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What are the different types of IGBT?

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KUMBHA VENKATA SIVA RAO - Seedap

Dec 19, 2023

Two types of IGBT is their. PT-IGBT, NPT-IGBT

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Editorial Team - everything PE

Jan 10, 2023

There are two types of IGBTs - Punch Through IGBT or PT-IGBT also known as asymmetrical IGBT and Non-Punch Through IGBT or NPT-IGBT also known as asymmetrical IGBT.

PT-IGBT comprises n- (drift), n+ (buffer), and p+ (anode) regions. The n- the region is optimized to meet the withstand voltage requirement. PT IGBTs, which are fabricated using epitaxial wafers, have a thick p+ collector region with high dopant concentration. In the conducting state, large amounts of carriers are injected from the collector to achieve conductivity modulation and thereby reduce the on-state voltage.

NPT-IGBT is designed with a thick n- drift region so that the depletion layer remains within the n- drift region even in the maximum electric field. Therefore, NPT IGBTs do not have an n+ buffer region that is required in PT IGBTs to reduce the expansion of the depletion layer. In addition, the NPT IGBT has a thin p+ region. And by varying the dopant concentration of this p+ region, the amount of carrier injection is controlled.

The difference between the two types of IGBTs are summarised in the table below:

PT-IGBT	NPT-IGBT
Has asymmetrical configuration	Has symmetrical configuration
Has low conduction loss which increases with temperature	Has higher conduction loss which is independent of temperature
Not preferred for parallel configuration application circuits	Better parallel operation due to better temperature coefficient and shared heating dissipation
Offers less thermal stability	More Thermal stability
Low switching losses	Higher switching losses
Less rugged in short circuit failure mode	More rugged in short circuit failure mode
Lower lifetime	Relatively higher lifetime
Mostly used in DC circuits	Mostly used in AC circuits