Advancing Power Electronics Through Heterogeneous Integration and Multi-Physics Co-Design

Abstract: Applications continue to emerge and grow for power electronics systems to become more compact, lighter weight, and power dense. The mega trends in vehicle electrification are followed by increasing efforts in all types of aircraft, marine systems, and grid modernization. This talk will present recent achievements in power density in such systems through electro-mechanical-control co-design utilizing recent advances ranging from semiconductors through the power electronic assembly. Technologies such as sensing, single-chip gate drivers and protection circuits, isolation, power module design, and cabinet layout optimization will be described. Examples from heavy equipment, electric vehicle, and aerospace applications will be used to illustrate results, which give a glimpse into the future of where advanced integration combined with co-design methods will impact the field. A new silicon carbide fabrication facility will be described that will aid in realizing this future.

Bio: Alan Mantooth recieved the B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. degrees from the University of Arkansas in 1985 and 1986, and the Ph.D. degree from Georgia Tech in 1990. He then joined Analogy, a startup company in Oregon. In 1998, he joined the faculty of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he currently holds the rank of Distinguished Professor. His research interests now include analog and mixed-signal IC design & CAD, semiconductor device modeling, power electronics, power electronic packaging, and cybersecurity. Dr. Mantooth helped establish the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission (NCREPT) at the UA in 2005. Professor Mantooth serves as the Executive Director of the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on GRid-connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems (GRAPES) and Deputy Director of the NSF ERC on Power Optimization of Electro-Thermal Systems (POETS). Dr. Mantooth holds the 21^st Century Research Leadership Chair in Engineering. He currently serves as Senior Past-President for the IEEE Power Electronics Society and Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics. Dr. Mantooth is a Fellow of IEEE, a member of Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, and Eta Kappa Nu, and registered professional engineer in Arkansas.

Seminars are held on select Wednesdays from 12:00 noon-1pm, Eastern/New York time.

A light lunch is provided at 11:30 a.m. in the Bowen Hall Atrium immediately prior to the seminar.