Double Pulse Testing

The Standard Method for Measuring Switching Parameters

Minimizing switching losses continues to be a major challenge for power device engineers working on SiC and GaN devices. The standard test method for measuring switching parameters and evaluating the dynamic behavior of Si, SiC, and GaN MOSFETs and IGBTs is the double pulse Test (DPT). Double pulse testing can be used to measure energy loss during device turn-on and turn-off, as well as reverse recovery parameters.

Learn how to:

Basics of Double Pulse Test
Generate Gate Drive Signals for a Double Pulse Test
Measure Turn-on and Turn-off Timing and Energy Losses
Measure Reverse Recovery

Double Pulse Test and the Benefits

Double pulse test circuit.

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Double Pulse Testing for Power Semiconductor Devices with an Oscilloscope and Arbitrary Function Generator

The Basics of Double Pulse Test

Performing a double pulse test is performed using two devices. One device is the device under test (DUT) and the second device is typically the same type of device as the DUT. Note the inductive load on the “high” side device. The Inductor is used to replicate circuit conditions that you may have in a converter design. The instruments used are a power supply or SMU to supply the voltage, an arbitrary function generator (AFG) to output pulses that trigger the gate of the MOSFET to turn it on to start conduction of the current, and an oscilloscope to measure the resulting waveforms.

How to Generate Gate Drive Signals for a Double Pulse Test

The easiest way to generate the gate drive signals to perform a double pulse test is to use an arbitrary waveform generator (AFG). An AFG may be used to generate the gate drive signal to perform a double pulse test. The Tektronix AFG31000 has a built-in double pulse test application to create the pulses with varying pulse widths.

generate gate drive signals double pulse test

Equipment set up for conducting a double pulse test.

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Double Pulse Test with the AFG31000

Double pulse test circuit.

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Double Pulse Testing - Energy Loss Measurements

4/5/5B/6B Series MSO Option 4-WBG-DPT/5-WBG-DPT/6-WBG-DPT Application Datasheet

How to Measure Turn-on and Turn-off Timing and Energy Losses

An oscilloscope is a great tool for capturing the double pulse waveforms so you may obtain the turn-on and turn-off times parameters of your device. With the Tektronix 4/5/6 Series B MSO and the Wide Bandgap Double Pulse Test application software (Opt. WBG-DPT), everything you need to capture the parameters is at your fingertips. The WBG-DPT option offers automated switching, timing, and diode reverse recovery measurements per JEDEC and IEC standards.

Measure Reverse Recovery

Reverse recovery time of the diode is a measure of the switching speed in the diode and thus affects the switching losses in the converter design. Reverse recovery current occurs during the turn-on of the second pulse. As shown in the diagram, the diode is conducting in a forward condition during phase 2. As the low side MOSFET turns on again, the diode should immediately switch to a reverse blocking condition; however, the diode will conduct in a reverse condition for a short period of time, which is known as the reverse recovery current. This reverse recovery current is translated into energy losses, which directly impact the efficiency of the power converter.