1st course in the Power Semiconductor Devices Specialization
Instructor: Bart Van Zeghbroeck, PhD, Professor
Power Semiconductor devices that are commonly used in power electronic circuits. Starting with the circuit models of these devices, we will identify the requirements leading to low loss circuits and learn how these can be simulated and analyzed in basic switching circuits.
Prior knowledge needed: Students are expected to have an undergraduate-level active circuit knowledge and some experience with LTSPICE. Students who have not used LTSPICE before, should expect to spend more than the estimated time needed to complete the simulation-based assignments.
Learning Outcomes
Syllabus
Grading
Assignment | Percentage of Grade |
Quiz: M1.1 Need for power conversion | 1% |
Quiz: M1.2 Power conversion basics | 2% |
Quiz: M1.3 Power device classification | 1% |
Quiz: M2.1 Simulation of a diode using LTSPICE | 3% |
Quiz: M2.2 MOSFET simulation (part 1) | 4% |
Quiz: M2.2 MOSFET simulation (part 2) | 4% |
Quiz: M2.3 IGBTs | 1% |
Quiz: M2.4 Other devices | 1% |
Quiz: M3.1 DC data sheet characteristics | 1% |
Quiz: M3.2 Switching parameters | 5% |
Quiz: M3.3 Thermal resistance and junction temperature | 3% |
Quiz: M4.1 Device power dissipation | 4% |
Quiz: M4.2 Boost convertor simulation | 5% |
Practice Exam | 15% |
Final Exam | 50% |
Letter Grade Rubric
Letter Grade |
Minimum Percentage |
A | 90% |
A- | 87% |
B+ | 83% |
B | 80% |
B- | 77% |
C+ | 73% |
C | 70% |
C- | 67% |
D+ | 63% |
D | 60% |
F | 0% |
Component List
Reading assignments are provided through Coursera. Suggested reference texts include:
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B. Van Zeghbroeck, “Principles of Semiconductor Devices”, http://truenano.com/PSD20
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B. G. Streetman and S. Banerjee, "Solid State Electronic Devices”, Fifth Edition, Prentice Hall, 2000.
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S. M. Sze, "Physics of Semiconductor Devices”, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1981.
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B. J. Baliga, “Fundamentals of Power Semiconductor Devices”, Second Edition, Springer, 2019.