Onsemi and Würth boost accuracy in virtual design for power electronics

Onsemi and Würth Elektronik have teamed up to integrate the passive components database developed by Würth Elektronik into the one-of-a-kind Self-Service PLECS® Model Generator (SSPMG) from onsemi to boost accuracy in virtual design of power electronics systems.

This intuitive web-based platform enables engineers to create custom high-accuracy, high-fidelity PLECS models of complex power electronic applications, which helps identify and fix performance bottlenecks early in the design process. With the addition of Würth Elektronik’s passive system components to SSPMG, the generated switching loss models achieve even higher precision than before. 

Relying on laboratory configurations and environments, typical industry PLECS models don’t always reflect the wide range of conditions that component characteristics such as conduction, energy loss and thermal impedance display in practical implementations. In contrast, SSPMG’s capabilities are based on onsemi’s physically scalable SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) models, which are rooted in semiconductor physics and the actual process variations in making the components, resulting in a more accurate representation of their behavior in the circuit. 

“SSPMG empowers onsemi customers to autonomously generate system-level PLECS models that are tailored to their specific power application,” said James Victory Doctor of Philosophy, fellow, Modeling and Simulation Solutions, Power Solutions Group, onsemi. “Instead of going through long and costly fabrication-based cycles, customers develop and optimize their complete power systems virtually, enabling them to go to market faster.”

“With the seamless integration of Würth Elektronik’s database of SPICE models into onsemi’s SSPMG, design engineers can now select both the active onsemi components and the passive Würth Elektronik components for their application, generating a more accurate switching loss model,” said Dayana Cómbita, strategic partnership manager Europe, Würth Elektronik. “Together, we are paving the way to first-time-right, optimized system designs for our mutual customers.”

SSPMG loss models can be downloaded and then used on customers’ proprietary simulation platforms or uploaded into onsemi’s industry-leading Elite Power Simulator (EPS). EPS provides customers direct insights into how a circuit topology will perform across onsemi’s EliteSiC family of products, PowerTrench® T10 MOSFETs and Field Stop 7 (FS7) IGBTs and IPMs.