This section provides an overview for igbts as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 igbt manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked igbt companies as of November, 2024: 1.Silan Microelectronics, 2.Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, 3.Advanced Power Electronics Corp..
Table of Contents
IGBT is an insulated gate bipolar transistor. The name is shortened to IGBT.
An equivalent circuit can be considered a composite transistor circuit configuration with an N-channel MOSFET at the input and a PNP-type bipolar transistor at the output. On the other hand, since the structure can be said to have a MOSFET in the base of the bipolar transistor section, it can generate a very large output current for a small current.
It is a high-performance semiconductor with a higher breakdown voltage and lower loss than the MOSFET that serves as the base. IGBT was developed in Japan in the 1980s, and its structure at that time was called a punch-through type.
In recent years, as wafer processes have progressed, IGBT devices have become smaller and less expensive, and non-punch-through and field-stop IGBT devices are now being manufactured.
IGBTs are commonly used in variable-speed drives and power converters due to their high speed under high-power operating conditions.
They are also used extensively in inverter circuits for induction cooktops, washing machines, and air conditioners, as well as in the power control of large home appliances such as printers. With the recent trend towards energy conservation, the use of IGBTs, which can reduce power loss, is further expanding.
IGBTs have the structure of a MOSFET at the input and a bipolar transistor at the output, as explained at the beginning of this article, and have characteristics that are a combination of the features of each.
Because of the two types of carriers, its switching speed is slower than that of a MOSFET but faster than that of a bipolar transistor, and its withstand voltage is improved over that of a MOSFET. When voltage is applied from the gate, which is the input part of the terminal, current flows from the MOSFET and conducts to the P-type semiconductor, which in turn amplifies a small amount of current, as is the nature of bipolar transistors, allowing a large current to flow between the emitter and collector.
In addition, conductivity modulation occurs as in a bipolar transistor so that on-resistance can be lowered and current density can be increased. Since a constant voltage drop occurs between the collector and emitter, losses can be lower than with MOSFETs when the current is high.
An inverter circuit is a DC-to-AC conversion circuit used in pairs with an AC-to-DC converter circuit. IGBTs are used in this inverter circuit to output AC with a different voltage and frequency.
IGBTs are switched to adjust the on/off interval and pulse width. By generating and shaping different pulse waves, the pulse wave is made closer to a sine wave. This is called pulse width modulation, and IGBTs are often used here.
The functions of home appliances are controlled by changing the speed of the motor through frequency conversion by pulse width modulation. IGBTs are widely used in home appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, industrial motors, and computer power supplies.
IGBTs are often described as a combination of MOSFETs and BJTs (bipolar junction transistors), but they have some drawbacks when compared to MOSFETs. IGBTs have a rising voltage that has an offset due to their configuration, especially in the low-current range. In general, MOSFET devices have lower Vds than IGBTs, especially in the low current range.
IGBTs are mainly focused on the medium to the high current range, so they exhibit lower on-resistance than MOSFETs in this range. Still, for applications where efficiency in the low power range is essential, MOSFETs have better characteristics. = 2V, MOSFETs are superior in efficiency, while IGBTs are superior at higher voltages.
IGBTs are complex devices, and it takes a lot of effort to assemble them so that their operation can be controlled from scratch. Therefore, IGBT modules that combine signal processing, amplification, protection circuits, parasitic diodes, and other components of the control part into a composite module are widely commercialized.
Since IGBTs are transistors that are prone to breakdown if their SOA (Safety Operation Area) or absolute maximum ratings are exceeded, some of them have built-in protection circuits. IGBTs were developed to achieve both withstand voltage and switching speed and have been improved over the years. In this power device area, power semiconductor devices using new compound semiconductor materials such as SiC and GaN have recently begun to be introduced.
These next-generation power semiconductor devices enable faster-switching operations than IGBTs and have superior breakdown voltages, so research and development of these devices have been increasingly active in recent years. However, there are still issues to be cleared, such as cost and supply, and they are not expected to replace the entire current IGBTs market area.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, founded in Sunnyvale, CA in 2000, is a supplier of a broad range of power semiconductors, including Power MOSFET, IGBT, IPM and Power IC products. The company's product portfolio includes Gate Drivers, Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS), and Silicon Carbide (SiC), which find applications in portable computers, tablets, smartphones, flat panel TVs, and battery packs. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. They also offer custom packaging, warehousing, and distribution services.
