Semiconductor packaging, whether it is for complex ICs or more simple discretes, is getting smaller all the time. Additionally, new package construction designs provide better heat transfer out of the package. These technology advancements offer an increased selection of available package, performance and cost choices to the designer. As competition drives these efficiencies to even smaller geometries and lower costs, the transfer of energy from an inductor to its snubber diode has become increasingly important. By fully understanding the relationship between the power dissipated in the circuit’s series resistance and diode, it is possible to optimize system cost and performance.
The power being discharged through a snubber diode connected across an inductor is impinged upon by the circuit’s series resistance. Energy generated within the inductor must be dissipated and therefore the length of time current flows through the snubber diode and the series resistance relates directly to the value of the series resistance. From this it is clear that the value of the series resistance will have a major influence on the diode that should be specified.
The energy that is dissipated in the diode will increase as the series resistance is lowered. Therefore, reducing the efficiency of the inductor, results in an inductor with higher resistance and lower cost. This lower cost inductor will result in a diode running cooler and will allow a lower cost diode. There are compromises that design engineers will need to make - trading off cost and system performance to achieve a more balanced component selection. Depending on the application, they may either chose a higher series resistance, lower cost inductor to help dissipate some of the power that would have been dissipated in the diode, or conversely a lower series resistance, higher cost inductor in order to share some of the inductors heat with the snubber diode. In addition to this important dynamic, the impact that duty cycle has on long term heating must also be taken into account.
In the example outlined in detail per this whitepaper, all the resistance in the circuit has been represented by a single series resistance “R”. As described, “R” takes on different values for charging and discharging. Two contributors to power dissipation that are of particular interest are the single pulsed and the periodic duty cycled values. Both of these parameters must be given serious consideration during the design process. Numerous equations are detailed that enable the inductor’s charging and discharging profiles to be plotted.