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Wolfspeed PRD-07913 Power Modules SPICE Models User Guide

The Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide provides instructions for using SPICE models to simulate the performance of Wolfspeed's SiC power modules. It includes installation guides for various software, model behavior descriptions, and customization options for optimizing simulations. The guide emphasizes that while the models can aid in system design, they are not guaranteed to represent all specifications and should not replace hardware testing.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
47 views22 pages

Wolfspeed PRD-07913 Power Modules SPICE Models User Guide

The Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide provides instructions for using SPICE models to simulate the performance of Wolfspeed's SiC power modules. It includes installation guides for various software, model behavior descriptions, and customization options for optimizing simulations. The guide emphasizes that while the models can aid in system design, they are not guaranteed to represent all specifications and should not replace hardware testing.

Uploaded by

wodud085454
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

User Guide PRD-07913

Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 1
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
User Guide PRD-07913

Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide


Models provided by Wolfspeed are not warranted by Wolfspeed as fully representing all specifications and
operating characteristics of the semiconductor product to which the model relates. The model describes the
characteristics of a typical device. In all cases, the current data sheet information for a given device is the
final design guideline and the only actual performance specification. Although models can be a useful tool
in evaluating device performance, they cannot predict exact device performance under all conditions, nor are
they intended to replace hardware testing for final verification. The model is subject to change without notice.
Wolfspeed is not responsible for any errors or simulation issues.

Contents
1. Introduction......................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Software Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Content Overview......................................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Quick Model Installation Guide ................................................................................................................... 4
1.3.1 LTspice Library Installation............................................................................................................... 4
1.3.2 Simetrix Installation .......................................................................................................................... 6
1.3.3 Installation for all other software ..................................................................................................... 7
1.4 Verification of model installation ................................................................................................................ 7
2. Using the Model ................................................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Symbol Pin Descriptions / Connections ...................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Library File Customization ......................................................................................................................... 12
2.3 Alternative Software Customization ......................................................................................................... 14
3. Detailed Model Behavior Overview................................................................................................................... 14
3.1 Die Model Description ................................................................................................................................ 15
3.2 Package Model Descriptions ...................................................................................................................... 17
3.2.1 Half-Bridge ....................................................................................................................................... 17
3.2.2 Full-Bridge ....................................................................................................................................... 18
3.2.3 Six Pack ............................................................................................................................................ 20

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 2
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
1. Introduction
Circuit-level simulation software are powerful tools for optimizing systems that utilize Wolfspeed’s SiC power
module devices. These tools can be used to predict detailed transient behavior of these devices in their systems
to estimate voltage overshoots, efficiency, emissions, expected junction temperatures, and more. Leveraging
SPICE models can assist designers in improving their system layout to take full advantage of the capabilities of
Wolfspeed power modules. These models can reduce time and cost through virtual prototyping studies that
inform hardware decisions or facilitate optimization. Suitable models can be used to predict the influence of
parasitic elements and EMI behavior, as well as predict device failures due to destructive voltage overshoots or
thermal stress.

1.1 Software Recommendations


The power module SPICE models described herein are developed for and in LTspice, electronic circuit
simulation software by Analog Devices, Inc. For best results, please download the latest version of LTspice from
https://www.analog.com/en/design-center/design-tools-and-calculators/ltspice-simulator.html. Using these
models in older LTspice versions or other SPICE simulation tools may result in convergence or accuracy errors.
However, the models are intended to be compatible with SPICE2 syntax. Please report module-model specific
simulation errors with details to our forum at https://forum.wolfspeed.com/.

Using these models in other SPICE simulation tools may result in convergence
errors. Please use LTspice if possible.

1.2 Content Overview


The Wolfspeed power module SPICE model library encompasses current-generation parts available for
purchase. Previous models, such as gen2 devices (CAS120M12BM2, CAS300M17BM2, etc.) are not included.
There are two model types provided for every device: an LTspice library file, and an individual SPICE2 file. The
LTspice library files combine all of the module types (half-bridge, six-pack) into a single .lib file, and also
includes optimizations and customizability to change the model to suit the needs of users. The individual
SPICE2 files only include a single module model in each .cir file, with limited customizability. However, the
syntax is intended to be general and importable into other SPICE software. Inside each folder, example circuits
and the recommended symbol for each part is provided for LTspice. It is the user’s responsibility to generate
symbols and example circuits for other SPICE software.

