MOSFET circuit design for cost and reliability-a case study

Describes features of the design choices possible in MOSFET circuits. These features are discussed with reference to the detailed design of a production inverter stage. The development of the design to meet a changed specification is also discussed. From this study, conclusions are drawn concerning the design of MOSFET circuits, the development of MOSFET drivers and power ICs, and the implications for large area devices. The inverter leg discussed is a redesign of a bipolar circuit of much greater power. The inverter leg is to appear in consumer equipment, where cost is a major criterion. As an externally employed consultant, it was possible to reuse a variety of circuit techniques developed earlier. The design trade-offs may be summarised as follows: cost, power losses, reliability, and performance. These trade-offs are interwoven in such a manner that the inverter leg cannot be considered entirely on its own. Power losses affect the cost via the cooling arrangement. The performance affects the power losses, and then the cost via the device ratings