JEDEC STANDARD

Standard for Measuring Forward Switching Characteristics of Semiconductor Diodes JESD286-B

(Revision of EIA-286-A)

FEBRUARY 2000: Reaffirmed April 2005

ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES ALLIANCE

JEDEC Solid State Technology Association

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JEDEC Standard No. 286-B Page 1

STANDARD FOR MEASURING FORWARD SWITCHING CHARACTERISTICS OF SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES

(From JEDEC Board Ballot JCB-99-13 formulated under the cognizance of JEDEC JC-22.4 Committee on Signal and Regulator Diodes.) 1 Forward switching characteristics When a step function of forward current (high di/dt) is applied to a signal or switching diode (typically rated less than 400 mA and less than 150 volts), the carrier gradient does not develop immediately, resulting in an overshoot voltage that decreases with time to the dc static level. The diode appears to be inductive; however, transit time and conductivity modulation, not inductance, are responsible for the effect. The result is an overshoot voltage that decays to the normal forward voltage in a measurable time. This phenomenon is called forward recovery as described in Section 2 of this Standard. Forward current-time characteristics are sometimes considered in respect to propagation delay from diodes in low-impedance, low-voltage, high-speed signal circuits. In these circuits, the transit time and modulation result in delayed conduction of forward current instead of the forward recovery response noted above. This behavior relates to turn-on time as described in Section 3 of this Standard. Both the voltage overshoot and delayed conduction are from the same forward switching phenomenon. Since the circuits that exhibit such behavior are different in observed response, one must use different test methods; both are given in this Standard.

2 Forward recovery Forward Recovery Time, (tfr), is the time interval between the instant when the forward voltage rises through a specified first value, usually 10% of its final value, and the instant when it falls from its peak value, VFRM, to a specified low second value, vFR, upon the application of a step current following a zero voltage or a specified reverse voltage condition. Peak forward recovery voltage, VFRM, is the maximum instantaneous value across the DUT resulting from the application of a specified step function of forward current. This characteristic is sometimes referred to as modulation voltage. Also VF(pk), VFM(DYN), and VFM are sometimes used, but VFRM is preferred. 2.1 Procedure The DUT is subjected to a specified step function of forward current. The resulting current waveform through the device and voltage waveform across the device are graphically monitored with amplitude displayed versus time. The desired characteristics are obtained from the display.

JEDEC Standard No. 286-B Page 2

2 Forward recovery (contd) 2.2 Test circuit and waveform The general test circuit is shown in Figure 1 and the waveforms in Figure 2. The current pulse source may be a pulse generator, charged line, pulse-forming network, or the like. If the nature of the source requires an internal switch, devices such as a mercury switch, power MOSFET or similar devices may be used. Compliance voltage (open circuit output voltage) of the pulse current source shall be a minimum 3 VFRM. In any event, the combination must provide the specified conditions of the pulse to the DUT. Aberrations of the pulse top shall not exceed +10% of IF. The di/dt of the leading edge shall be measured between the 10% and 90% amplitude points. R is a noninductive shunt or current-viewing calibrated resistor. A suitable high frequency current probe may be used instead. The external switch shown is electronic and is left open if no reverse voltage is specified; otherwise it is synchronized to be open only for the duration of the current pulse. For these devices; switching from a reverse bias instead of zero bias usually does not significantly affect the accuracy of the forward recovery measurement. It is expedient to observe the waveforms on a suitable dual-channel oscilloscope. The common connection shown will result in the inversion of the current waveform. Most oscilloscopes provide an inverted display switch to yield the waveforms as shown. 2.3 Test conditions to be specified a. Rise time of current pulse (measured from 10% to 90% of IFM), tr = _____Fs b. Peak forward current, IF = ______A c. Forward recovery voltage defining the end of the forward recovery time, if different from 1.1 times VF, vFR = ___V. See notes for guidelines. d. Test current pulse duration, tp = _____s e. Test repetition rate, f = _____pps (1000 max) f. Reverse voltage prior to application of current pulse, VR = _____V

g. Case temperature, TC = _____oC or Lead temperature, TL = _____oC

JEDEC Standard No. 286-B Page 3

2 Forward recovery (contd) 2.3 Test conditions to be specified (contd) h. Maximum thermal resistance of heat dissipator upon which the DUT is to be mounted, Rth = _____oC/W NOTES 1 If VFRM is expected to exceed 10 V, select vFM = 3 times the expected value of VF. 2 If VFRM is expected to be less than 1.3 V, select vFR = 0.5 (VFRM - VF) + VF 2.4 Characteristics to be measured a. Forward recovery time, tfr = _____s b. Peak forward recovery voltage, VFRM = _____V c. DC forward voltage, VF = _____V

