Rapid transistor switching in a converter with limited capacitance

US11634034B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG · DE

Inventors

• Uwe Waltrich · Forchheim, DE
• Stanley Buchert · Herzogenaurach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 2022
• Grant date: Apr 25, 2023
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60L2240/525
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A power electronics converter includes a converter commutation cell having a power circuit and a gate driver circuit. The power circuit includes at least one power semiconductor switching element and at least one capacitor. Each power semiconductor switching element is included in a power semiconductor prepackage. The gate driver circuit is configured to provide switching signals to a gate terminal of each power semiconductor switching element, and a peak rated power output of the power electronics converter is greater than 25 kW and a value of a converter parameter γ is less than or equal to 150 fFs/W, where the converter parameter γ is a total rated capacitance of the at least one capacitor of the power circuit divided by a product of the peak rated power output of the power electronics converter and a maximum switching frequency of the switching signals.