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 3
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
1.3 Quick Model Installation Guide
The organization of the files is up to the user’s discretion. A recommended approach is to create a specific folder
for the Wolfspeed LTspice models and add it to your LTspice search path. This method allows for all simulations
to use the same model files and omits the need for .inc/.lib statements inside the simulation. It is highly
recommended to avoid copy-and-pasting the library file into multiple locations.
1.3.1 LTspice Library Installation
Go to https://www.wolfspeed.com/tools-and-support/power/ltspice-and-plecs-models/
Download the ‘All SPICE Models.zip’ file
Unzip the downloaded file and navigate to the “\Modules\LTspice\Models\” folder
Create a folder to store the WS model files. For example, ‘C:\Users\ExampleUser\WS_LTspice_Library\’
Copy the .asy and .lib files into your desired directory.
Open LTspice and go to Tools -> Control Panel -> Sym. & Lib. Search Paths. Enter your desired directory
into both the symbol and library search paths (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: LTspice symbol and library search path screenshot


You may need to restart LTspice for these changes to take effect. Once completed, the symbol can be
placed into any circuit by changing the drop-down arrow on the component symbol selection screen
(see Figure 2).

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 4
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
Figure 2: LTspice select component symbol screenshot
Once the part is placed in your simulation, right-click the symbol and change the Value field to your
desired module part number (see Figure 3). Open the .lib file in a text editor to view the available models
in the library.

Figure 3: LTspice changing library model example

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 5
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
1.3.2 Simetrix Installation
To install the model library in Simetrix, navigate to ‘All SPICE Models/Modules/Simetrix’ and drag the
‘Wolfspeed_Module_Library.cir’ and ‘Wolfspeed_Module_Symbols.sxslb’ files into the command shell in
Simetrix. The software will ask if you wish to install or edit the model file and symbol file (see Figure 4). Check
‘Install’ and click OK for both.

Figure 4: Model installation box on Simetrix


After installing, the installed module models will be available under ‘Dual Schottky’ and ‘MOSFETs – Multiple’
in the Simetrix model library (see Figure 5). Example circuits are available in the ‘Example Circuits’ folder to
get started with the Simetrix SPICE models.

Figure 5: Wolfspeed model library in Simetrix

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 6
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
1.3.3 Installation for all other software
Wolfspeed SPICE models were designed and validated for use with LTspice. Alternative software syntax is
supported, but the simulation files are not guaranteed to be correct. Example simulation files, symbols, and
instructions for installation may not be provided.

1. Go to https://www.wolfspeed.com/tools-and-support/power/ltspice-and-plecs-models/
2. Download the ‘All SPICE Models.zip’ file
3. Unzip the downloaded file and navigate to the “\Modules\” folder
4. Navigate to your desired software folder
5. A .cir or .txt file will be provided for each device model. Import the contents of the file into your
desired software.

1.4 Verification of model installation


To verify that the model was installed correctly, example circuits are provided. These vary from double pulse
test circuits to more complex inverters. The example circuits (for LTspice only) are located under
Modules\LTspice\Example Circuits\.
It is recommended to begin with the double pulse test simulation file that is provided for every toplogy. This is
an LTspice simulation for an ideal clamped inductive load (CIL) test sequence and does not reflect an empirical
test configuration. Figure 6 below shows an example screenshot of the DPT_Test_Stand_HB.asc circuit located
in ‘\Modules\LTspice\Example Circuits\HalfBridge’. The circuit may look different depending on the module
topology. By default, these simulations do not contain the model symbols. An annotated space is provided to
place your desired model using the ‘add component’ button in LTspice.
Several parameters can be edited in the simulation. Parameters L and ChargePulseTime can be edited to change
the load current of the simulation, and Vbus can be edited to change the operating voltage. Von, Voff, and Rg
change the gate drive settings of the simulation. Lbus changes the system-level parasitic inductance of the DC-
link interface with the module. Finally, TEMP sets the global temperature of the simulation. This temperature is
used to set the initial junction temperature of the device. The current I(Rlow) voltage V(mid) will provide typical
double pulse testing (DPT) waveforms, shown in Figure 7.

