes: a second pull-up
transistor configured to apply a second voltage as a positive
voltage to the gate, based on the emitter of the low-side
transistor; and a second pull-down transistor configured to couple
the gate of the low-side transistor to the emitter, wherein the
first pull-down transistor applies a gate-emitter voltage of about
0 V to the high-side transistor when the high-side transistor is
turned off, and wherein the second pull-down transistor applies a
gate-emitter voltage of about 0 V to the low-side transistor when
the low-side transistor is turned off.
2. The power conversion device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a transformer including a primary coil, and a first
secondary coil and a second secondary coil; an AC voltage
generation circuit configured to generate an AC voltage, and apply
the AC voltage to the primary coil; a first rectifier circuit
configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the first
secondary coil, and generate the first voltage in a first node
based on a first reference node; and a second rectifier circuit
configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the second
secondary coil, and generate the second voltage in a second node
based on a second reference node, wherein the first reference node
is coupled to the emitter of the high-side transistor and one end
of the first pull-down transistor, the first node is coupled to one
end of the first pull-up transistor, the second reference node is
coupled to the emitter of the low-side transistor and one end of
the second pull-down transistor, and the second node is coupled to
one end of the second pull-up transistor.
3. The power conversion device according to claim 2, further
comprising: a first photocoupler configured to receive an input of
a first PWM signal having a lower voltage level than the first
voltage and the second voltage, convert the voltage level of the
first PWM signal into a voltage level according to the first
voltage, and control the high-side driver by using the converted
PWM signal, and a second photocoupler configured to receive an
input of a second PWM signal having a lower voltage level than the
first voltage and the second voltage, convert the voltage level of
the second PWM signal into a voltage level according to the second
voltage, and control the low-side driver by using the converted PWM
signal.
4. The power conversion device according to claim 1, wherein each
of the first voltage and the second voltage is greater than 15
V.
5. The power conversion device according to claim 1, wherein each
of the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor has a
withstand voltage of 1200 V or more.
6. The power conversion device according to claim 2, wherein each
of the high-side driver, the low-side driver, the transformer, the
AC voltage generation circuit, the first rectifier circuit, and the
second rectifier circuit is mounted on a wiring board.
7. The power conversion device according to claim 1, wherein each
of the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor further
includes: a first semiconductor region arranged between the first
trench gate electrode and the second trench gate electrode, and in
which a channel is formed; a second semiconductor region arranged
between the first trench gate electrode and the third trench gate
electrode, and in which a channel is formed; a third semiconductor
region arranged on a side opposite to the first semiconductor
region across the second trench gate electrode, and configured to
serve as a floating node; and a fourth semiconductor region
arranged on a side opposite to the second semiconductor region
across the third trench gate electrode, and configured to serve as
a floating node.
8. The power conversion device according to claim 1, wherein each
of the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor includes a
plurality of semiconductor chips having emitter electrodes, gate
electrodes and collector electrodes, the emitter electrodes of the
plurality of semiconductor chips are coupled in common, and the
collector electrodes of the plurality of semiconductor chips are
coupled in common.
9. A power conversion device comprising: a conversion unit
configured to convert an AC voltage, which is externally input,
into a DC voltage; a capacitor configured to hold the DC voltage
converted by the conversion unit; an inverter unit configured to
convert the DC voltage held in the capacitor into a three-phase AC
voltage having a predetermined voltage and frequency; and a drive
unit configured to control the inverter unit, wherein the inverter
unit includes, with respect to each phase of the three phases, a
high-side transistor including an IGBT; and a low-side transistor
including an IGBT, and having a collector coupled to an emitter of
the high-side transistor, wherein the drive unit includes, with
respect to each phase of the three phases, a high-side driver
configured to drive the high-side transistor; and a low-side driver
configured to drive the low-side transistor, wherein each of the
high-side transistor and the low-side transistor includes: a first
trench gate electrode arranged in an active cell region, and
electrically connected to a gate; and a second trench gate
electrode and a third trench gate electrode, each of which is
arranged at intervals on both sides of the first trench gate
electrode, and electrically connected to the emitter in the active
cell region, wherein the high-side driver includes: a first pull-up
transistor configured to apply a first voltage as a positive
voltage to the gate, based on the emitter of the high-side
transistor; and a first pull-down transistor configured to couple
the gate of the high-side transistor to the emitter, and wherein
the low-side driver includes: a second pull-up transistor
configured to apply a second voltage as a positive voltage to the
gate, based on the emitter of the low-side transistor; and a second
pull-down transistor configured to couple the gate of the low-side
transistor to the emitter, wherein the first pull-down transistor
applies a gate-emitter voltage of about 0 V to the high-side
transistor when the high-side transistor is turned off, and wherein
the second pull-down transistor applies a gate-emitter voltage of
about 0 V to the low-side transistor when the low-side transistor
is turned off.
10. The power conversion device according to claim 9, wherein the
drive unit further includes, with respect to each phase of the
three phases, a transformer including a primary coil, and a first
secondary coil and a second secondary coil; an AC voltage
generation circuit configured to generate an AC voltage, and apply
the AC voltage to the primary coil; a first rectifier circuit
configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the first
secondary coil, and generate the first voltage in a first node
based on a first reference node; and a second rectifier circuit
configured to rectify an AC voltage generated by the second
secondary coil, and generate the second voltage in a second node
based on a second reference node, wherein the first reference node
is coupled to the emitter of the high-side transistor and one end
of the first pull-down transistor, the first node is coupled to one
end of the first pull-up transistor, the second reference node is
coupled to the emitter of the low-side transistor and one end of
the second pull-down transistor, and the second node is coupled to
one end of the second pull-up transistor.
11. The power conversion device according to claim 10, wherein each
of the high-side driver, the low-side driver, the transformer, the
AC voltage generation circuit, the first rectifier circuit, and the
second rectifier circuit is mounted on a wiring board.
12. The power conversion device according to claim 9, wherein each
of the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor further
includes: a first semiconductor region arranged between the first
trench gate electrode and the second trench gate electrode, and in
which a channel is formed; a second semiconductor region arranged
between the first trench gate electrode and the third trench gate
electrode, and in which a channel is formed; a third semiconductor
region arranged on a side opposite to the first semiconductor
region across the second trench gate electrode, and configured to
serve as a floating node; and a fourth semiconductor region
arranged on a side opposite to the second semiconductor region
across the third trench gate electrode, and configured to serve as
a floating node.
13. The power conversion device according to claim 9, wherein the
conversion unit receives an input of an AC voltage from a wind
generator.
14. A drive device including a wiring board, the wiring board
comprising: a first drive terminal and a second drive terminal
configured to drive a high-side transistor in a half-bridge
circuit; a third drive terminal and a fourth drive terminal
configured to drive a low-side transistor in the half-bridge
circuit; a high-side driver including: a first pull-up transistor
configured to apply a first voltage as a positive voltage to the
first drive terminal, based on the second drive terminal; and a
first pull-down transistor configured to couple the first drive
terminal to the second drive terminal; a low-side driver including:
a second pull-up transistor configured to apply a second voltage as
a positive voltage to the third drive terminal, based on the fourth
drive terminal; and a second pull-down transistor configured to
couple the third drive terminal to the fourth drive terminal; a
transformer including a primary coil, and a first secondary coil
and a second secondary coil; an AC voltage generation circuit
configured to generate an AC voltage, and apply the AC voltage to
the primary coil; a first rectifier circuit configured to rectify a
voltage generated by the first secondary coil, and generate the
first voltage in a first node based on a first reference node; a
second rectifier circuit configured to rectify a voltage generated
by the second secondary coil, and generate the second voltage in a
second node based on a second reference node; first wiring
configured to couple the first reference node to the second drive
terminal and one end of the first pull-down transistor; second
wiring configured to couple the first node to one end of the first
pull-up transistor; third wiring configured to couple the second
reference node to the fourth drive terminal and one end of the
second pull-down transistor; and fourth wiring configured to couple
the second node to one end of the second pull-up transistor,
wherein the first pull-down transistor applies a gate-emitter
voltage of about 0 V to the high-side transistor when the high-side
transistor is turned off, and wherein the second pull-down
transistor applies a gate-emitter voltage of about 0 V to the
low-side transistor when the low-side transistor is turned off.
