Patent · US Active

Power converter with circuits for providing gate driving

US9966837B1 · kind B1 · utility

26Cited by
125References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 7, 2017
Grant dateMay 8, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 7, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02M3/33546
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A switched mode power supply is provided comprising a pulse-width-modulator (PWM), a power section, and a drive section for the power switch. The drive section consists of a new method of driving the power switch where it is desired that the switch terminals be isolated from the PWM ground. The new driver design, which incorporates a small isolation transformer along with unique modifications to the traditional DC restore circuit, is directed to solving problems when PWM type switching power supplies encounter fault conditions such as a short circuit across their output as well as protecting the switch and the load when an ordinary shutdown or disable command is received. One problem that arises with switch drivers that utilize isolation transformers during an overload event or even an ordinary shutdown event is that the driver does not turn off and hold off the power switch when it is commanded to do so. This invention solves these problems by insuring that the appropriate components are de-energized in the classical dc-restore circuit which will prevent the PWM from losing control of the power switch.

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