The Beginnings of

Electronic Science
&
Overview of Power Electronics

1883 Edison observed that electric

current would pass between heated
filament and positive metal plate.

1897 JJ Thomson identified current as

the flow of negative charges which he
later named electrons.

1906 Lee de Forest added control

grids in the electron stream making
the first vacuum tube.

John Ambrose Fleming

Inventor of Vacuum Tube
Rectifier

William Shockley
Inventor of Solid State
Transistor

1904: First Vacuum

Tube Rectifiers

1945: The First Contact

Point Transistor

Development of Solid State Transistors

William Shockley
1948: Patented the Junction
Transistor

Exactly on the same day,

Bell Labs demonstrated the first
transistor used in radios that
normally uses vacuum tubes.

Transistors replace Vacuum Tubes

Linear power supplies are still the dominant converters in the

market then since low voltage transistors are in abundance. However,
problems on heat dissipation forced designers to take their
thermodynamics seriously since transistors doesnt glow
in the dark like vacuum tubes do, they simply melt and quit.

The Rise of High Voltage Transistors

Ringing Choke Converter

Self-Oscillating Push Pull Converter

In the 60s, high voltage transistors are getting common and

thus innovations in switching power supplies are becoming more
complex.

1969: Man takes first steps on the Moon

Developments in aerospace exploration pushed the switching

power supply technology. Various forms of switching topology
emerged. The need for lighter, more efficient supplies are
being sought.

The 70s Energy Crisis

Single ended isolated switching converters.

This event which affected the entire industrial world, provided the
switching power supply with an opportunity to strengthen and
establish a significant position in the electronic marketplace.
Switching Power supplies operating directly to AC main becomes
common.

The 70s Energy Crisis

Multi-switch topology Family

Miniaturization Trends in
Electronic and Computer System

Switching Power Supplies would operate in the range of 2550Khz using the bipolar transistor but with the use of MOSFETs
helped push the switching frequency in the 100Khz plus
range. MOSFETs are faster than their Bipolar Transistor
counterpart.

Introduction of

Power Electronic Devices

1) The concept and features

z 2) Configuration of systems using power
electronic devices
z 3) Classifications
z

Concept:
z

Power electronic devices are the electronic devices that can

be directly used in the power processing circuits to convert or
control electric power.

In broad sense ,
1) Vacuum devices : Mercury arc rectifier
rectifier thyratron etc.
2) Semiconductor devices: Major material Silicon
Silicon

Very often ,
Power electronic devices = Power semiconductor devices

Features:
z

The electronic power that power electronic device deals

with is usually much larger than that the information
electronic device does.

Usually working in switching states to reduce power losses.

Need to be controlled by information electronic circuits.

Dissipated power loss usually larger than information

electronic devices special
special packaging and heat sink
are necessary.

2) Configuration of systems using

power electronic devices

Protection circuit is also very often used in power electronic

system especially for the expensive power semiconductors.

3) Classifications
z

z
z
z

Uncontrolled device: diode

has only two terminals and can not be controlled by control signal.
signal.
The on and off states of the device are determined by the power circuit.
HalfHalf- -controlled device: thyristor is turnedturned-on by a control signal and turnedturnedoff by the power circuit
FullyFully- -controlled device: Power MOSFET, IGBT
The on and off states of the device are all controlled by control
control signals.
Other classifications:
1) Current -driven (current(current-controlled) devices ;
Voltage -driven (voltage(voltage- -controlled) devices.
2)

Unipolar devices ;
Bipolar devices ;
Composite devices .

Mechanical Switches
Vs
Semiconductor

Compare
Voltage & current characteristics
Static / Dynamic behavior
Advantages & Limitations

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