Stray Inductance Extraction Methods for Power Modules: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis

The stray inductance of the commutation circuit significantly impacts power semiconductor device switching. This article presents a comprehensive investigation on stray inductance extraction in half-bridge power modules. After reviewing existing methods including electromagnetic simulation, switching transient extraction, and static measurement, we propose a novel perspective that identifies six distinct commutation paths from the distinct positioning of diodes and active switches. Our findings reveal 9%–17% differences in stray inductance across these paths, highlighting the importance of path-specific analysis for precise extraction. We further supplement direct impedance measurement approaches to vector network analyzer-based measurements, and analyze the limitations of fixture compensation. These perspectives provide new insights and guidance into high-precision stray inductance characterization for power electronics applications.