Control of reverse-conducting IGBT

US9614518B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ABB Technology Oy · FI

Inventors

• Ignacio Lizama · Dresden, DE
• Steffen Bernet · Dresden, DE
• Matti Laiteinen · Kirkkonummi, FI

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 2015
• Grant date: Apr 4, 2017
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K17/74
• WIPO field: Basic communication processes
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a reverse-conducting IGBT (RC-IGBT) are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a circuit comprising a series connection of controllable switch components where at least one of the controllable switch components is an RC-IGBT. The circuit is operated by applying a pre-trigger pulse to the gate electrode of the RC-IGBT during reverse conduction of the RC-IGBT at a first time instant, the pre-trigger pulse corresponding to a turn-on gate pulse. Next, a turn-on gate pulse is applied at a second time instant to the other controllable switch component of the series connection for controlling the other controllable switch component to a conductive state such that the pre-trigger pulse and the turn-on gate pulse overlap, and ending the pre-trigger pulse after a delay time at the third time instant. The delay time is the time period when the turn-on gate pulse and the pre-trigger pulse overlap.