Modeling for GaN Power Devices to Enable Circuit Simulation
Abstract
Gallium nitride (GaN) power devices have the potential to revolutionize both discrete andintegrated circuits for power applications, especially in the medium voltage range. To help realizethe potential of GaN, software is required that will facilitate first its design and optimization at thedevice level, and second its use and utilization in power circuits. Having the capability of robustdesign will allow engineers to develop new circuits based on GaN that are very energy efficient,and promote GaN power device entry into the marketplace and in many military applications.The current approach of using behavioral models in different simulation environments at differentlevels of complexity is inadequate for achieving optimized performance at device, circuit andsystem levels. The proposed work is directly addressing this need, and offering a path to close theknowledge and capability gap for designing energy efficient and performance optimized GaNpower circuits.Specifically, the proposed program is on detailed device simulation capability development forGaN power devices to tailor geometries and doping profiles for optimized operation. It is also oncompact model development and compact simulation capability development for determining thebenefits of new GaN devices on power circuit operation. The circuit level simulation will beachieved by either use of newly developed compact models or directly coupling GaN detailedmodels with standard circuit components in our proprietary electrical circuit solver environmentCoolSPICE. Additionally the newly developed models will be calibrated and verified by deviceand circuit level experiments, and data available in literature and datasheets. The newly developedmodeling capabilities will provide the basis for robust and reliable design of GaN based powerelectronics which will then strongly promote its usage for commercial and military applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912234
Entities
People
- Akin Akturk
Organizations
- CoolCad Electronics (United States)
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy