Patent · US Expired

Power converter with circuits for providing gate driving

US6084792A · kind A · utility

78Cited by
2References
62Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 1999
Grant dateJul 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B70/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A power converter using a switching signal having at least three levels of amplitude, one of which amplitude levels has a zero amplitude level during a predetermined switching interval, is provided. The power converter includes a circuit module having first and second input terminals for receiving the switching signal. The circuit module in turn is made up of a first power transistor and second power transistor. Circuitry is electrically coupled to a predetermined one of the power transistors for maintaining a predetermined voltage level across the gate terminal of the predetermined one of the power transistors during the switching interval of zero amplitude. The predetermined voltage level is chosen to enable that predetermined power transistor to continue in a respective "on" state notwithstanding of the presence of the switching interval of substantially zero amplitude. The circuitry further allows for removing or discharging the predetermined voltage upon termination of the switching interval of zero amplitude level to enable the predetermined power transistor to transition to a respective "off" state. The power converter may be conveniently used to extend a self-driving synchr…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.