Microsemi Corporation was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California. Microsemi is a subsidiary of Microchip Technology Incorporated. Microsemi is a provider of semiconductor and system solutions for aerospace, communications, data center, and industrial markets. A few of Microsemi’s product lines include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, power management products, timing and synchronization devices, and RF solutions. Microsemi’s technological strengths are in connectivity, energy efficiency, miniaturization, power management, and security.
Sensitron Semiconductor, founded in 1969 with corporate headquarters located in the USA, is a manufacturer of power electronic components and systems for the defense, aerospace, space, and medical markets. The company's products include high-power rectifier bridges, motion control modules, TVS modules, solid-state power controllers, and high voltage diode assemblies, as well as various services including, engineering, electrical and mechanical design, material science expertise, and testing of a finished power system. The company's facility includes a wafer fabrication clean room and a microelectronics manufacturing clean room.
Power Integrations, a manufacturer of power semiconductor solutions, was established in 1988 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. The company provides cutting-edge technologies for high-efficiency power conversion, serving industries such as electronics, consumer electronics, and industrial. The company also offers a range of services to its customers, including design support, application engineering, and product training. The company intends to help its customers design and implement efficient and dependable power solutions possible.
Littlefuse was founded in 1927 and headquartered in the United States. Littlefuse is a diversified industrial technology manufacturing company with customers globally. Littlefuse has products segments which are electronic, industrial, and transportation. Electronic segment products include fuses and fuse accessories, positive temperature coefficient resettable fuses, polymer electrostatic discharge suppressors, and varistors. Transportation products include blade, resettable, and high-current and high-voltage fuses, as well as battery cable protectors; fuses, switches, relays, circuit breakers, and power distribution modules. The Industrial segment offerings include contactors, transformers, and temperature sensors for use in renewable energy and energy storage systems, electric vehicle infrastructure, HVAC systems.
Hitachi Power Semiconductor Device, Ltd., established in 2013, is a designer, manufacturer, and retailer of semiconductor components and application equipment headquartered in Ibaraki, Japan. The company’s product portfolio includes IGBT/SIC, high-voltage monolithic ICs, and diodes used in automotive, industry, railway, and consumer field applications. Their diode product portfolio includes zener, surge suppressor, alternator, general-use rectifier, and high-voltage diodes. They offer high-voltage monolithic ICs including high-voltage analog switches, single-chip inverter ICs, and IGBT/power MOSFET driver ICs.
Renesas Electronics Corporation was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas is a global research, design, and manufacturer of semiconductors used in industries spanning automotive, consumer electronics, the internet of things, power & energy, and industrial sectors. Renesas manufactures both analog and digital products. Analog products include amplifiers, audio & video devices, data converters, PLC, and switches & multiplexers. Digital products include microcontrollers, memory components, sensors, wireless connectivity products, and others. Renesas also offers design resources such as kits, development tools, partner programs, and design tools.
Mitsubishi Electric was established in Japan in 1921 and headquartered in Tokyo. The company’s Semiconductors & Devices division is a manufacturer of products serving several industries ranging from home appliances and automotive to renewable energy and optical fiber communication. The company’s products are divided into 4 product segments: power devices, high-frequency devices, optical devices, and infrared sensors. Power devices encompass motion controls, most home appliances, and SiC applications. High-frequency devices include satellite communications systems, radios, and base transceiver stations. Optical devices include projector light sources and optical fiber communication. Infrared sensing systems include MeIDIR thermal sensors.
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation is a division of Toshiba focusing on providing designs for end-product developers as well as semiconductor and drive equipment for automotive, industrial equipment, green energy, and consumer and personal electronic devices. Toshiba’s storage products include cloud-scale and enterprise-level products, and PC hard drives. Semiconductor products include Si Cower devices, MOSFETs, IGBTs, IEGTs, isolators, solid state relays, power management and intelligent power ICs, diodes, bipolar transistors, microcontrollers, automotive devices, ICs for wireless communication equipment, general purpose logic ICs, radio-frequency devices, sensors, and linear image sensors.
Cyntec, established in 1991 in Taiwan, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of miniaturized and integrated products. They specialize in magnetic components, passive components, power modules, and RF & optical modules, serving various markets such as cloud computing, automotive, IoT, and more. The company’s products are known for their high performance, power handling, packaging density, and accuracy. Cyntec also utilizes advanced design and simulation techniques, adhering to international standards like ISO9001 & ISO/TS 16949, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18000, and IECQ QC080000. Their social responsibility, non-discrimination policies, and environmental consciousness further reinforce their esteem.
