Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor circuit, especially for ignition purposes, and the use of the same

US7057240B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
4References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 2002
Grant dateJun 6, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 24, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K2017/0806
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A semiconductor circuit configuration is described, in particular for ignition applications, having a semiconductor power switching device which has a first main terminal, a second main terminal and a control terminal; a clamping diode device which is switched between the first main terminal and the control terminal for clamping an external voltage (VA) which is applied at the first main terminal; the clamping diode device having a first part with a first clamp voltage and a second part with a second clamp voltage (VKL′), the second part being connected in series with the first part; a controllable semiconductor switching device which is connected in parallel with the first part for controllable bridging of the first part, so that either the sum (VKL) of the first and the second clamp voltages, or the second clamp voltage (VKL′) is provided for clamping the external voltage (VA) applied at the first main terminal; and a control circuit for controlling the controllable semiconductor switching device as a function of a predetermined operating state of the semiconductor power switching device.

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