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 7
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
Figure 6: Example DPT_Test_Stand_HB.asc circuit for a half-bridge topology
It is critical to understand that the ideal CIL test circuit may not result in dynamic characteristics that exactly
match the datasheet. SiC MOSFET devices are complex, and accurate predictions at any arbitrary bus voltage,
load current, temperature, and gate resistance are challenging. In addition, non-idealities in the gate driver and
CIL circuit board may not be modeled in the LTspice circuit. Critical parameters include the bus inductance,
parasitic capacitance between the gate and drain of each switch position, parasitic capacitance of the load
inductor, parasitic capacitance between V+ and V-, and parasitic resistance of the gate drive.

An ideal CIL test circuit may not provide switching loss and slew rate that match
the datasheet due to unmodeled circuit parasitics

Figure 7: Example waveform from DPT_Test_Stand_HB.asc

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 8
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
2. Using the Model
Wolfspeed power module SPICE models feature optimizations that allow them to be tailored to particular
applications. For example, long-duration simulations with a focus on control optimization may not need the
influence of parasitic inductance or baseplate capacitance, and a simulation using the body diode for reverse
conduction may not need the complexity of third-quadrant conduction. In this section, recommendations for
implementing the power module SPICE models in LTspice will be provided, along with the various
customization options.
It should be noted that a power module switch position is often comprised of several die in parallel. However,
physically representing each individual die is computationally expensive and makes simulating complex
circuits difficult and slow. Thus, Wolfspeed power module models leverage a scaled approach, where the
behavior of the parallel die and diodes are each lumped into a single switching model, as shown in Figure 8. As
such, the module models represent an averaged behavior of the paralleled die in both electrical and thermal
characteristics. Throughout this document, discussion of a MOSFET temperature, connection, or characteristic
refers to the entire switch position and paralleled die.

Physical Representation Simplified Model Implementation

Drain

Drain

Source

Source
Figure 8: Scaled die model approach

2.1 Symbol Pin Descriptions / Connections


The naming convention for pins is consistent across package topologies; in this section, the half-bridge power
module will be used as a representative example. Figure 9 shows the provided LTspice symbol for the half-
bridge library models. The library models include all of the potential pins, but some may be disabled internally
depending on the model being evaluated.
The electrical pins (V+, Mid, V-, G1/K1, and G2/K2) should be connected to the main electrical circuit. These pins
are consistent with module datasheet nomenclature. G1/K1 control switch position 1, and G2/K2 control switch
position 2 (such that Gn/Kn control any switch position n).
The case thermal pins are denoted ‘Tcn’ where n is the number of the switch position. For example, in Figure 9,
Tc1 is the case port for the high-side switch, and Tc2 is the case port for the low-side switch. The case port is the
PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 9
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
path for thermal energy / power loss for all parallel MOSFETs and diodes present in each switch position. In
most cases, the Tc pins can be connected together, as the baseplate is common for all switch positions in a
module. However, they are left unconnected internally to allow for studies involving asymmetric cooling. These
pins are attached to ground internally with a 10 kΩ resistor and can be left floating. These pins can be connected
to a coolant by applying a voltage source in series with a resistance to the pin. The voltage of the voltage source
represents the coolant temperature, and the resistance represents the thermal impedance between the coolant
and the baseplate of the module. Figure 6 shows an example of a heatsink connection. More complex thermal
models of the thermal management system (e.g., Cauer networks) can also be implemented. The initial
temperature of the Tc pins and all intermediate nodes are initialized to the global LTspice temperature
parameter, ‘TEMP’.
The MOSFET junction temperature pins are denoted ‘TjQn’ where n is the number of the switch position. These
pins are intended as measurement ports and are typically left open. During operation, interactions between the
die self-heating and the baseplate/coolant will cause the temperature of the die to change, which can be
observed by measuring the voltage of TjQn to ground. A voltage source referenced to ground can also be
applied to these pins to force a static temperature during simulation. This is particularly useful during DC
simulations, where the electro-thermal model does not behave appropriately.
The Schottky diode junction temperature pins are denoted ‘TjDn’ where n is the number of the switch position.
These pins behave identically to the MOSFET junction temperature pins. As will be discussed later, these pins
become inactive when applied to a module that does not have Schottky diodes.
The Baseplate pin is an electrical connection for electromagnetic interference (EMI) simulations. It is disabled
by default. Power modules contain parasitic capacitance between the electrical modules and the baseplate
that provide a path for common-mode leakage currents to flow through the system. Including these parameters
can be critical for users interested in estimating the EMI impact of the power modules on their system. This pin
should be connected to ground with a resistor in series. The value of this resistance will depend on the system
but is typically small.