15. The drive device according to claim 14, wherein the wiring
board further includes: a first photocoupler configured to receive
an input of a first PWM signal having a lower voltage level than
the first voltage and the second voltage, convert the voltage level
of the first PWM signal into a voltage level according to the first
voltage, and control the high-side driver by using the converted
PWM signal, and a second photocoupler configured to receive an
input of a second PWM signal having a lower voltage level than the
first voltage and the second voltage, convert the voltage level of
the second PWM signal into a voltage level according to the second
voltage, and control the low-side driver by using the converted PWM
signal.
16. The drive device according to claim 15, wherein the wiring
board includes a first wiring region, a second wiring region and a
third wiring region insulated from each other, the first drive
terminal and the second drive terminal, the high-side driver, and
the first rectifier circuit are provided in the first wiring
region, the third drive terminal and the fourth drive terminal, the
low-side driver, and the second rectifier circuit are provided in
the second wiring region, the AC voltage generation circuit is
provided in the third wiring region, the transformer is provided
between the third wiring region, and the first wiring region and
the second wiring region, the first photocoupler is provided
between the third wiring region and first wiring region, and the
second photocoupler is provided between the third wiring region and
the second wiring region.
17. The drive device according to claim 14, wherein each of the
high-side transistor and the low-side transistor is an IGBT
including: a first trench gate electrode arranged in an active cell
region, and electrically connected to a gate; and a second trench
gate electrode and a third trench gate electrode, each of which is
arranged at intervals on both sides of the first trench gate
electrode, and electrically connected to an emitter in the active
cell region.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a Continuation Application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/168,031, filed on May 28, 2016,
which is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-136132 filed
on Jul. 7, 2015, the content of which is hereby incorporated by
reference into this application.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a power conversion device
and a drive device, and for example, relates to a high-power power
conversion device for including a half-bridge circuit and the like,
and a drive device of the half-bridge circuit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A trench gate IGBT is used as a transistor with low
on-resistance, and as one form thereof, an IE type trench gate IGBT
using an IE (Injection Enhancement) effect is known. The IE effect
means that holes are made difficult to discharge from the emitter
electrode side when the IGBT is in an ON state, whereby the
concentration of charges stored in the drift region is increased to
reduce the on-resistance.
[0004] In the IE type trench gate IGBT, for example, Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-256839 (Patent Document 1)
and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-140885 (Patent
Document 2) disclose that the active cell region connected to the
emitter electrode and the inactive cell region including the
floating region are alternately arranged in the cell-forming
region. Patent Document 1 discloses a structure of the GG type
(gate-gate type) where two trench gates arranged in order are
coupled to the gate electrode in the active cell region. Patent
Document 2 discloses a structure of the EGE type
(emitter-gate-emitter type) where three trench gates arranged in
order are coupled to the emitter electrode, the gate electrode, and
the emitter electrode in this order, in the active cell region.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In the power electronics field, a power conversion device
including a half-bridge circuit having a high-side transistor and a
low-side transistor is widely used. The half-bridge circuit is
widely used in DC/AC converters (that is, inverters), DC/DC
converters, and the like. For example, a three-phase alternating
current power is generated by configuring an inverter using a
half-bridge circuit of three phases.
[0006] Here, for example, when the inverter is used in the
high-power field such as a wind power generation system, the
on-resistance of each of the transistors in the inverter is
required to be lowered such that the loss of power is particularly
reduced. As this transistor with low on-resistance, for example, it
is beneficial to use the IE-type trench gate IGBT, as disclosed in
Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.
[0007] On the other hand, it is known that an erroneous turn-on
occurs in the half-bridge circuit. The erroneous turn-on means a
phenomenon such that, for example, when the low-side transistor is
turned on in the state where the high-side transistor is turned
off, the high-side transistor is instantaneously turned on. When
the erroneous turn-on occurs, the switching loss increases due to
through-current, thereby occurring the reduction in the power
conversion efficiency and the like. In addition, the erroneous
turn-on more easily occurs in the high-power field. Thus, there
usually arises the need to mount components for preventing such
erroneous turn-on in a power conversion device, which is used
specifically in the high-power field.
[0008] Embodiments described below have been made in view of the
foregoing and the above and other preferred aims and novel
characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the
description of the present specification and the accompanying
drawings.
[0009] A power conversion device according to an embodiment of the
present invention includes: a high-side transistor and a low-side
transistor including an IGBT; and a high-side driver and a low-side
driver configured to drive each of the high-side transistor and the
low-side transistor. Each of the high-side transistor and the
low-side transistor has an EGE-type structure. The high-side driver
includes: a first pull-up transistor configured to apply a first
voltage as a positive voltage to a gate based on an emitter of the
high-side transistor; and a first pull-down transistor configured
to couple the gate of the high-side transistor to the emitter. The
low-side driver includes: a second pull-up transistor configured to
apply a second voltage as a positive voltage to the gate based on
the emitter of the low-side transistor; and a second pull-down
transistor configured to couple the gate of the low-side transistor
to the emitter.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
number of the mounted components can be reduced in the power
conversion device and the drive device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a wind power generation system to which a
power conversion device is applied, in the power conversion device
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a detailed
configuration example of the high-side arm and the low-side arm in
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a main portion of the drive unit (drive
device) in the power conversion device in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a structural example of a
semiconductor chip configuring the high-side transistor or the
low-side transistor in FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a structural example of a
main portion of the cell-forming region and the gate-wire-lead
region in FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a detailed structural
example of the hybrid cell region in FIG. 5;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structural
example taken from line A-A' of FIG. 6;
[0018] FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a parasitic
capacitance present in the structure of FIG. 7, and FIG. 8B is an
equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 8A;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a main portion of the drive unit (drive
device) in the power conversion device according to a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 10A is a plan view illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a board layout in the drive unit of FIG.
9, and FIG. 10B is a plan view illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a board layout as a comparative example of
FIG. 10A;
[0021] FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an
example of a mechanism of erroneous turn-on in a half-bridge
circuit;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structural
example of the active region in the high-side transistor or the
low-side transistor studied as a comparative example of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 13A is an explanatory diagram illustrating the
parasitic capacitance present in the structure of FIG. 12, and FIG.
13B is an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 13A; and
[0024] FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a main portion of the drive unit in the
power conversion device studied as a comparative example of the
present invention.
[0025] In the embodiments described below, the invention will be
described in a plurality of sections or embodiments when required
as a matter of convenience. However, these sections or embodiments
are not irrelevant to each other unless otherwise stated, and the
one relates to the entire or a part of the other as a modification
example, details, or a supplementary explanation thereof. Also, in
the embodiments described below, when referring to the number of
elements (including number of pieces, values, amount, range, and
the like) , the number of the elements is not limited to a specific
number unless otherwise stated or except the case where the number
is apparently limited to a specific number in principle.
[0026] Further, in the embodiments described below, it goes without
saying that the components (including element steps) are not always
indispensable unless otherwise stated or except the case where the
components are apparently indispensable in principle. Similarly, in
the embodiments described below, when the shape of the components,
positional relation thereof, and the like are mentioned, the
substantially approximate and similar shapes and the like are
included therein unless otherwise stated or except the case where
it is conceivable that they are apparently excluded in principle.
The same goes for the numerical value and the range described
above.