Switch To oscilloscope channel B + R To oscilloscope channel A (inverted) vR

+ Current pulse source -

DUT

Figure 1 Forward switching characteristics test circuit

JEDEC Standard No. 286-B Page 4

2 Forward recovery (contd) 2.4 Characteristics to be measured (contd)

IFM 0.9IFM

0.9|FM I

0.1|FM tr tp Channel A

VFRM V vFR (1.1VF unless otherwise specified) 0.1VF tfr VF

Channel B

VFRM V vFR (1.1VF unless otherwise specified) 0.1VF tfr VR VF

Channel B

Figure 2 Forward switching characteristics waveforms

JEDEC Standard No. 286-B Page 5

3 Forward turn-on-time The forward turn-on time (ton) is defined as the time required for the forward current of the diode to reach 90% of its final predetermined value, when the diode is switched from zero to forward bias. If the diode is switched from a reverse bias state to a forward bias, the forward turn-on time (ton) is measured from the time the current crosses zero to 90% of its final predetermined value. 3.1 Procedure The forward turn-on time may be measured by observing the forward current waveform on an oscilloscope in response to a square wave which switches the diode from zero or reverse bias to forward bias. A circuit which can be used for this test is shown in Figure 3. The waveforms which are generally observed are shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5. 3.2 Circuit description and requirements
RS

+ Voltage pulse source VIN

DUT

RL

Oscilloscope

Rs = Source output resistance RL = Load Resistance Figure 3 Forward turn-on time test circuit

JEDEC Standard No. 286-B Page 6

3 Forward turn-on-time (contd) 3.3 Requirements of circuit components (refer to Figure 3 for symbols) When the diode is replaced by a short circuit, the response time from zero to 90% of IF shall be less than 10% of the specified ton maximum of the diode being tested. If the above conditions cannot be met, the turn-on time will be a function of the rise time of the input voltage pulse; thus the rise time of the input pulse must be specified. The duration of the input voltage pulse shall be at least 10 times the ton maximum for the device being tested. The duty factor of the voltage pulse shall be low enough so that negligible heating occurs. The load resistor, RL, should be chosen such that RL + RG = 100 ohms, unless otherwise specified. 3.4 Calibration procedure Insert a diode representation of the diodes to be tested into the test clips and adjust VIN and RL until the desired steady-state forward current (IF) has been obtained.
IF = VIN VF , where VF = forward voltage of the diode at IF. RL

If the forward voltage of the diode varies considerably from diode to diode, a slight adjustment of VIN may be required to maintain IF constant for each diode. Adjust the oscilloscope to the proper ranges for observing the turn-on time and the amplitude of IF. The total sweep time of the oscilloscope should be at least twice the measured turn-on time when establishing the amplitude of IF (steady-state). This will aid in determining the 90% IF point. The deflection due to IF should be at least 1/2 full scale of the detector. 3.5 Measurement If the diode is switched from zero to a forward bias state, a current waveform similar to Figure 4 should be displayed on the oscilloscope. The forward turn-on time (ton) is measured by determining the time required for the forward current to reach 90% of its final value. This is shown graphically in Figure 4. If the diode is switched from a reverse bias state to the forward bias state, a current waveform similar to Figure 5 should be displayed on the oscilloscope. The forward turn-on time (ton) is measured by determining the time required for the forward current to increase from zero to 90% of its final value. This is shown graphically in Figure 5.

JEDEC Standard No. 286-B Page 7

3 Forward turn-on-time (contd) 3.5 Measurement (contd)

VIN

Amplitude

Diode forward current

0.9IF

IF

0 ton See Note on page 8 Time

Figure 4 Current and voltage waveforms for ton measurement with no initial reverse bias

JEDEC Standard No. 286-B Page 8

3 Forward turn-on-time (contd) 3.5 Measurement (contd)

VIN

Amplitude IF

0.9IF See Note 0 ton Time t

VR

Figure 5 Current and voltage waveforms for ton measurement with initial reverse bias NOTE Although in Figures 4 and 5, current and voltage cross the zero axis at slightly different points, this difference does not significantly affect the accuracy of the measurement.