Switching overlap protection by control gate impedance monitoring
US4597038A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 1984 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/08124
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a power converter switching system, the instantaneous blocking ability of semiconductor switching elements is determined by monitoring the reverse blocking ability of a control junction in each switching device. A gate firing circuit applies negative turn-off drive to the control junction. The control junction impedance is monitored and switch recovery is indicated by a change in the magnitude of the impedance. A switch recovery logic signal is then generated and used to initiate the firing of the next successive switch element. When switches are combined in multipulse groups, the recovery signals may be logically combined to provide proper switching coordination, emergency protection and diagnostic information.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.