ADuM4138 Data Sheet
Rev. A | Page 22 of 24
POWER DISSIPATION
When driving an IGBT gate, the driver must dissipate power.
This power can lead to TSD if the following considerations are
not made. The gate of an IGBT can be simulated roughly as a
capacitive load. Due to Miller capacitance and other nonlinearities,
it is common practice to take the stated input capacitance (CISS)
of a given IGBT and multiply it by a factor of 5 to arrive at a
conservative estimate to approximate the load being driven.
With this value, the estimated total power dissipation (PDISS) in
the system due to switching action is given by the following
equation:
PDISS = CEST × (VDD2)2 × fS
where:
CEST = CISS × 5.
VDD2 is the voltage on the VDD2 pin.fS is the switching frequency
of IGBT.
This power dissipation is shared between the internal on
resistances of the internal gate driver switches and the external
gate resistances, RGON and RGOFF. The ratio of the internal gate
resistances to the total series resistance allows the calculation
of losses seen within the ADuM4138 chip.
Take the power dissipation found inside the chip due to
switching, adding the quiescent power losses, and multiplying
it by the θJA gives the rise above ambient temperature that the
ADuM4138 experiences.
PDISS_ADUM4138 = PDISS × 0.5(RDSON_P ÷ (RGON + RDSON_P) +
(RDSON_N ÷ (RGOFF + RDSON_N)) + PQUIESCENT
where:
PDISS_ADUM4138 is the power dissipation of the ADuM4138.
RGON is the external series resistance in the on path.
PGOFF is the external series resistance in the off path.
PQUIESCENT is the quiescent power.
TADuM4138 = θJA × PDISS_ADuM4138 + TAMB
where:
TADuM4138 is the junction temperature of the ADuM4138.
TAMB is the ambient temperature.
For the ADuM4138 to remain within specification, TADuM4138
cannot exceed 150°C (typical). When TADuM4138 exceeds 150°C
(typical), the ADuM4138 enters TSD.
INSULATION LIFETIME
All insulation structures eventually break down when subjected
to voltage stress over a sufficiently long period. The rate of
insulation degradation is dependent on the characteristics of the
voltage waveform applied across the insulation. In addition to
the testing performed by the regulatory agencies, Analog Devices
carries out an extensive set of evaluations to determine the
lifetime of the insulation structure within the ADuM4138.
Analog Devices performs accelerated life testing using voltage
levels higher than the rated continuous working voltage.
Acceleration factors for several operating conditions are
determined. These factors allow calculation of the time to
failure at the actual working voltage.
The values shown Table 10 summarize the peak voltage for
20 years of service life for a bipolar ac operating condition, and
the maximum CSA/VDE approved working voltages. In many
cases, the approved working voltage is higher than the 20 year
service life voltage. Operation at these high working voltages
can lead to shortened insulation life in some cases.
The insulation lifetime of the ADuM4138 depends on the
voltage waveform type imposed across the isolation barrier.
The iCoupler insulation structure degrades at different rates
depending on whether the waveform is bipolar ac, unipolar ac,
or dc. Figure 25, Figure 26, and Figure 27 show these different
isolation voltage waveforms.
A bipolar ac voltage environment is the worst case for the
iCoupler products and is the 20 year operating lifetime that
Analog Devices recommends for maximum working voltage
(see Figure 25). In the case of unipolar ac or dc voltage, the stress
on the insulation is significantly lower, which allows operation at
higher working voltages while still achieving a 20 year service life.
Treat any cross insulation voltage waveform that does not conform
to Figure 26 or Figure 27 as a bipolar ac waveform, and limit its
peak voltage to the 20 year lifetime voltage value listed in Table 10.
The voltage presented in Figure 26 is shown as sinusoidal for
illustration purposes only. It is meant to represent any voltage
waveform varying between 0 V and some limiting value. The
limiting value can be positive or negative, but the voltage cannot
cross 0 V.
0V
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Figure 25. Bipolar AC Waveform
0V
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Figure 26. Unipolar AC Waveform
0V
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Figure 27. Unipolar DC Waveform