[Editor's Note] Heat loss and temperature management are the most sensitive topics in the power semiconductor design process. In the past, dedicated analysis tools installed on PCs were used and it was difficult to secure computing resources. On the other hand, the design environment is completely changing with the recent emergence of online power simulation. Online power simulation is a service that virtually tests the operating conditions of power devices and predicts loss and temperature characteristics anytime and anywhere with just a web browser. You can utilize the high-performance computing power of cloud servers without installing separate software. We learned about online power simulators through Infineon's IPOSIM, an online power simulator.


Online power simulation is changing the landscape of power semiconductor design by testing operating conditions of power devices in a virtual environment, predicting loss and temperature characteristics.

A representative online power simulator is Infineon's IPOSIM. Equipped with a PLECS®-based engine, it enables fast calculations and supports more than 35 module/disk topologies.

Designers can select the desired circuit, such as a switch, inverter, or converter, and compare and verify up to five target devices simultaneously.

Why is online power simulation important?

First, accurately predicting losses and temperatures from the early design stages can reduce component selection errors.

An inappropriate choice can lead to redesign after the physical prototype is created, wasting a lot of time and money.

Moreover, as market competition intensifies, shortening ‘Time-to-Market’ has become a necessity rather than an option.

Cloud-based simulations deliver results in minutes, helping you make decisions several times faster than traditional methods that take days.

In addition, various simulation modes such as Steady-State, Load-Cycle, and Lifetime Estimation are required to verify complex load changes or long-term operating conditions.

IPOSIM provides three modes to handle single operating point, variable load, and life prediction.

Steady-State mode calculates conduction loss, switching loss, and junction temperature under constant operating conditions.

Load-Cycle mode uploads a user-defined load profile to analyze thermal ripple reflecting actual operating conditions.

The Lifetime Estimation service applies a protein life prediction algorithm to calculate the expected usage cycle of a module. This allows for easy verification of designs that meet product reliability goals.

Another advantage of online power simulation is collaborative efficiency.

IPOSIM allows you to save and share specific simulation settings as a unique URL via 'deep linking'. This makes it easier for team members to reproduce results and exchange feedback.

Adding Gate Driver recommendation features here can further increase design productivity.

It suggests the optimal driver based on the selected power device and operating conditions, significantly reducing separate search efforts.

It also provides excellent readability when analyzing results.

By clicking on the temperature, loss, and current change graphs, you can use the enlargement, measurement cursor, and zoom-in functions, making data interpretation and report creation easy.

Completed simulation results can be downloaded as an Excel file or saved as a PDF report. When linked with the datasheet provided by IPOSIM, there is no shortage in the final design review stage.

Additionally, the parameter sweep function can be used to automatically calculate the RMS current threshold versus loss/average temperature. The design optimization speed is accelerated because a large number of calculation processes do not have to be manually performed one by one.

This fast and precise simulation environment enables companies to prevent design risks, improve product quality, and shorten time to market.

In fact, a certain battlefield inverter manufacturer reportedly reduced the number of prototypes produced by 40% and shortened the development period by 30% after introducing online simulation.

Domestic small and medium-sized enterprises have also succeeded in designing new motor drives without separate hardware investment by introducing cloud-based power simulation, thanks to the ability to perform precise thermal analysis in the early design stage.

Online power simulation is soon to become a key axis of digital transformation. In conjunction with IoT and AI-based smart processes, the future of predicting and controlling abnormal signs by running real-time simulations while equipment is in operation is not far away.

As 5G and edge computing become widespread, power simulations can be quickly performed on smartphones in the field. It is expected that an era will open in which designers, operators, and researchers can visualize and optimize the behavior of power devices anytime, anywhere.

An industry insider said, “With the power semiconductor market recording an average double-digit growth rate per year, online power simulation is a weapon that can quickly narrow the technology gap. How well you utilize the cloud-based analysis environment will determine your future competitiveness.” He added, “Designers are no longer tied to complex local installations or license management. Online power simulation that can be performed simply by opening a web browser will soon become the ‘new standard.’”