Power Module Layout Synthesis Tool (GR-10-11)

Power Module Layout Synthesis Tool (GR-10-11)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Alan Mantooth

This was a multi-year project into the design and implementation of a CAD tool that is used to analyze and optimize the simultaneous electrical, mechanical and thermal issues involved in power module design. This project will focus on the development of algorithms for thermal model abstraction, constrained optimization at the lumped-element level of representation, and layout synthesis of power modules accounting for the electrical parasitic, thermal management issues and mechanical constraints imposed by common substrate materials. As power electronics become more ubiquitous, it is clear that one bottleneck to realization is the ability to design the module to handle parasitics, heat loads, and stresses. This tool will be useful in a huge variety of contexts in power module design and such a capability does not exist today! Design productivity will be enhanced by at least an order of magnitude.