Library Symbol

Figure 9: Half-bridge LTspice library symbol


Figure 10 shows example waveforms of a DPT with the temperature and baseplate pin measurements included.
The junction temperature of the switch positions increases during high-loss conditions and decreases in low-

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 10
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
loss conditions as energy is dissipated to the baseplate. The leakage current through the baseplate spikes
during high dv/dt switching events indicated by V(mid).

Figure 10: Example DPT waveforms including junction temperatures and baseplate current

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 11
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
2.2 Library File Customization
The LTspice library file features several options for customizability that will be discussed in this section. To edit
the model behavior, right-click the model symbol in simulation. The component attribute editor shown in
Figure 11 will open. The primary features that can be edited are shown in the ‘Value’ and ‘SpiceLine’ fields. The
‘Value’ field can be changed to another module part number to select another module. This can be useful for
parameterizing the module model being simulated using the .TEXT feature in LTspice. The available module
models are listed at the top of the library file.

Figure 11: Library file component attribute editor window


In the SpiceLine field, the ‘Thermals’, ‘BPC’, ‘level’, and ‘Rp’ fields can be changed to adjust the complexity of
the model:

Thermals
• Set to 1 to enable closed-loop electro-thermal modeling with Cauer network model (representing
datasheet Zth), causing dynamic junction temperature which responds to semiconductor losses. The
initial temperature of the junction is set by the global TEMP parameter. Adds complexity and accuracy.

• Set to 0 to disable the closed-loop electro-thermal model and use a constant temperature across the
duration of the simulation. The temperature of the junction is set by the global TEMP parameter.
Decreases complexity and accuracy.

• There are two methods to set a temperature other than TEMP to an individual switch position. The first
is to specify a ‘Tj’ parameter on ‘SpiceLine2’. For example, ‘Tj=75’ will set the initial temperature of the
junction to 75ºC, regardless of the global TEMP parameter. Another method is to directly apply a voltage
source to the Tj pins.

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 12
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
BPC
• Set to 1 to enable the baseplate capacitances in the model. Adds significant computational complexity
but is crucial for EMI simulations.
• Set to 0 to disable the baseplate capacitances in the model. The baseplate pin is disabled and tied to
ground.
Level
• Set to 3 to enable the full third-quadrant model. This includes reverse recovery across temperature and
conduction characteristics across VGS and temperature. Provides the highest accuracy, but also the
greatest complexity. Consider decreasing the level parameter to improve simulation speed or if reverse
recovery behavior is not necessary. For modules with internal Schottky diodes, the level parameter is
limited to level=2 since reverse recovery is negligible for these devices.

• Set to 2 to disable reverse recovery. The conduction characteristics are still provided across VGS and
temperature characteristics. This level is suitable for synchronous switching applications.

• Set to 1 to disable the third-quadrant model and replace it with a body diode model fit at VGS = -4 V.
The model will still include reverse conduction in the ON state, but will not model the changes in body
diode conduction across VGS and temperature. Setting level=1 greatly improves simulation speed.

Rp
• Rp represents a parallel resistance across parasitic inductance within the package. At 100 Ω, this
resistance creates a lowpass filter with a cutoff around 1 GHz. This frequency is sufficiently high for
power electronics simulations but prevents the LTspice simulator from decreasing the timestep to
calculate extremely small, high-frequency oscillations between the parasitic inductance and
capacitances in the system. This resistance can be decreased to improve simulation speed further. At 1
mΩ, the influence of the parasitic inductance is removed entirely, and the simulation speed can be
improved by several orders of magnitude. The model will not correctly predict voltage overshoot, but
this can be extremely useful when performing long-duration simulations where detailed switching
behavior is not the primary concern.
In addition to these main configuration parameters, several other parameters can be edited from the
SpiceLine2 field. These are briefly described as follows:

• AFm: Sets the number of MOSFETs per switch position

• AFs: Sets the number of Schottky diodes per switch position

• Vths: Adds a Vth threshold shift to the die behavior

• Rdss: Adds an Rds(on) shift to the die behavior

• Package parameters: in 3.2, parasitic circuits of the models are provided. Any of these parasitic
parameters can be set from the SpiceLine2 field.

