Evaluating Different Implementations of Online Junction Temperature Sensing for Switching Power Semiconductors

Switching power semiconductor online junction temperature T
_j
sensing is essential for device switching performance evaluation, device switching control, and device lifetime optimization. The contribution of this paper is a detailed evaluation of the implementation issues (including circuit invasiveness, hardware integration, signal processing, and so forth) of different online Ti sensing methods. This paper includes T
_j
sensing methods based on device power dissipation, T
_j
sensing methods based on the “sensoron-die technology,” T
_j
sensing methods based on device on-state analysis, and T
_j
sensing methods based on device switching transients. Advantages and limits of these methods are also provided.