Mentor Graphics Corporation announced its new membership in the German-based European Centre for Power Electronics (ECPE), a European consortium focused on the research, education, technology transfer, and promotion of power electronics globally. Mentor Graphics is the only electronic design automation (EDA) company represented in this industry-driven research network, comprised of over 150 organizations (75 companies and 76 institutions). Mentor Graphics was selected as an ECPE member due to its unique expertise in both thermal simulation and test solutions including electronic components power cycling for reliability prediction, as evidenced by its recently announced MicReD® Industrial Power Tester 1500A technology.
The key initiatives of the ECPE are to provide global research on power electronics systems; educate the ECPE member network and electronic engineering industry on advancements via workshops and tutorials; and serve as the “unified voice” for the European power electronics industry. In contributing to the ECPE, Mentor Graphics will focus on its expertise in thermal simulation and test of electronic systems and power cycling technology, which will provide value to the 150+ organizations in this research network. Member companies of the ECPE, such as ABB, Siemens, Fraunhofer, Bosch, ST Microelectronics, Valeo, Infineon and Daimler, will be able to access, share, and apply knowledge on innovative technologies such as the MicReD Power Tester system. Dr. John Parry, electronics industry manager for Mentor Graphics Mechanical Analysis Division, has been appointed to represent Mentor Graphics within the ECPE. Parry is active in the electronics market, having served as the general chairman of SEMI-THERM 21 and currently represents Mentor Graphics on the JEDEC committee on global thermal standards for the microelectronics industry.
“I have seen many in-house realizations of a power tester system. Compared to those solutions, the MicReD Industrial Power Tester 1500A from Mentor Graphics is a fully-featured professionally- packaged system,” stated Thomas Harder, general manager of the European Centre for Power Electronics. “Mentor’s Power Tester detects changes in the thermal stack together with relevant electrical properties during cycling, allowing the evolution of the competing damage mechanisms to be understood.”
“We are honored to have been selected as the only EDA member of the ECPE organization based on our reputation as the only technology company providing both thermal simulation and testing capabilities, particularly power electronics reliability prediction,” stated Roland Feldhinkel, general manager of Mentor Graphics Mechanical Analysis Division. “We foresee tremendous advancements in electronics product lifecycle management by introducing ECPE members to Mentor’s thermal management and verification technologies. Ultimately, from our collaboration with both commercial and research ECPE members, manufacturers will be able to create longer lasting electronics products that will minimize warranty costs.”
