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            POWER ELECTRONICS
           Inaugural PowerUP Virtual Expo


           Convenes on June 16


           By Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio






































                 here’s still time to register for AspenCore’s PowerUP Virtual   (W/cm-K), electron mobility (cm /V-s), and electron drift velocity.
                                                                                        2
                 Expo, a three-day virtual conference and exhibition focusing   Without getting into the semiconductor-physics details, suffice it to say
                 on power electronics. Slated for June 16–18, the PowerUP Expo   that these improved parameters make WBG semiconductors suitable
           T will operate like a live exhibition and conference, providing   for high-voltage, high-switching–frequency applications while improv-
           fairgrounds, an exhibition hall, and a conference area. Exhibitors will   ing power density and heat dissipation.
           present their products and solutions, and chat rooms will allow for   Advantages of WBG semiconductor power switches include high
           direct communication between visitors and exhibitors — all without the   current density, faster switching, and lower drain-source on-
           need for travel and at the fraction of the cost of a physical event.   resistance (R DS(on) ). These device performance improvements lead to
             The all-virtual conference, which will be available 24 hours a day   significant system-level benefits from an end-customer perspective. In
           with live presentations each day from 14:30 to 17:30 CEST (8:30   real-life applications, customers can achieve high-temperature opera-
           a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT), is an opportunity to exchange ideas and get   tion, along with overall system size and weight reductions.
           product and technology updates on three key power electronics topics:   Gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) WBG power semi-
           motor control, wide-bandgap semiconductors, and smart and renew-  conductors will emerge as a means to enhance power supply efficiency
           able energy. The exhibition will feature three panels highlighting   across industrial environments, while complementing the expansion of
           the conference topics, with the participants available to answer your   the renewable energy segment. Alternative energy sources require ade-
           questions. Visitor registration is free; for information and to register,   quate control and power processing to be safely connected to a smart
           go to powerup-expo.com.                               grid or even to be directly connected to local loads. The energy flowing
                                                                 needs to be correctly converted before it is delivered to users. The goal
           THE POWER MARKET                                      is to create control systems capable of flexibly responding to the energy
           Power semiconductors have historically been based on silicon sub-  requirements for real-time recharging and discharging.
           strates. Silicon is an excellent general-purpose semiconductor but has   Two of the most lucrative applications for SiC and GaN are electric
           well-documented limitations when dealing with high voltages. As power   vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs and HEVs). They operate
           demands rise, the industry is shifting from silicon toward wide-bandgap   at higher voltages and temperatures, are more rugged, have longer
           (WBG) semiconductor materials, which can operate at higher switching   lifetimes, and switch much faster than conventional semiconductor
           frequencies while keeping losses at manageable levels.   devices. SiC has been adopted in several applications, particularly
             While silicon semiconductors will remain a mainstream solution   e-mobility, to meet energy and cost challenges in the development of   IMAGES: ASPENCORE
           for many years, there are certain applications in which customers can   high-efficiency and high-power devices. GaN is finding use in auto-
           leverage WBG semiconductor characteristics, including improvements   motive designs; a number of companies have qualified products for
           in bandgap (eV), breakdown field (MV/cm), thermal conductivity    low- and high-voltage EV/HEV applications.

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