Patent · US Active

Gate drive circuit and associated method

US8471604B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
4References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 19, 2012
Grant dateJun 25, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 19, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02M7/49
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of driving a number of series connected active power semiconductor groups, wherein each of the active power semiconductor groups includes one or more gate oxide-isolated active power semiconductor devices. The method includes generating a current pulse, providing the current pulse to a primary portion of a transformer unit and in response thereto causing a number of reflected current pulses to be reflected at a secondary portion of the transformer unit, and transferring and latching each of the reflected current pulses to create a respective latched gate drive signal, and providing each respective latched gate drive signal to an associated one of the active power semiconductor groups for driving the one or more gate oxide-isolated active power semiconductor devices of the associated one of the active power semiconductor groups. Also, a gate drive circuit that implements the method.

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