[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Note that members having the same function are denoted by the same
reference symbols throughout all drawings for describing the
embodiments, and the repetitive description thereof will be
omitted.
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
<<Overall Configuration of Power Conversion
Device>>
[0028] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a wind power generation system to which a
power conversion device is applied, in the power conversion device
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The wind
power generation system illustrated in FIG. 1 is an industrial
system, and includes a wind turbine WTB, a generator ACG, a
conversion unit (rectifier circuit unit) CVU, a booster circuit
unit BSTU, an inverter unit IVU, three drive units (drive devices)
DVUu,
[0029] DVUv, and DVUw, an inverter control unit CTLU, and a load
LD. Among these components, the power conversion device PCE
includes, for example, a conversion unit CVU, a booster circuit
unit BSTU, an inverter unit IVU, drive units DVUu, DVUv, and DVUw,
and an inverter control unit CTLU.
[0030] The generator ACG generates a three-phase (R phase, S phase,
and T phase) AC voltage having a voltage value such as 600 V from
the power obtained by the rotation of the wind turbine WTB. The
conversion unit CVU includes six diodes Dr1, Dr2, Ds1, Ds2, Dt1,
and Dt2 according to the three-phase AC voltage, and converts the
three-phase AC voltage into a DC voltage by full-wave
rectification. The booster circuit unit BSTU includes an inductor
L1, a switch SW1, a diode D1 and a capacitor C1.
[0031] The booster circuit unit BSTU boosts the DC voltage,
converted by the conversion unit CVU, by using the switching of the
switch SW1, thereby, for example, generating a DC voltage of 1000 V
and the like (power supply voltage VCC) and holding the power
supply voltage VCC in the capacitor C1. Specifically, the booster
circuit unit BSTU alternately repeats the function of storing power
in the inductor L1 when the switch SW1 is turned on, and the
function of storing the stored power in the capacitor C1 through
the diode D1 when the switch SW1 is turned off. A turning on and
off of the switch SW1 is controlled by a control unit (not
illustrated).
[0032] The inverter unit IVU includes high-side arms HAu, HAv, and
HAw respectively corresponding to the three phases (the U phase,
the V phase, and the W phase) , and low-side arms LAu, LAv, and LAw
respectively corresponding to the U phase, the V phase, and the W
phase. The high-side arm HAu is provided between the U-phase output
terminal UO and the power supply voltage VCC, the high-side arm HAv
is provided between the V-phase output terminal VO and the power
supply voltage VCC, and the high-side arm HAw is provided between
the W-phase output terminal WO and the power supply voltage VCC.
The low-side arm LAu is provided between the U-phase output
terminal UO and the ground power supply voltage VSS, the low-side
arm LAv is provided between the V-phase output terminal VO and the
ground power supply voltage VSS, and the low-side arm LAw is
provided between the W-phase output terminal WO and the ground
power supply voltage VSS.
[0033] Each of the high-side arms HAu, HAv, and HAw includes a
high-side transistor TH including an IGBT and the like, and a
freewheeling diode DDh connected between the emitter and collector
of the high-side transistor TH in reverse parallel, and including,
for example, a FRD (Fast Recovery Diode) and the like. The
high-side transistor TH has the emitter coupled to the output
terminal of the corresponding phase and the collector coupled to
the supply voltage VCC. Similarly, each of the low-side arms LAu,
LAv, and LAw also includes a low-side transistor TL including an
IGBT and the like, and a freewheeling diode DDl connected between
the emitter and collector of the low-side transistor TL in reverse
parallel, and including, for example, a FRD and the like. The
low-side transistor TL has the collector coupled to the output
terminal of the corresponding phase and the emitter coupled to the
ground power supply voltage VSS.
[0034] The inverter unit IVU converts the DC voltage held by the
capacitor C1 into the three-phase AC voltage having the
predetermined voltage and frequency by the switching of the
high-side transistor TH and the low-side transistor TL of each
phase. The AC voltage is supplied to the load LD. The load LD is,
for example, a transformer and the like that includes an inductor
and the like. The drive units (drive devices) DVUu, DVUv, and DVUw
respectively control the switching of the high-side transistor TH
and the low-side transistor TL of the U-phase, the V-phase, and the
W-phase based on the instructions from the inverter control unit
CTLU. The inverter control unit CTLU includes, for example, a micro
controller and the like.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a detailed
configuration example of the high-side arm and the low-side arm in
FIG. 1. Here, although the low-side arm will be described as an
example, the same also applies to the high-side arm. The low-side
arm LA of each phase illustrated in FIG. 1 includes, specifically,
a plurality of (three in this case) low-side transistors (IGBT)
TL1, TL2, and TL3, and a plurality of (three in this case)
freewheeling diodes DDl1, DDl2, and DDl3 respectively connected to
these transistors in reverse parallel.
[0036] The low-side transistors TL1, TL2, and TL3 are respectively
constituted by three semiconductor chips CHP1, CHP2, and CHP3. In
addition, the freewheeling diodes DDl1, DDl2, and DDl3 are also
constituted, for example, by the respective semiconductor chips.
Each of the semiconductor chips CHP1, CHP2, and CHP3 includes an
emitter electrode, a collector electrode, and a gate electrode. The
emitter electrodes of the semiconductor chips CHP1, CHP2, and CHP3
are coupled in common to the emitter terminal PNe, the collector
electrodes are coupled in common to the collector terminal PNc, and
the gate electrodes are coupled in common to the gate terminal PNg
through each of the gate resistors Rg1, Rg2, and Rg3.
[0037] For example, in a system for high-power usage as illustrated
in FIG. 1, there is a need for the transistor of each of the arms
to supply a large current such as several hundred A or more, and
1000 A or more in some cases. In this case, it is usually difficult
to secure the necessary current in one semiconductor chip (IGBT),
and as illustrated in FIG. 2, it is necessary to secure the
necessary current by connecting a plurality of semiconductor chips
(IGBT) in parallel. It should be noted that each of the
semiconductor chips CHP1, CHP2, and CHP3 and each of the
freewheeling diodes DDl1, DDl2, and DDl3 in FIG. 2 is mounted in a
variety of forms. For example, as for one semiconductor chip and
one freewheeling diode which are configured as one package
component, three package components may be combined to be used, or
such three package components combined in advance as one module
component may be used, or the like.
<<Problems of Power Conversion Device>>
[0038] FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an
example of a mechanism of erroneous turn-on in a half-bridge
circuit. FIG. 11A illustrates a configuration example of the
half-bridge circuit of one phase with respect to the half-bridge
circuit of three phases constituting the inverter unit IVU of FIG.
1, for example. In FIG. 11A, the inductor L connected between the
emitter and the collector of the high-side transistor TH' is
assumed to be the load LD in FIG. 1. In addition, in practice, a
parasitic capacitance called a feedback capacitance Cres is present
between the gate and collector of the high-side transistor TH' (and
the low-side transistor TL'), and a parasitic capacitance called an
input capacitance Cies is present between the gate and the
emitter.
[0039] In FIG. 11A, first, it is assumed that the current based on
the electromotive force caused by the inductor L flows back through
the freewheeling diode DDh of the high-side transistor TH', in a
state where the high-side transistor TH' and the low-side
transistor TL' are both turned off. In this case, the voltage Vx of
the emitter of the high-side transistor TH' (the collector of the
low-side transistor TL') almost reaches the level of the power
supply voltage VCC. Next, it is assumed that the low-side driver
LDV applies a predetermined ON voltage (for example, +15 V) to the
gate-emitter voltage VgeL of the low-side transistor TL' from this
state.
[0040] As a result, the freewheeling diode DDh reversely recovers,
and as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the voltage Vx falls from the level
in the vicinity of the power supply voltage VCC to the level in the
vicinity of 0 V (the ON-voltage VCE(sat) of the low-side transistor
TL' in detail). With the voltage change rate (dV/dt) in the voltage
Vx, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the displacement current Idisp in
equation (1) flows through the feedback capacitance Cres and the
input capacitance Cies of the high-side transistor TH'.
