Most homes have electronic timers to automatically turn lights on or off at the same time each day. However, the control of larger electrical appliances requires more sophisticated electronics. Scientists from the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Sciences have developed a potential driver for solid-state electronic transistors and, using experimental tests, have shown that their device exhibits reduced switching even with variable current input and temperature changes Like flipping a switch.
Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) are solid-state electronic devices that can be used in the electronics of high-power devices. Because they can handle electrical loads up to hundreds of kilowatts, IGBTs are suitable for power applications, traction motors, or induction heating. In addition, with their ability to switch on and off quickly, IGBTs can also be used for control systems and industrial applications. However, these switches (Like flipping a switch) may have switching losses depending on changes in input current or temperature. Developing a device with automatic timing will improve the reliability of these processes.
Today, a research team at the University of Tokyo has developed the first functional digital circuit (IC) with automatic timing control that allows the integration of a single chip in timing control. “Our IC has the world’s first 6-bit programmable gate with closed circuit drivers,” said Dibo Zhang, first author.
An important part of the IC is the integration of automatic control functions directly on the chip. This is done by determining the rate of change of current and time by determining the voltage of the parasitic inductance, which is an unavoidable effect in electronic devices. The research team tested the performance of the new device in several temperature conditions. Their single-chip integration of timing systems helped reduce costs while maintaining precision control. The fact that it remains stable under changing operating conditions allows one programming device to replace a collection of different products that are best for different situations.
“Being able to provide real-time program control at a low cost should accelerate the adoption of this type of device,” says lead author Makoto Takamiya. This work can lead to a consistent and reliable supply of large amounts of electricity, and future plans can be extended to include more complex programs.
Source: Institute of industrial Science, The University of Tokyo.
