Effect of power cycling parameters on predicted IGBT lifetime

In power electronics there is an increasing need for accurate lifetime prediction. The results of power cycling tests are widely used as input data for the lifetime calculation. The general method of power cycling is described in the JESD22-A122 JEDEC standard, however as the industry has made significant progress in power module design and reliability testing ever since the standard was published. Based on the latest considerations and published data, in this paper we try to collect and discuss some important factors, namely the electrical setup, cycle time and power cycling strategy, which can significantly affect the final test results, and allow the reliability engineers to make more focused testing definitions.