Idisp=Cres.times.(dV/dt) (1)
[0041] This displacement current Idisp causes the gate-emitter
voltage VgeH of the high-side transistor TH' to instantaneously
rise, as illustrated in FIG. 11B. The gate-emitter voltage VgeH is
expressed in equation (2), and equation (3) is expressed by
substituting equation (1) into equation (2).
Vge=.intg.(Idisp/Cies)dt (2)
Vge=.intg.(Cres/Cies)dV (3)
[0042] Then, when the gate-emitter voltage VgeH exceeds a threshold
voltage of the high-side transistor TH', an instantaneous
through-current flows, as illustrated in FIG. 11B. Such a
phenomenon is called as an erroneous turn-on. When the erroneous
turn-on occurs, the switching loss increases, and the power
conversion efficiency (for example, power generation efficiency in
the example illustrated in FIG. 1) is reduced. It should be noted
that although the erroneous turn-on that may occur in the high-side
transistor when the low-side transistor is turned on is described
here, the erroneous turn-on may occur in the low-side transistor
also when the high-side transistor is turned on in the same manner.
Here, the IGBT typically has a plurality of withstand voltage
specifications (that is, the maximum value specification of the
emitter-collector voltage VCE) . Typically, 600 V withstand
voltage, 1200 V withstand voltage, and withstand voltages exceeding
them (such as 1400 V withstand voltage and 1700 V withstand
voltage) are exemplified. For example, in the system for high-power
usage as illustrated in FIG. 1, the withstand voltage of at least
1200 V or more is required due to the high supply voltage VCC (for
example, 1000 V or the like) , and in view of the surge or the
like, the withstand voltage of 1700 V or more is required. Usually,
the feedback capacitance Cres is increased as the IGBT has a higher
withstand voltage specification. Furthermore, as illustrated in
FIG. 2, when a plurality of IGBTs are connected in parallel, the
feedback capacitance Cres is increased by several times. Then, as
can be understood from equation (3), the erroneous turn-on is more
likely to occur.
[0043] Therefore, in order to prevent such an erroneous turn-on,
the method of applying a negative voltage (for example, -15 V or
the like) to between the gate and the emitter when the IGBT is
turned off is usually used. FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram
illustrating a schematic configuration example of a main portion of
the drive unit in the power conversion device studied as a
comparative example of the present invention.
[0044] The drive unit DVU' illustrated in FIG. 14 corresponds, for
example, to each of the drive units DVUu, DVUv, and DVUw
illustrated in FIG. 1. The drive unit DVU' is constituted, for
example, by the mounting of the various components on the wiring
board. The drive unit DVU' includes an external terminal for the
power supply voltage VDD (VDD) , an external terminal for the
ground power supply voltage GND (GND), a gate drive terminal HG and
an emitter drive terminal HE for the high-side, and a gate drive
terminal LG and an emitter drive terminal LE for the low-side.
[0045] The power supply voltage VDD, such as 15 V, is supplied to
the external terminal (VDD). The gate drive terminal HG and the
emitter drive terminal HE are respectively coupled to the gate
terminal PNg and the emitter terminal PNe of the high-side
transistor TH'. The gate drive terminal LG and the emitter drive
terminal LE are respectively coupled to the gate terminal PNg and
the emitter terminal PNe of the low-side transistor TL'.
[0046] In addition, the drive unit DVU' includes a DC/AC conversion
circuit DCAC, a transformer TR', positive voltage generation
circuits PVGh and PVGl, negative voltage generation circuits NVGh
and NVGl, a high-side driver HDV and a low-side driver LDV, and
various gate resistors Rhc, Rhd, Rlc, and Rld. The DC/AC conversion
circuit DCAC generates an AC voltage from the power supply voltage
VDD (such as 15 V), which is supplied from the external terminal
(VDD).
[0047] The transformer TR' includes a primary coil L1h and
secondary coils L21h and L22h for the high side, and a primary coil
L1l and secondary coils L21l and L22l for the low side. One end of
each of the secondary coils L21h and L22h for the high side is
coupled in common to a midpoint node N1m, and the midpoint node N1m
is coupled to the emitter drive terminal HE. In the high side, an
AC voltage generated by the DC/AC conversion circuit DCAC is
applied to the primary coil L1h. In response to this application,
the secondary coil L21h generates an AC voltage according to a
ratio of the numbers of turns of the primary coil L1h and the
secondary coil L21h, and the secondary coil L22h also generates an
AC voltage according to a ratio of the numbers of turns of the
primary coil L1h and the secondary coil L22h.
[0048] The positive voltage generation circuit PVGh is a circuit
for generating a positive voltage for the high-side driver HDV, and
partly includes the secondary coil L21h of the transformer TR'
described above, and further includes a half-wave rectifier circuit
including a diode Dp and a capacitor Cp. The half-wave rectifier
circuit performs a half-wave rectification on the positive voltage
side of the AC voltage, which is generated by the secondary coil
L21h, with the diode Dp, and generates a positive voltage VP1 (such
as +15 V) in the node N1p (the other end of the capacitor Cp) ,
based on the node N1m (one end of the capacitor Cp).
[0049] The negative voltage generation circuit NVGh is a circuit
for generating a negative voltage for the high-side driver HDV, and
partly includes the secondary coil L22h of the transformer TR'
described above, and further includes a half-wave rectifier circuit
including a diode Dn and a capacitor Cn. The half-wave rectifier
circuit performs a half-wave rectification on the negative voltage
side of the AC voltage, which is generated by the secondary coil
L22h, with the diode Dn, and generates a negative voltage VN1 (such
as -15 V) in the node N1n (the other end of the capacitor Cn) ,
based on the node N1m (one end of the capacitor Cn).
[0050] As in the case of the high side, one end of each of the
secondary coils L21l and L22l for the low side is coupled in common
to a midpoint node N2m, and the midpoint node N2m is coupled to the
emitter drive terminal LE. In the low side, an AC voltage generated
by the DC/AC conversion circuit DCAC is applied to the primary coil
L1l. In response to this application, the secondary coil L21l
generates an AC voltage according to a ratio of the numbers of
turns of the primary coil L1and the secondary coil L21l, and the
secondary coil L22l also generates an AC voltage according to a
ratio of the numbers of turns of the primary coil L1l and the
secondary coil L22l.
[0051] The positive voltage generation circuit PVGl is a circuit
for generating a positive voltage for the low-side driver LDV, and
partly includes the secondary coil L21l of the transformer TR'
described above, and further includes a half-wave rectifier circuit
as in the case of the positive voltage generation circuit PVGh. The
half-wave rectifier circuit generates a positive voltage VP2 (such
as +15 V) in the node N2p, based on the node N2m. The negative
voltage generation circuit NVGl is a circuit for generating a
negative voltage for the low-side driver LDV, and partly includes
the secondary coil L22l of the transformer TR' described above, and
further includes a half-wave rectifier circuit as in the case of
the negative voltage generation circuit NVGh. The half-wave
rectifier circuit generates a negative voltage VN2 (such as -15 V)
in the node N2n, based on the node N2m.
[0052] The high-side driver HDV includes a pull-up transistor UTh
and a pull-down transistor DTh, and drives the high-side transistor
TH' through the gate drive terminal HG and the emitter drive
terminal HE. In this example, the high-side driver HDV is set as a
totem-pole circuit that uses bipolar transistors constituting
emitter followers for the pull-up transistor UTh and the pull-down
transistor DTh. This circuit can supply a sufficient current to the
gate drive terminal HG, and can rapidly charge and discharge the
gate capacitance of the high-side transistor TH'.