Silan Microelectronics Co., Ltd., founded in 1997 in China, is a manufacturer of semiconductor microelectronics-related products for commercial, industrial, and military clients. The company's products include ICs, power modules, discrete devices, MCU/IC power semiconductor solutions, MEMS sensors, and optoelectronic products. Silan Microelectronics Co., Ltd. also specializes in LED chip manufacturing and packaging for indoor and outdoor LED display panels as well as LED illumination applications. The company was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2003.
Advanced Power Electronics (APEC), founded in 1998 and headquartered in Hsinchu County, Taiwan is a manufacturer of power MOSFETs, super junctions, IGBT, and power ICs Their power MOSFETs product segment includes N, P, and 2-type in single, dual, complementary, dual (CH1), and dual (CH2) configurations and with a VDS rating of between -200 to 900V. They also manufacture P, N, and 2-type super junctions with a VDS rating of between -200 to 900V and a VGS rating of between -12 and 2020V. They are ISO9001-certified allowing its products to be used in consumer electronics, communication, display, computer, and industrial fields.
ST Micro Electronics is a global semiconductor company serving customers with innovations to have a positive impact on people's lives. Their product line is micro electronic systems, such as switches, controllers, sensors and drivers. The main selling point of ST Micro Electronics is its provision of sustainable products, and introducing their electronics to create a more sustainable world. The company, as well as providing the electronic devices, also provides software and support, ensuring that all fields are covered to provide a fully provide a supported and strong relationship with their customer base. ST Micro Electronics believe that technology plays a key role in helping to solve environmental and social challenges, which is why their semiconductor technologies start with their employees, their customers and partners.
Infineon Technologies AG (Infineon) is headquartered in Neubiberg, Germany. Infineon designs, develops, manufactures, and markets semiconductors and related system solutions worldwide. Infineon’s automotive segment produces microcontrollers, discrete power semiconductors, IGBT modules, industrial microcontrollers, power and radar sensor ICs, SiC diodes, MOSFETs voltage regulators, comfort electronics, infotainment, powertrain, and security products. Industrial Power Control segment provides bare dies, discrete IGBTs, and driver ICs among other components. Power & Sensor Systems segment offers gas and pressure sensors, MEMS microphone chips, control ICs, and GaN power switches among others.
Sanken Electric Semiconductors, established in 1946 and headquartered in Saitama-ken, Japan, is a semiconductor manufacturer specializing in power semiconductors. The company serves in the power electronics field offering a wide range of products, including discrete semiconductors, IPMs, power supply ICs, and digitally controlled ICs. The technologies applied by their company enable the development of energy-saving products for global markets. Their semiconductors can be found in various electric equipment and devices, from home appliances to automobiles and industrial equipment. They have about 1,000 employees with 10 distributors and vendors across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Greegoo Electric Co. Ltd., established in 1995, is a Chinese manufacturer and supplier based in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, producing motor control units and switch gears. Certified with ISO 9001:2015, the company offers over 1,000 standard models, including bridge rectifiers, diode and thyristor modules, and rectifier diodes. Other product offerings include phase control thyristors (PCT), solid-state relays, and vacuum contractors. The company serves customers in over 50 countries worldwide, including original design manufacturers (ODMs).
ROHM Semiconductor was incorporated in 1940 and is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. ROHM manufactures and sells electronic components worldwide. ROHM operates through the segments ICs, discrete semiconductor devices, and modules. ROHM provides ICs comprising memory, amplifiers and linear, power management, clocks and timers, switches and multiplexers, logic, data converters, sensors and MEMS, display drivers, motor/actuator drivers, interfaces, communication and speech synthesis LSI, audio and video, and microcontrollers. ROHM also offers discrete semiconductor products include MOSFETs, bipolar transistors, and diodes; power devices, including power transistors and diodes, SiC power devices, IGBT, and IPM; passive devices, such as resistors, and conductive polymer and tantalum capacitors; and various modules among others.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Silan Microelectronics |
16.6%
|
2 | Alpha & Omega Semiconductor |
11.0%
|
3 | Advanced Power Electronics Corp. |
8.6%
|
4 | Microsemi Corporation |
6.8%
|
5 | Cyntec Co., Ltd. |
6.3%
|
6 | Sensitron Semiconductor |
5.9%
|
7 | STMicroelectronics |
5.5%
|
8 | Power Integrations, Inc. |
5.2%
|
9 | Sanken Electric Semiconductors |
5.2%
|
10 | Littelfuse, Inc |
5.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the igbt page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
Japan | 6 | 42.9% |
United States of America | 5 | 35.7% |
Taiwan | 2 | 14.3% |
China | 1 | 7.1% |