16:20 – 16:30
Addressing Testing Challenges for Power Modules and Three-Level Inverters
The use of renewable energy sources is one of the key issues when it comes to developing the next-generation worldwide energy supply. The need for improvements in efficiency and reliability is leading to the increasing diffusion of three-level IGBT inverters: featuring smaller output voltage steps than two-level topologies, they provide a cleaner output waveform, resulting in a more effective switching frequency. Because the IGBTs are subjected to a lower bus voltage, lower-voltage modules can be used. For this reason, three-level topologies are being widely used in various applications requiring high voltages, including photovoltaics and wind power inverters. Compared to the equivalent two-level modules, these products pose some specific challenges in regard to their production testing. In particular, they require to operate with multiple programmable and independent drivers to condition each section of the module under test properly, in order to measure all the working parameters. In addition to that, special attention must be paid to the design of a signal path with minimal stray inductance, in order to minimize voltage overshoots during signal commutation. These, and many other technological challenges, have been faced and solved by SPEA over the past 45 years. The DOT800T test platform represents the state-of-the-art equipment that has made SPEA a global leader in testing power products.
Elia Petrogalli
SPEA
Elia Petrogalli received his Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Polytechnic of Milan in September 2015.
While obtaining his MSc in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering he worked in the R&D team of a local company in Milan active in the Biomechanical design field. During this experience he was in charge of designing and programming closed-loop control systems for biomedical applications based on mechanical vibrations.
After receiving his MSc in Mechatronics and Robotics, he joined Keyence Corporation Japan as a Technical Sales Engineer, being in charge of sales and service operations for high accuracy measurement systems.
After this international experience in artificial vision, Elia was employed by SPEA in 2019 as a Sales Manager for the Semiconductor and MEMS Business Unit for the Chinese region. Together with the local team of SPEA China, Elia helped in developing the business for Semiconductor (with particular focus on Power Applications for Module and KGD testing, including high power SiC and high bandwidth GaN devices). His main task was the coordination between the local sales force and the R&D team based in Italy, by transmitting the inputs received from the market and converting them into solutions for SPEA customers.
Today, Elia is in charge of sales operations in Asia by coordinating the activities of several distributors and local sales forces in order to lead state of the art technology to SPEA customers.
Company Profile
Established in 1976, SPEA is a world leading company in the field of automatic test equipment for ICs, MEMS, sensors, electronic boards. SPEA serves the big semiconductor IDMs and OSATs with the most cost-effective and high-performance equipment to test automotive, SoCs, analog mixed-signal devices, MEMS sensors and actuators, power and discretes, identification devices, delivering highest measurement capabilities, lowest cost of test and fastest time-to-market. SPEA systems are designed to detect any possible defect in electronic products, so that they won’t fail on the field. High throughput, best detection capability, test techniques designed on the latest technologies requirements, complete configurability. For SPEA customers, testing is not an additional cost, but a tangible competitive advantage.
Company Products & Services
- SPEA product portfolio includes test equipment for:
- Automotive, linear, analog mixed signal & SoC devices requiring the most advanced and powerful instrumentation. SPEA’s DOT platform addresses today’s and future roadmap needs.
- MEMS & Sensors. SPEA has been chosen by the biggest players in this market to develop the best solutions for inertial, high-g, proximity, time-of-flight, light, pressure, environmental, magnetic, acoustic sensors. SPEA equipment combines physical stimulus with a complete electrical test, fast pick&place handling, reliable contacting, tri-temp.
- Power & Discretes. DOT800 T perforfms static and dynamic measurements with extended current/voltage ranges, on the whole range of power applications: wafers, discretes (Si, SiC, GaN based), IPMs, KGDs, DBCs, IGBT modules.
- Identification. CT1000 and CT3000 are low-cost test systems dedicated to micro-controllers, RFID, UHF, combi devices. They perform complete, highly accurate measurements, offering high throughput, with high multi-site test capability at wafer test, and a fast data transfer for memory test.