[0053] The pull-up transistor UTh applies the positive voltage VP1
previously described to the gate drive terminal HG through the
resistor Rhc, based on the emitter drive terminal HE (node N1m),
when the high-side transistor TH' is driven to be turned on. The
resistor Rhc is provided so as to adjust a turn-on time of the
high-side transistor TH'. The pull-down transistor DTh applies the
negative voltage VN1 previously described to the gate drive
terminal HG through the resistor Rhd, based on the emitter drive
terminal HE (node N1m), when the high-side transistor TH' is driven
to be turned off. The resistor Rhd is provided so as to adjust a
turn-off time of the high-side transistor TH'.
[0054] As in the case of the high-side driver HDV, the low-side
driver LDV is set as a totem-pole circuit including a pull-up
transistor UTl and a pull-down transistor DTl, and drives the
low-side transistor TL' through the gate drive terminal LG and the
emitter drive terminal LE. The pull-up transistor UTl applies the
positive voltage VP2 previously described to the gate drive
terminal LG through the resistor Rlc, based on the emitter drive
terminal LE (node N2m), when the low-side transistor TL' is driven
to be turned on. The pull-down transistor DTl applies the negative
voltage VN2 previously described to the gate drive terminal LG
through the resistor Rld, based on the emitter drive terminal LE,
when the low-side transistor TL' is driven to be turned off.
[0055] Thus, the negative voltage generation circuits NVGh and NVGl
are provided in the drive unit DVU' illustrated in FIG. 14, thereby
preventing the erroneous turn-on described in FIGS. 11A and
11B.
[0056] However, in this case, with the mounting of the negative
voltage generation circuits NVGh and NVGl, the number of mounted
components in the drive unit DVU' (wiring board) (three wiring
boards in the example of FIG. 1) increases. The increase in the
number of mounted components may cause the increase in cost such as
the increase in the component cost, or the increase in the mounting
cost to occur. Furthermore, the size of the wiring board also
increases, and the increase in the cost associated with this may
occur.
[0057] It should be noted that, for example, in the low to medium
power usages such as the case of using a HVIC (High Voltage IC),
there is a case where the erroneous turn-on can be prevented
without providing such a negative voltage generation circuit.
However, in a high power usage that requires a withstand voltage of
1200 V or more (preferably 1400 V or more) and passes a current of
100 A or more (preferably several hundred A or more), there is
usually a need for a negative voltage generation circuit. In this
case, the negative voltage generation circuit is desirable to be
configured by using a transformer and the like on the wiring board,
as illustrated in FIG. 14, so as to perform sufficient power supply
in an insulated state.
Configuration of Drive Unit (Drive Device)
[0058] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a main portion of the drive unit (drive
device) in the power conversion device in FIG. 1. The drive unit
(drive device) DVU illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to each of the
drive units DVUu, DVUv, and DVUw illustrated in FIG. 1, and has a
configuration that does not include the negative voltage generation
circuits NVGh and NVGl in FIG. 14, as compared with the drive unit
DVU' in FIG. 14.
[0059] Specifically, unlike the case in FIG. 14, the transformer TR
includes one secondary coil L21h corresponding to the primary coil
L1h, and includes one secondary coil L21l corresponding to the
primary coil L1l. The AC voltage from the DC/AC conversion circuit
(AC voltage generation circuit) DCAC is applied to the primary
coils L1h and L1l, as in the case of FIG. 14.
[0060] The positive voltage generation circuit PVGh for the
high-side includes a secondary coil L21h of the transformer TR, and
further includes a rectifier circuit (for example, half-wave
rectifier circuit) including a diode Dp and a capacitor Cp RCT1.
The rectifier circuit RCT1 generates a positive voltage VP1 in the
node Nlp based on the node N1m, as described in FIG. 14. The node
N1p is coupled to one end (collector) of the pull-up transistor
(here, npn-type bipolar transistor) UTh of the high-side driver HDV
through the wiring LN2 on the wiring board, as in the case of FIG.
14. On the other hand, the node N1m is coupled to the emitter drive
terminal HE through the wiring LN1 on the wiring board, and is
further coupled to one end (collector) of the pull-down transistor
(here, pnp-type bipolar transistor) DTh of the high-side driver
HDV, unlike the case in FIG. 14.
[0061] Similarly, the positive voltage generation circuit PVGl for
the low-side includes a secondary coil L21l of the transformer TR,
and further includes a rectifier circuit (for example, half-wave
rectifier circuit) RCT2 including a diode Dp and a capacitor Cp.
The rectifier circuit RCT2 generates a positive voltage VP2 in the
node N2p based on the node N2m, as described in FIG. 14.
[0062] The node N2p is coupled to one end (collector) of the
pull-up transistor (in this case, npn-type bipolar transistor) UTl
of the low-side driver LDV through the wiring LN4 on the wiring
board, as in the case in FIG. 14. On the other hand, the node N2m
is coupled to the emitter drive terminal LE through the wiring LN3
on the wiring board, and is further coupled to one end (collector)
of the pull-down transistor (here, pnp-type bipolar transistor) DTl
of the low-side driver LDV, unlike the case in FIG. 14.
[0063] As a result, the pull-down transistor DTh of the high-side
driver HDV couples the gate drive terminal HG to the emitter drive
terminal HE when the high-side transistor TH is driven to be turned
off. In other words, the high-side driver HDV applies the
gate-emitter voltage VgeH of about 0 V to the high-side transistor
TH when the high-side transistor TH is driven to be turned off.
Similarly, the pull-down transistor DTl of the low-side driver LDV
couples the gate drive terminal LG to the emitter drive terminal LE
when the low-side transistor TL is driven to be turned off. In
other words, the low-side driver LDV applies the gate-emitter
voltage VgeL of about 0 V to the low-side transistor TL when the
low-side transistor TL is driven to be turned off.
[0064] Thus, the drive unit (drive device) DVU does not include the
negative voltage generation circuits, whereby the number of the
mounted components in the drive unit DVU (wiring board) (in the
example in FIG. 1, three wiring boards) can be reduced.
[0065] Specifically, the reduction in the number of turns in the
transformer TR, and the reduction in the diode components and the
capacitor components (the diodes Dn and the capacitors Cn in FIG.
14) can be achieved. As a result, various kinds of cost such as the
component cost and the mounting cost can be reduced, and the size
of the wiring board may be reduced.
[0066] It should be noted that although two primary coils L1h and
L1l are provided here, when the total power required by the
high-side driver HDV and the low-side driver LDV can be supplied by
one primary coil, the primary coils L1h and L1l may be integrated
as a single primary coil. In addition, although bipolar transistors
constituting the emitter followers are used here, the high-side
driver HDV and the low-side driver LDV are not necessarily limited
to this configuration, and may be configured by using, for example,
MOS transistors and the like. Furthermore, although the half-wave
rectifier circuits are used as the rectifying circuits RCT1 and
RCT2 here, full-wave rectifier circuits capable of achieving more
stable voltages may be used by using the area obtained by the
reduction in the negative voltage generation circuits.
[0067] Here, in order to prevent the erroneous turn-on as
illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B without the use of the negative
voltage generation circuits as illustrated in FIG. 3, for example,
the IGBT having a small feedback capacitance Cres and capable of
handling the high-power usages is used as the high-side transistor
TH and the low-side transistor TL. Since the IGBT having a small
feedback capacitance Cres is used, the gate-emitter voltage Vge
rising instantaneously can be reduced as can be understood from
equation (3), and as a result, the erroneous turn-on can be
prevented.
<<Structure of High-Side/Low-Side Transistor>>
[0068] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a structure example of a
semiconductor chip constituting the high-side transistor or the
low-side transistor in FIG. 2. The semiconductor chip CHP
illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a cell-forming region AR1, and a
gate-wire-lead region AR2. The gate-wire-lead region AR2 is
provided in the outer peripheral portion of the semiconductor chip
CHP, and the cell-forming region AR1 is provided on the inside
thereof.