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 13
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
2.3 Alternative Software Customization
The non-LTspice models do not feature the same level of customization as the library models. However, the
netlist itself can be edited to suit the needs of a particular simulation. The netlist is designed to be readable,
and any custom changes will be the responsibility of the user. The model files include commented baseplate
capacitance lines that can be uncommented for EMC simulations (a baseplate pin must be added as well).

3. Detailed Model Behavior Overview


Circuit-level SPICE models of power electronic systems can be divided into three hierarchical categories:
system-level, package-level, and die-level, as shown in Figure 12. The system-level model describes the overall
circuit within which the device will be used and is specific to each application. Application circuits vary in
complexity, ranging from simple setups such as clamped inductive load (CIL) circuits and buck converters to
complex setups such as bidirectional multiphase DC/DC converters. The package-level model is embedded
within the system-level model and describes the connections between the system and the semiconductor
chips. These connections are not ideal and are accompanied by parasitic resistances, inductances, and
capacitances that must be included to create an accurate package model. The characteristics of the die
themselves are described by the die-level model, which lies at the lowest level of the hierarchy. The
combination of package and transistor models represents a fully detailed SiC power module SPICE
implementation that can be applied across a wide range of applications.

System Level
Package Level

Die Level

Figure 12: Description of SPICE model architecture


The implementation of the SiC MOSFET die-level model has a significant influence on the overall performance
of the final packaged semiconductor model. Wolfspeed power module models use a behavioral approach that
maximizes accuracy and efficiency. In addition, developing an accurate and efficient package-level model
requires an understanding of the most influential parameters within a particular application or system. The
package-level model is particularly important for simulations involving MCPMs. In this section, the Wolfspeed

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 14
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
power module die and package models will be discussed in detail. The compact model has also been presented
in [1].
A notional circuit diagram of the package model is shown in Figure 13 (a). The package model includes
electrical package parasitics (such as self-inductance, mutual coupling, and baseplate capacitance) and a
model of the junction-to-case thermal impedance. The thermal impedance is modeled by a third order Cauer
network fit to ZTH curves. The shortest pulse width considered for fitting is 1 µs. The behavioral transistor model
in Figure 13 (b) has electrically dependent device capacitances, a static gate resistance, and temperature-
dependent forward characteristics that include short-channel effects at high drain-source voltages. The third-
quadrant model captures reverse recovery behavior across temperature and reverse conduction characteristics
across temperature and VGS biases.
V+

Module Packaging Electrical


Parasitics Dependence
Q1 Thermal

Drain
Dependence
TjQ1
G1
K1
Cauer
Mid PLoss Thermal Tc
Model
Gate
TjQ2
G2
Q2
K2

Baseplate
Source

V-

Figure 13: Half-bridge power module model, (a) package model, (b) transistor model

3.1 Die Model Description


Example fits for the forward characteristics for a subset of VGS conditions at multiple temperatures are shown
in Figure 14. The fits for the low VDS region (0 V – 50 V) are shown in the top plots, and the fits for the high VDS
region (0 V – 600 V) are shown in the bottom plots.

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 15
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
Figure 14: Demonstration of forward static characteristic fits at 25 ºC, 75 ºC, and 175 ºC. Top: low VDS region (0 V –
50 V), bottom: high VDS region (0 V – 600 V)

Figure 15 shows example model fits for the third-quadrant conduction characteristics at a subset of VGS
conditions across temperature.

Figure 15: Demonstration of third-quadrant static characteristic fits at (a) 25 ºC, (b) 75 ºC, (c) 175 ºC
In the presented model, CDS and CGD are modeled with dependence on VDS, and CGS is modeled with dependence
on VGS. The model fits for these characteristics are provided in Figure 16.

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 16
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
Figure 16: Demonstration of CV characteristics fits
Finally, the reverse recovery parameters of the model are tuned at multiple temperatures. Figure 17
demonstrates the model’s reverse recovery behavior across temperatures after tuning. The implementation of
reverse recovery into the device model allows for better prediction of losses.

