Thermal Analysis in LTspice

Harshal

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Background

► Application: Industrial/Automotive/Defense

► Often the most challenging aspect of Hot Swap circuit design is

verifying that a MOSFET’s Safe Operating Area (SOA) is not exceeded.
The SOAtherm tool distributed with LTspice 17.1 simplifies this task,
allowing a circuit designer to immediately evaluate the SOA
requirements of an application and the suitability of the chosen N-
channel MOSFET.

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Customer Scenario

Lot of customers are interested in thermal analysis for getting

confidence before going to prototype Design. They mostly use paid tool
to do thermal analysis. But LTspice has feature to do such thermal
analysis without having any penny.

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Important points for Temp dependency of LTspice
► All ADI parts are temperature dependent.
► .Temp: .Temp command specify default temperature(27
degCelc) for circuit element instances that don't specify
temperature.
► LTspice has ability to make circuit elements to be temp
dependent by modifying spice model in spice directive.
► Find more info in Help menu.

Single point Representation Temp Dependent element Independent of temp

.Temp 27 Default set by manufacturer
.Temp 50 50 Default set by manufacturer

Default tnom(nominal temp) value is 27 degC

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Temp Dependency Behaviour in Definition of components
Symbol Names: RES, RES2 Symbol Names: MESFET, NIGBT, PIGBT
Syntax: Rxxx n1 n2 <value> [tc=tc1, tc2, ...] Syntax: Zxxx D G S model [area]
+[m=<value>] [off] [temp=<value>]
+ [temp=<value>]

Symbol Names: IND, IND2 Symbol Names: DIODE, ZENER, SCHOTTKY,

Syntax: Lxxx n+ n- <inductance> VARACTOR, LED, TVS.
+ [ic=<value>] [Rser=<value>] [Rpar=<value>] Syntax: Dnnn anode cathode <model> [area]
+ [Cpar=<value>] [m=<value>] [temp=<value>] +[off] [m=<val>] [n=<val>] [temp=<value>]

Symbol names: CAP, POLCAP Symbol Names: NPN, PNP, NPN2, PNP2
Syntax: Cnnn n1 n2 <capacitance> [ic=<value>] Syntax: Qxxx Collector Base Emitter
+ [Rser=<value>] [Lser=<value>] [Rpar=<value>] +[Substrate Node] model [area] [off] [temp=<T>]
+ [Cpar=<value>] [m=<value>]
+ [RLshunt=<value>] [temp=<value>]
Default temp = 27
degC

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Temperature dependent coefficient
Symbol Names: RES, RES2 Temp Dependent

Syntax: Rxxx n1 n2 <value> [tc=tc1, tc2, ...] Tc = temperature dep coefficient

+ [temp=<value>]
Practical formula of R = R0 * (1+ tc * dt)
dt = Actual temp – Nominal Temp

Symbol Names: IND, IND2

Syntax: Lxxx n+ n- <inductance> Rser with Tc = temperature dep
+ [ic=<value>] [Rser=<value>] [Rpar=<value>] coefficient
+ [Cpar=<value>] [m=<value>] [temp=<value>]

Symbol names: CAP, POLCAP

Syntax: Cnnn n1 n2 <capacitance> [ic=<value>] Rser with Tc = temperature dep
+ [Rser=<value>] [Lser=<value>] [Rpar=<value>] coefficient
+ [Cpar=<value>] [m=<value>]
+ [RLshunt=<value>] [temp=<value>] Need to specify Tc in LTspice to With
.temp list -25 27 100
make component temperature
Or
Dependent
.step temp list -25 27 100
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Temperature dependent analysis in LTspice
Symbol Names: MESFET, NIGBT, PIGBT
.temp statement is sufficient to Syntax: Zxxx D G S model [area]
make component temperature +[m=<value>] [off] [temp=<value>]
Dependent

Symbol Names: DIODE, ZENER, SCHOTTKY,

Multiple point Representation: VARACTOR, LED, TVS.
.temp list -25 27 100 Syntax: Dnnn anode cathode <model> [area]
Or +[off] [m=<val>] [n=<val>] [temp=<value>]
.step temp list -25 27 100

Single point Representation: Symbol Names: NPN, PNP, NPN2, PNP2

.temp Syntax: Qxxx Collector Base Emitter
Or +[Substrate Node] model [area] [off] [temp=<T>]
.temp 50

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Temp dependent Resistor
Default value of Tc = 0.
Need to consider Tc to make
resistor Temp Dependent. TempDepResistor
.asc

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Modeling SOA for N-Channel MOSFETs

► Application: Hot swap Controller

► SOAtherm-NMOS for thermal Analysis
► We can predict SOA theoretically

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Design hot swap controller with different loading condition
Step 1: Vout = 60V Ioutmax = 6 A Ilimit = 10A

SOAthermLTC
4260-
Example.asc
Rload: 10, 50
100Ohm
Rload: 1Ohm
Into 1Ω, it detects the
excessive loading at the
output and does not ramp
up fully. It retries every
150ms into the 1Ω load.

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Steps to do SOA on MOSFET
Step2: Place the SOAtherm-NMOS symbol on top of Step4:
the NMOS symbol already in the schematic

Step3: CTRL + Right Click

Double click to see

Dropdown Menu
Step5

Run the simulation

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Modeling SOA for N-Channel MOSFETs
Exercise: Design thermal model of Hot swap controller – LTC4260
Check SOA with different Load of 1 Ohm, 10 Ohm, 50 Ohm, 100 Ohm.

SOAthermLTC4260-
Solution.asc

Rload: 10, 50 Rload: 1Ohm

100Ohm Into 1Ω, it detects the
excessive loading at the
output and does not ramp
up fully. It retries every
150ms into the 1Ω load.

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Conclusion

► V(tj-fet) represents SOA of N-MOSFET.

► 1V = 1 Deg Celc
► First, the maximum junction temperature of
PSMN4R8100BSE is 120 Deg Celc which is less than 175°C,
so this meets the SOA limits in the datasheet,
► As mentioned previously, MOSFET manufacturer
datasheet limits for SOA are often typical values requiring
extra design margin to avoid pushing a MOSFET to the
edge of its rated limits.
► and the worst-case loading condition resulted in a mostly
30°C junction temperature rise.
► Here is margin is 55°C. So, We can use this MOSET for
given specification.

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Lesson you learn form this case

► LTspice is very strong tool to do such thermal analysis.

► Try to use it more to know high level features.

Lesson you learn form this case

► LTspice Resources : Link
► LTspice Videos and Articles : Link
► Thermal Simulation NMOSFET : SOA Article

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Thank You!

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