[0069] An emitter electrode EE is provided in the cell-forming
region AR1. The central portion of the emitter electrode EE serves
as the emitter pad EP for connecting a bonding wire or the like.
Specifically, an opening is provided in the insulating film formed
on the emitter electrode EE, and the portion exposed from the
opening serves as the emitter pad EP. The emitter electrode EE is
made of a metal film containing, for example, aluminum as the main
component.
[0070] A gate electrode GE, and a gate wiring GL connected to the
gate electrode GE are provided in the gate-wire-lead region AR2.
The central portion of the gate electrode GE serves as a gate pad
GP for connecting a bonding wire or the like, as in the case of the
emitter pad EP. The gate wiring GL and the gate electrode GE are
made of a metal film containing, for example, aluminum as the main
component.
[0071] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a structural example of a
main part of the cell-forming region and the gate-wire-lead region
in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 illustrates a structural example of the portion
arranged in the lower layer of the emitter electrode EE of FIG. 4
in the Z-axis, as an example of the boundary portion between the
cell-forming region AR1 and the gate-wire-lead region AR2 in FIG.
4. First, a plurality of unit cell regions LC are arranged side by
side in the X-axis direction in the cell-forming region AR1. Each
of the unit cell regions LC includes a hybrid cell region LCh
serving as an active cell region, and two inactive cell regions LCi
arranged on both sides of the hybrid cell region LCh. Each of the
hybrid cell region LCh and the two inactive cell regions LCi
extends in the Y-axis direction.
[0072] Adjacent two unit cell regions LC in the X-axis direction
share one inactive cell region LCi. That is, one of the two unit
cell regions LC includes a half of the region of one inactive cell
region LCi, and the other thereof includes the remaining half of
the region thereof. The hybrid cell region LCh includes a trench
gate electrode TG1 arranged at the center in the X-axis, and two
trench gate electrodes TG2 and TG3 respectively arranged at
intervals on both sides of the trench gate electrode TG1 in the
X-axis . Each of the trench gate electrodes TG1, TG2, and TG3
extends in the Y-axis direction. In addition, in the X-axis, a
p-type body region PB is arranged between the trench gate electrode
TG1 and each of the trench gate electrodes TG2 and TG3.
[0073] On the other hand, in the X-axis, the region between the
trench gate electrode TG2 and the trench gate electrode TG3 serves
as an inactive cell region LCi. The inactive cell region LCi
includes a p-type floating region PF. In addition, the inactive
cell region LCi includes an emitter connection portion TGx formed
in the same layer as the trench gate electrodes TG2 and TG3. The
trench gate electrodes TG2 and TG3 are connected to each other
through the emitter connection portion TGx, and the emitter
connection portion TGx is electrically connected to the emitter
electrode EE arranged in the upper layer in the Z-axis direction
through a contact layer CT1. As a result, the trench gate
electrodes TG2 and TG3 are electrically connected to the emitter
electrode EE.
[0074] It should be noted that the trench gate electrodes TG2 and
TG3 are connected to each other through the end portion trench gate
electrode TGp in the boundary portion between the cell-forming
region AR1 and the gate-wire-lead region AR2. As a result, the
p-type floating region PF partitioned by the trench gate electrodes
TG2 and TG3, the emitter connection portion TGx, and the end
portion trench gate electrode TGp serves as a floating node.
[0075] In the gate-wire-lead region AR2, for example, a p-type
region PFp is provided in such a manner as to surround the
cell-forming region AR1. The p-type region PFp is electrically
connected to the emitter electrode EE in the upper layer through a
contact layer CT2. In addition, the contact layer CT2 electrically
connects the p-type body region PB and the emitter electrode EE.
Furthermore, the gate wiring GL, and the trench gate electrode TGz
arranged in the lower layer of the gate wiring GL and formed in the
same layer as the trench gate electrode TG1 in the cell-forming
region AR1 are arranged in the gate-wire-lead region AR2.
[0076] The trench gate electrode TG1 extends toward the gate wiring
GL, and is connected to the trench gate electrode TGz. The trench
gate electrode TGz is electrically connected to the gate wiring GL
through the connection electrode GTG. As a result, the trench gate
electrode TG1 is electrically connected to the gate electrode GE
through the gate wiring GL.
[0077] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a detailed structural
example of the hybrid cell region in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 illustrates a
structural example of the region AR3 in FIG. 5. As described above,
the hybrid cell region (active cell region) LCh includes a trench
gate electrode TG1 electrically connected to the gate electrode GE,
and trench gate electrodes TG2 and TG3 arranged at intervals on
both sides of the trench gate electrode TG1 and electrically
connected to the emitter electrode EE. Thus, in the active cell
region, the structure where three trench gate electrodes TG2, TG1,
and TG3 arranged in this order in the X-axis direction respectively
serve as the emitter electrode, the gate electrode, and the emitter
electrode is referred to as the EGE structure in the present
specification.
[0078] Specifically, the trench gate electrodes TG1, TG2, and TG3
are arranged so as to be embedded in the respective three trenches
serving as the grooves. A gate insulating film GI is formed on the
inner wall of each of the trenches, and each of the trench gate
electrodes TG1, TG2, and TG3 is embedded so as to be in contact
with the gate insulating film GI.
[0079] In addition, a p-type body region PB is arranged between the
trench gate electrode TG1 and each of the trench gate electrodes
TG2 and TG3. The p-type body region PB is continuously formed along
the Y-axis direction. On the other hand, a p-type floating region
PF serving as the floating node is arranged on the side opposite to
the p-type body region PB across the trench gate electrode TG2.
Similarly, a p-type floating region PF serving as the floating node
is arranged on the side opposite to the p-type body region PB
across the trench gate electrode TG3. Both the p-type body region
PB and the p-type floating region PF are semiconductor regions
serving as the p-type conduction type.
[0080] A plurality of n.sup.+-type emitter regions NE and
p.sup.+-type body contact regions PBC are formed in the p-type body
region PB. The plurality of n.sup.+-type emitter regions NE are
arranged spaced apart from each other along the Y-axis direction.
The n.sup.+-type emitter region NE is a semiconductor region
serving as the n-type conduction type, different from the p-type,
and the n.sup.+type has a higher impurity concentration than the n
type. In addition, the p.sup.+type is a p-type conduction type, and
has a higher impurity concentration than the p-type. In the X-axis,
the n.sup.+-type emitter regions NE are arranged on both sides of
the trench gate electrode TG1. The p.sup.+-type body contact region
PBC is arranged in such a manner as to interpose the n.sup.+-type
emitter region NE between the trench gate electrode TG1 and the
p.sup.+-type body contact region PBC.
[0081] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structural
example taken from line A-A' in FIG. 6. In the hybrid cell region
(active cell region) LCh illustrated in FIG. 7, as described in
FIG. 6, the three trench gate electrodes TG2, TG1, and TG3 arranged
in this order are formed on the main surface side of the
semiconductor substrate, and a p-type body region PB is formed
between the trench gate electrode TG1 and each of the trench gate
electrodes TG2 and TG3.
[0082] Each of the trench gate electrodes TG1, TG2, and TG3 is
embedded so as to be in contact with the gate insulating film GI
formed on the inner wall of each of the trenches. The trench gate
electrodes TG1, TG2, and TG3 are, for example, formed of
polysilicon or the like. In the p-type body region PB, n.sup.+-type
emitter regions NE are formed on both sides of the trench gate
electrode TG1, and the p.sup.+-type body contact region PBC is
formed in such a manner as to interpose the n.sup.+-type emitter
region NE between the trench gate electrode TG1 and the
p.sup.+-type body contact region PBC.
