Page 6 - Power Electronics Handbook

Preface

There have been many developments in the field of power electronics since
the publication of the second edition, almost five years ago. Devices have
become bigger and better - bigger silicon die, and current and voltage
ratings. However, semiconductor devices have also become smaller and
better, integrated circuit devices, that is. And the marriage of low power
integrated circuit tecnology and high power semiconductors has resulted in
benefit to both fields.
The third edition of the Power Electtunics Handbook reflects these
changes. Although the basic design chapters have been largely unchanged,
those on power and control components have been updated with the addition
of sections on power devices such as the IGBT, and on the integration of low
and high power devices, such as in smart power components The section on
EMC has also been updated to include recent standards. A new don on the
application of power components within automobiles has been added, since
the use of power devices in this area has increased considerably.
The fust chapter describes the processes used in the manufacture of power
semiconductors and the construction and characteristics of the power
semiconductors currently available. Chapters 2 to 5 cover devices which are
used in conjunction with power semiconductors. Chapter 2 introduces the
methods and components for removing heat generated within the power
semiconductor, a vital requirement for effective operation. Chapter 3
describes low power devices, including those classified BS smart power,
which are used to control the operation of power semiconductors. Chapter 4
introduces the techniques and components necessary to minimise radio
frequency interference generated by power electronic circuits; with the
tightening of European and world regulations, this is clearly an important
consideration. Chapter 5 describes components and circuits used to protect
power components from malfunction, such as caused by overcurrent and
overvoltage.
Chapters 6 to 13 provide detailed information on the arrangements and
design of the various types of power semiconductor circuits. Because there
are a large number of different types of such circuits, this whole field is first
surveyed in Chapter 6, to give the student a unified picture.
Chapter 7 describes the most basic type of power circuit, that used for
simple static switching. This is taken further in Chapter 8 to controlling the
value of the a.c. line voltage. Chapter 9 extends the voltage control concept