Design Aspects for Power MOSFET Components in Automotive Electronics

This paper gives a review of some approaches to include power electronics into vehicle electrical distribution systems. The focus is on converters with low voltage ¿ typically 12V ¿ DC link and a power rating leading to currents of several 10A to several 100A. Exemplary state of the art technologies of MOSFET devices and peripheral electrical, thermal and mechanical design are outlined including their major limitations. Those might be extended or overcome applying appropriate design methods, designs and materials which have been proposed recently. Several of those are discussed, referring to the semiconductor chips, their packaging in components and some aspects of system integration.