[0083] In addition, the emitter electrode EE is formed in the upper
layer of these regions through an interlayer insulating film IL,
and the insulating film FPF is further formed in the upper layer of
the emitter electrode EE. The p.sup.+-type body contact region PBC
is electrically connected to the emitter electrode EE through the
contact layer CT formed in the interlayer insulating film IL. Here,
the p.sup.+-type body contact region PBC is formed in the layer
lower than the n.sup.+-type emitter region NE, and the contact
layer CT is in contact with both the n.sup.+-type emitter region NE
and the p-type body region PB. As a result, the n.sup.+-type
emitter region NE and the p-type body region PB are electrically
connected to the emitter electrode EE through the contact layer
CT.
[0084] In the region between the trench gate electrode TG1 and each
of the trench gate electrodes TG2 and TG3, a n-type hole barrier
region NHB for increasing the IE effect is formed in the lower
layer of the p-type body region PB. In the lower layer of the
pt-type body contact region PBC, p.sup.+-type latch-up prevention
region PLP having lower impurity concentration than the
p.sup.+-type body contact region PBC and being arranged so as to be
in contact with the n-type hole barrier region NHB is formed. A
n.sup.--type drift region ND is formed in the lower layer of the
n-type hole barrier region NHB. The n.sup.-type is a n-type
conduction type, and has the lower impurity concentration than the
n type. A n-type field stop region NS for stopping the spread of
the electric field is formed in the lower layer of the n.sup.--type
drift region ND, and a p.sup.+-type collector region CL is further
formed in the lower layer of the n-type field stop region NS. The
collector electrode CE electrically connected to the p.sup.+-type
collector region CL is formed in the lower layer of the
p.sup.+-type collector region CL. It should be noted that a p-type
floating region PF serving as the floating node is formed on each
of the side opposite to the n-type hole barrier region NHB across
the trench gate electrode TG2 and the side opposite to the n-type
hole barrier region NHB across the trench gate electrode TG3.
[0085] When a predetermined gate voltage is applied to the trench
gate electrode TG1, a channel is formed in the p-type body region
PB, and electrons from the n.sup.+-type emitter region NE are
injected into the n.sup.--type drift region ND through the n-type
hole barrier region NHB. In response to this injection, holes are
injected from the p.sup.+-type collector region CL into the
n.sup.--type drift region ND. The holes are stored in the
n.sup.--type drift region ND due to the n-type hole barrier region
NHB and the p-type floating region PF both serving as the barrier.
Accordingly, the reduction in the on-resistance of the n-type drift
region ND can be achieved by the high IE effect. As a result, both
a sufficient withstand voltage and low conduction loss can be
achieved, even in the high power usage as illustrated in FIG. 1,
for example.
<<Parasitic Capacitance of High-Side/Low-Side
Transistor>>
[0086] FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a parasitic
capacitance present in the structure of FIG. 7, and FIG. 8B is an
equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 8A. In the IGBT of the EGE
structure illustrated in FIG. 7 and the like, various parasitic
capacitances Cgd, Cge, Cfpc, Cefp, and Ced as illustrated in FIG.
8B are present. The parasitic capacitance Cgd is present between
the gate (gate electrode GE) and the collector (collector electrode
CE), and mainly corresponds to the capacitance of the gate
insulating film GI between the trench gate electrode TG1 and the
n-type hole barrier region NHB, as illustrated in FIG. 8A.
[0087] The parasitic capacitance Cge is present between the gate
and the emitter (emitter electrode EE), and although omitted in
FIG. 8A, the parasitic capacitance Cge is present between the
trench gate electrode TG1 and the n+-type emitter region NE, and
between the trench gate electrode TG1 and each of the trench gate
electrodes TG2 and TG3, in an appropriate manner. The parasitic
capacitance Ced is present between the emitter and the collector,
and mainly corresponds to the capacitance of the gate insulating
film GI between each of the trench gate electrodes TG2 and TG3 and
the n-type hole barrier region NHB, as illustrated in FIG. 8A.
[0088] The parasitic capacitance Cfpc mainly corresponds to the
junction capacitance between the n-type drift region ND and the
p-type floating region PF, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. The parasitic
capacitance Cefp mainly corresponds to the capacitance of the gate
insulating film GI between the p-type floating region PF and each
of the trench gate electrodes TG2 and TG3, as illustrated in FIG.
8A. As a result, the collector is coupled to the emitter through
the parasitic capacitance Cfpc and the parasitic capacitance
Cefp.
<<Structure of High-Side/Low-Side Transistor (Comparative
Example)>>
[0089] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structural
example of the active region in the high-side transistor or the
low-side transistor studied as a comparative example of the present
invention. In the active region illustrated in FIG. 12, unlike the
case in FIG. 7, two trench gate electrodes TG1a and TG1b arranged
in order are formed on the main surface side of the semiconductor
substrate, and the p-type body region PB is formed between the
trench gate electrode TG1a and the trench gate electrode TG1b.
[0090] In the p-type body region PB, a n.sup.+-type emitter region
NE is formed adjacent to each of the trench gate electrodes TG1a
and TG1b, and a p.sup.+-type body contact region PBC is formed
between the two n.sup.+-type emitter regions NE. In addition, a
p-type floating region PF is formed on the side opposite to the
n-type hole barrier region NHB across each of the trench gate
electrodes TG1a and TG1b. Here, each of the trench gate electrodes
TG1a and TG1b is electrically connected to the gate electrode GE
(not illustrated) . In the present specification, the structure
where the two trench gate electrodes TG1a and TG1b arranged in this
order are connected to the gate electrode GE is referred to as the
GG structure, as compared with the EGE structure in FIG. 7.
<<Parasitic Capacitance of High-Side/Low-Side Transistor
(Comparison with Comparative Example)>>
[0091] FIG. 13A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a parasitic
capacitance present in the structure of FIG. 12, and FIG. 13B is an
equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 13A. As illustrated in FIGS. 13A
and 13B, the parasitic capacitances Cfpc and Cgfp associated with
the p-type floating region PF are present in the GG structure, as
in the parasitic capacitances Cfpc and Cefp in the EGE structure
illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B.
[0092] However, there is a big difference in that the parasitic
capacitances Cfpc and Cefp are present between the emitter and the
collector in the EGE structure, whereas the parasitic capacitances
Cfpc and Cgfp are present between the gate and the collector in the
GG structure. That is, the gate is arranged close to the p-type
floating region PF (in other words, inactive cell region LCi) in
the GG structure, whereas the gate is interposed between the
emitters in the EGE structure, and therefore the emitter is
arranged close to the p-type floating region PF.
[0093] As a result, as compared with the GG structure, the feedback
capacitance Cres between the gate and the collector can be greatly
reduced in the EGE structure. Specifically, according to the study
by the present inventors and the like, the value of (Cres/Cies)
(that is, equation (3)) in the EGE structure is about 20% of the
value in the GG structure. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 3,
the erroneous turn-on can be prevented even when the drive unit DVU
not including the negative voltage generation circuit is used. In
addition, the use of the EGE structure enables the switching speed
to be increased and also the switching loss to be reduced, because
the feedback capacitance Cres is small as compared with the
feedback capacitance Cres in the GG structure.
[0094] As described above, typically, the number of the mounted
components can be reduced by using the power conversion device and
the drive device according to the first embodiment.
Second Embodiment
<<Configuration of Drive Unit (Drive Device) (Application
Example)>>
[0095] FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a main portion of the drive unit (drive
device) in the power conversion device according to a second
embodiment of the present invention. The drive unit (drive device)
DVU2 illustrated in FIG. 9 corresponds to each of the drive
units
[0096] DVUu, DVUv, and DVUw illustrated in FIG. 1. The drive unit
DVU2 has a configuration where each of the external terminals for
PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signals PWMh and PWMl, a DC/DC
conversion circuit DCDC, a coupler-control circuit CPLCT, and
photocouplers CPLh and CPLl are added to the drive unit DVU
illustrated in FIG. 3. The PWM signals PWMh and PWMl generated by
the inverter control unit CTLU illustrated in FIG. 1 are input into
the external terminals (PWMh and PWMl).