Figure 17: Demonstration of model reverse recovery behavior across temperature

3.2 Package Model Descriptions


The package model describes the non-ideal connections between the internal semiconductor and the module
terminals. It is designed to contain the most influential parameters, and some elements are simplified or
omitted to improve computational performance. The structure of the package model changes depending on
the topology of the module. Currently, half-bridge, full-bridge, and six-pack module models have been
released.
3.2.1 Half-Bridge
Figure 18 shows the complete package model for half-bridge module models. For Schottky modules, the
diodes are connected directly in anti-parallel with the MOSFETs Q1 and Q2. The resistance Rgi describes both
the package gate resistance and the die gate resistance as a single parameter. Some parasitic parameters only
appear when specified. For example, LcsiQ1 and LcsiQ2 are only included in modules with common-source
inductance. Any of these parameter values can be changed in the LTspice library file by editing the SpiceLine2
attribute (e.x. Rgi=1, LgQ1=30n).

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Rp
Cug
Rdesr Ld V+
Q1
LgQ1/2 Rgi/2
G1

LgQ1/2 LcsiQ1
Rgi/2
K1 Rp
Cag
Baseplate Rpesr Lp Mid
Q2
LgQ2/2
Rgi/2
G2

LgQ2/2 LcsiQ2
Rgi/2
K2 Rp

Clg
Rsesr Ls V-

Figure 18: Half-bridge package model with parasitics


3.2.2 Full-Bridge
The full-bridge package model is provided in Figure 19. The model is effectively two half-bridge circuits in
parallel, with some minor differences. The two DC- terminals are isolated internally, while the DC+ terminals
are connected on the substrate. There is no parasitic inductance between the D terminals to each die; the drain
of Q1 and Q3 are directly connected. This is a minor simplification of the parasitic model but improves the
convergence and runtime behavior. Any of these parameter values can be changed in the LTspice library file by
editing the SpiceLine2 attribute (e.x. Rgi=1, LgQ1=30n).

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
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their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
Figure 19: Full-bridge package model with parasitics

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3.2.3 Six Pack
The six-pack package model is provided in Figure 20. The model is effectively three half-bridge circuits in
parallel, with some minor differences. The three DC- terminals are isolated internally, while the DC+ terminals
are connected through a parasitic inductance. Any of these parameter values can be changed in the LTspice
library file by editing the SpiceLine2 attribute (e.x. Rgi=1, LgQ1=30n).
There are some distinctions in the model based on the platform. For FM six-pack modules (such as the
CCB032M12FM3), all of the DC+ terminals are connected internally. Thus, RD2D3s and RD1D2s are very small
(on the order of µΩ), and Cu2g is removed from the model. However, for GM six-pack modules (such as the
CCB016M12GM3), phase 3 (DC+3) is isolated from the other two phases. Thus, RD2D3s and RD2D3p are set to
very large values to represent the physical module, and Cu2g is included in the model.
Runtime can be improved by setting RD1D2p, RD2D3p, RD1D2s, and RD2D3s to 1 mΩ.

PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
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Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
Figure 20: Six-pack package model with parasitics
PRD-07913 REV. 2, December 2023 Wolfspeed Power Module SPICE Models User Guide
© 2023 Wolfspeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Wolfspeed® and the Wolfstreak logo are registered trademarks and the 21
Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.
Revision History
Date Revision Changes

September 2023 1 Initial Release


Added Simetrix Installation
December 2023 2
Instructions
References
[1] B. T. DeBoi, B. W. Nelson, A. Curbow, T. McNutt and A. N. Lemmon, "Computational Efficiency Analysis of a
Compact Behavioral SiC SPICE Model," in PCIM Europe 2023; International Exhibition and Conference for
Power Electronics, Intelligent Motion, Renewable Energy and Energy Management, Nuremberg, Germany,
2023.

Simulation Assistance
For any questions or comments about the model and its implementation, please post on our forum at
https://forum.wolfspeed.com/ to receive assistance from a support engineer.

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Wolfspeed logo is a trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc. Other trademarks, products, and company names are the property of
their respective owners and do not imply specific product and/or vendor endorsement, sponsorship, or association.

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