Chapter 4.

Switch Realization

4.1. Switch applications

Single-, two-, and four-quadrant switches. Synchronous rectifiers

4.2. A brief survey of power semiconductor devices

Power diodes, MOSFETs, BJTs, IGBTs, and thyristors

4.3. Switching loss

Transistor switching with clamped inductive load. Diode
recovered charge. Stray capacitances and inductances, and
ringing. Efficiency vs. switching frequency.

4.4. Summary of key points

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 4: Switch realization

SPST (single-pole single-throw) switches

SPST switch, with

voltage and current
polarities defined

Buck converter
with SPDT switch:
L

iL(t)
+

1
+

Vg

with two SPST switches:

0

iA

iL(t)
+

+ vA

All power semiconductor

devices function as SPST
switches.
Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Vg

vB
+

B
iB

Chapter 4: Switch realization

Realization of SPDT switch using two SPST switches

G
G

A nontrivial step: two SPST switches are not exactly equivalent to one
SPDT switch
It is possible for both SPST switches to be simultaneously ON or OFF
Behavior of converter is then significantly modified
discontinuous conduction modes (chapter 5)
Conducting state of SPST switch may depend on applied voltage or
current for example: diode

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 4: Switch realization

Quadrants of SPST switch operation

1
+

Switch
on state
current

A single-quadrant
switch example:

ON-state: i > 0

OFF-state: v > 0

0
Switch
off state voltage

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 4: Switch realization

Some basic switch applications

Singlequadrant
switch

switch
on-state
current

Currentbidirectional
two-quadrant
switch

switch
off-state voltage

switch
on-state
current

Voltagebidirectional
two-quadrant
switch

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

switch
on-state
current

switch
off-state
voltage

switch
on-state
current

Fourquadrant
switch

switch
off-state
voltage

switch
off-state
voltage

Chapter 4: Switch realization

4.1.1. Single-quadrant switches

1
+

Active switch: Switch state is controlled exclusively

by a third terminal (control terminal).
Passive switch: Switch state is controlled by the
applied current and/or voltage at terminals 1 and 2.

SCR: A special case turn-on transition is active,

while turn-off transition is passive.
Single-quadrant switch: on-state i(t) and off-state v(t)
are unipolar.

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Chapter 4: Switch realization

The diode
A passive switch

Single-quadrant switch:
1
+

can conduct positive onstate current

on

i
v

off

Symbol

instantaneous i-v characteristic

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

can block negative offstate voltage

provided that the intended
on-state and off-state
operating points lie on the
diode i-v characteristic,
then switch can be
realized using a diode

Chapter 4: Switch realization

The Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) and the

Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)

BJT
C

1
i +

An active switch, controlled

by terminal C

Single-quadrant switch:

on

off

IGBT

can block positive off-state

voltage

1
i +

can conduct positive onstate current

instantaneous i-v characteristic

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

provided that the intended

on-state and off-state
operating points lie on the
transistor i-v characteristic,
then switch can be realized
using a BJT or IGBT

Chapter 4: Switch realization

The Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect

Transistor (MOSFET)
An active switch, controlled by
terminal C

i
on

1
i +
C

Normally operated as singlequadrant switch:

v

off

on
(reverse conduction)

can conduct positive on-state

current (can also conduct
negative current in some
circumstances)
can block positive off-state
voltage

Symbol

instantaneous i-v characteristic

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

provided that the intended onstate and off-state operating

points lie on the MOSFET i-v
characteristic, then switch can
be realized using a MOSFET
Chapter 4: Switch realization

Realization of switch using

transistors and diodes
Buck converter example
iA

iL(t)
+

+ vA
Vg

vB

Switch A: transistor

iB

Switch B: diode

iA

SPST switch
operating points

Switch A

on

iB
Switch B

iL

on
Switch A

Switch B

off

off

Vg

vA

Switch A

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

Vg

iL

vB

Switch B
10

Chapter 4: Switch realization

Realization of buck converter

using single-quadrant switches
iA

vA

Vg

vB
+

iL(t)

vL(t)

iB
iA
Switch A

on

iB
Switch B

iL

on
Switch A

Switch B

off

off

Vg

Fundamentals of Power Electronics

vA

Vg

11

iL

vB

Chapter 4: Switch realization