[0097] The DC/DC conversion circuit DCDC converts a power supply
voltage VDD such as 15 V supplied from the external terminal (VDD)
into a power supply voltage VDD2 such as 5 V. The coupler control
circuit CPLCT is operated with the supply voltage VDD2, controls
the photocoupler CPLh for the high side with the PWM signal PWMh
input from the external terminal (PWMh), and controls the
photocoupler CPLl for the low side with the PWM signal PWMl input
from the external terminal (PWMl). As a result, the PWM signals
PWMh and PWMl having voltage levels lower than the positive
voltages VP1 and VP2 (for example, 5 V level) are respectively
input into the photocouplers CPLh and CPLl.
[0098] The photocoupler CPLh converts the voltage level of the PWM
signal PWMh into the voltage level according to the positive
voltage VP1, and controls the high-side driver HDV with the
converted PWM signal. Specifically, presence or absence of the
light emission of the photodiode PD is controlled according to the
logic level of the input PWM signal PWMh, the on-off of the
phototransistor PTR is controlled according to the presence or
absence of the light emission, and the PWM signal having a voltage
level of the positive voltage VP1 is generated through a circuit
(not illustrated) according to the on-off thereof. Then, the on-off
of the pull-up transistor UTh and the pull-down transistor DTh in
the high-side driver HDV is controlled by the PWM signal.
[0099] Similarly, the photocoupler CPLl converts the voltage level
of the PWM signal PWMl into the voltage level according to the
positive voltage VP2, and controls the low-side driver LDV with the
converted PWM signal. Specifically, the on-off of the pull-up
transistor UTl and the pull-down transistor DTl in the low-side
driver LDV is controlled by the PWM signal having a voltage level
of the positive voltage VP2 output from the photocoupler CPLl.
Through the control using such a PWM signal, an AC voltage having a
predetermined frequency and voltage is generated from the inverter
unit IVU in FIG. 1, based on the period and the duty of the PWM
signal
[0100] In this configuration, the values of the positive voltages
VP1 and VP2 are set to values greater than 15 V (such as 20 V) in
FIG. 9, unlike the case in FIG. 3. As a result, as compared with
the case in FIG. 3 (that is, the case where the values of the
positive voltages VP1 and VP2 are set to 15 V), the on-resistance
of the high-side transistor TH and the low-side transistor TL can
be reduced, and therefore the reduction in the conduction loss can
be achieved.
[0101] Here, in IGBT, the maximum value of the gate-emitter voltage
is typically set to .+-.20 V, and in practice, the gate-emitter
voltage of .+-.15 V is often used as illustrated in FIG. 14. In
addition, the maximum output voltage of the photocouplers CPLh and
CPLl is often about 30 V. In these circumstances, the configuration
in FIG. 9 does not include the negative voltage generation circuit
as described in the first embodiment, and therefore, unlike the
case in FIG. 14, a margin of about 15 V can be obtained for the
maximum output voltage of the photocouplers CPLh and CPLl. As a
result, the value of the positive voltages VP1 and VP2 can be
increased.
<<Board Layout of Drive Unit (Drive Device)>>
[0102] FIG. 10A is a plan view illustrating a schematic
configuration example of a board layout in the drive unit of FIG.
9, and FIG. 10B is a plan view illustrating a schematic
configuration example of aboard layout as a comparative example of
FIG. 10A. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, the wiring board constituting
the drive unit (drive device) DVU2 includes three wiring regions
ARE1, ARE2, and ARE3 insulated from each other across the isolation
region ISO. Each of the wiring regions ARE1, ARE2, and ARE3 has
typically such a structure that a conductive film such as copper is
formed on an insulator such as glass epoxy.
[0103] An external connector portion IOB3, the DC/AC conversion
circuit DCAC, the coupler control circuit CPLCT, and the DC/DC
conversion circuit DCDC are mounted on the wiring region ARE3. The
external connector portion IOB3 includes four external
terminals
[0104] (VDD, GND, PWMh, and PWMl). An external connector portion
IOB1, the positive voltage generation circuit PVGh, the high-side
driver HDV, and the resistors Rhc and Rhd are mounted on the wiring
region ARE1. The external connector portion IOB1 includes the gate
drive terminal HG for the high side and the emitter drive terminal
HE.
[0105] An external connector portion IOB2, the positive voltage
generation circuit PVGl, the low-side driver LDV, and the
resistors
[0106] Rlc and Rld are mounted on the wiring region ARE2. The
external connector portion IOB2 includes the gate drive terminal LG
for the low side and the emitter drive terminal LE. The
photocoupler CPLh is mounted between the wiring region ARE1 and the
wiring region ARE3, and the photocoupler CPLl is mounted between
the wiring region ARE2 and the wiring region ARE3. The transformer
TR is mounted between the wiring region ARE3, and the wiring region
ARE1 and wiring region ARE2.
[0107] Various circuits mounted on the wiring region ARE3 are
operated based on the ground power supply voltage GND (0 V). On the
other hand, various circuits mounted on the wiring region ARE1 are
operated based on the voltage level of the emitter drive terminal
HE. However, the voltage level of the emitter drive terminal HE
changes between the vicinity of 0 V and the vicinity of the power
supply voltage VCC (for example, 1000 V), unlike the ground power
supply voltage GND. For this reason, the insulation region ISO is
provided in FIG. 10A, and the power supply and the signal
transmission are performed by using the transformer TR and the
photocoupler CPLh.
[0108] In addition, the wiring region ARE2 is operated based on the
ground power supply voltage VSS (0 V), and therefore can be
integrated with the wiring region ARE3 in some cases. However, from
the viewpoint that a large noise may occur in the ground power
supply voltage VSS unlike the ground power supply voltage GND, and
that the same method, as in the case of the wiring region ARE1, is
used with respect to the power supply and the signal transmission
from the wiring region ARE3 toward the wiring region ARE2, the
wiring region ARE2 is separated from the wiring region ARE3 by the
insulating region ISO in this case.
[0109] On the other hand, the board layout in the case where the
photocouplers and the like in FIG. 9 are added to the configuration
example in FIG. 14 is illustrated in FIG. 10B. In FIG. 10B, the
negative voltage generation circuits NVGh and NVGl are respectively
mounted on the wiring region ARE1' for the high-side and the wiring
region ARE2' for the low side, and the size of the transformer TR'
is large, as compared with the case in FIG. 10A. As a result, the
number of the mounted components is increased, and accordingly, the
increase in cost, the increase in the size of the wiring board, and
the like may occur. Thus, it is beneficial to use the configuration
example in FIG. 10A.
[0110] As described above, typically, the number of the mounted
components can be reduced by using the power conversion device and
the drive device according to the second embodiment, as in the case
of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the drive voltage of the
high-side/low-side transistor can be easily increased, and
therefore the reduction in losses can be achieved.
[0111] In the foregoing, the invention made by the inventors of the
present invention has been concretely described based on the
embodiments. However, it is needless to say that the present
invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and various
modifications and alterations can be made within the scope of the
present invention. For example, the above embodiments are those
described in detail in order to better illustrate the invention and
are not intended to be limited to necessarily provide all the
configurations described. Part of the configuration of a certain
embodiment can be replaced by the configuration of another
embodiment, and the configuration of the other embodiment can be
added to the configuration of the certain embodiment. Moreover,
part of the configuration of the embodiment can be subjected to
addition/deletion/replacement of other configurations.
* * * * *