History of Power Electronics in Japan

Abstract

Power electronics today is one of a wide range of well-defined technologies. The object of this paper is to review the 50-year history of motor drives in three major application fields, which are the industrial field, the railway, and the elevator in Japan. Furthermore, the progress of power semiconductors and cooling systems, which are prerequisites for power electronics, are summarized in historical order. Important inventions from overseas and their impact on Japanese industries are also introduced.