Semiconductor switch control device

• US 10,284,193 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Morimoto, Mitsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Almo, Khareem E
• Application Number:
  US15/725,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20180123584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0084 relating to control modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/18 Modifications for indicating state of switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/26 Modifications for temporary blocking after receipt of control pulses

Abstract

A semiconductor switch control device includes a bidirectional shutoff circuit that transmits or shuts off a current flowing bidirectionally between a high-voltage battery and a high-voltage load, a resistor that detects a voltage of the bidirectional shutoff circuit, a first voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the resistor, and a controller configured to determine malfunction of the bidirectional shutoff circuit, based on a first detected voltage detected by the first voltage detector. The bidirectional shutoff circuit includes a first FET and a second FET including respective source terminals connected in series, and a third FET and a fourth FET including respective source terminals connected in series. The resistor includes one end connected between the source terminals of the first FET and the second FET, and the other end connected between the source terminals of the third FET and the fourth FET.

Claims

1. A semiconductor switch control device comprising:

a semiconductor switch module installed between a power supply and a load, and that transmits or shuts off a current flowing bidirectionally between the power supply and the load;

a resistor that detects a voltage of the semiconductor switch module;

a first voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the resistor; and

a controller configured to determine malfunction of the semiconductor switch module, based on a first detected voltage detected by the first voltage detector, wherein

the semiconductor switch module includes

a first semiconductor switch module, and

a second semiconductor switch module connected in parallel with the first semiconductor switch module,

the first semiconductor switch module includes

a first forward switch including a body diode disposed in a forward direction serving as a direction in which the current flows, and

a first reverse switch disposed adjacent to the first forward switch, and including a body diode disposed in a reverse direction reverse to the forward direction,

the first forward switch and the first reverse switch include respective source terminals connected in series, and respective drain terminals, one of the drain terminals being connected with the power supply, and the other of the drain terminals being connected with the load,

the second semiconductor switch module includes

a second forward switch including a body diode disposed in the forward direction, and

a second reverse switch disposed adjacent to the second forward switch, and including a body diode disposed in the reverse direction,

the second forward switch and the second reverse switch include respective source terminals connected in series, and respective drain terminals, one of the drain terminals being connected with the power supply, and the other of the drain terminals being connected with the load, and

the resistor includes one end connected between the source terminals of the first forward switch and the first reverse switch, and the other end connected between the source terminals of the second forward switch and the second reverse switch.

3. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller determines that any of the first forward switch, the first reverse switch, the second forward switch, and the second reverse switch incurs an OFF-state malfunction in which the determined switch is in an OFF state, based on a shift amount between the first detected voltage and a predetermined first reference voltage, when an instruction is issued to turn on all of the first forward switch, the first reverse switch, the second forward switch, and the second reverse switch.

5. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 3, wherein

the controller determines that one of the first forward switch and the second reverse switch incurs the OFF-state malfunction, when the shift amount between the first detected voltage and the first reference voltage is a positive voltage, and

the controller determines that one of the first reverse switch and the second forward switch incurs the OFF-state malfunction, when the shift amount between the first detected voltage and the first reference voltage is a negative voltage.

7. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the load, wherein

the controller determines malfunction of the semiconductor switch module, based on a second detected voltage detected by the second voltage detector.

9. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the load, wherein

the controller determines malfunction of the semiconductor switch module, based on a second detected voltage detected by the second voltage detector.

11. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a second voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the load, wherein

the controller determines malfunction of the semiconductor switch module, based on a second detected voltage detected by the second voltage detector.

13. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 7, wherein

the controller specifies which of the first forward switch, the first reverse switch, the second forward switch, and the second reverse switch incurs an OFF-state malfunction, based on the second detected voltage detected by the second voltage detector, and instruction values to turn on/off the first forward switch, the first reverse switch, the second forward switch, and the second reverse switch, in the OFF-state malfunction of the semiconductor switch module.

2. A semiconductor switch control device comprising:

a semiconductor switch module installed between a power supply and a load, and that transmits or shuts off a current flowing bidirectionally between the power supply and the load;

a resistor that detects a voltage of the semiconductor switch module;

a first voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the resistor; and

a controller configured to determine malfunction of the semiconductor switch module, based on a first detected voltage detected by the first voltage detector, wherein

the semiconductor switch module includes

a first semiconductor switch module, and

a second semiconductor switch module connected in parallel with the first semiconductor switch module,

the first semiconductor switch module includes

a first forward switch including a body diode disposed in a forward direction serving as a direction in which the current flows, and

a first reverse switch disposed adjacent to the first forward switch, and including a body diode disposed in a reverse direction reverse to the forward direction,

the first forward switch and the first reverse switch include respective drain terminals connected in series, and respective source terminals, one of the source terminals being connected with the power supply, and the other of the source terminals being connected with the load,

the second semiconductor switch module includes

a second forward switch including a body diode disposed in the forward direction, and

a second reverse switch disposed adjacent to the second forward switch, and including a body diode disposed in the reverse direction,

the second forward switch and the second reverse switch include respective drain terminals connected in series, and respective source terminals, one of the source terminals being connected with the power supply, and the other of the source terminals being connected with the load, and

the resistor includes one end connected between the drain terminals of the first forward switch and the first reverse switch, and the other end connected between the drain terminals of the second forward switch and the second reverse switch.

4. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 2, wherein

the controller determines that any of the first forward switch, the first reverse switch, the second forward switch, and the second reverse switch incurs an OFF-state malfunction in which the determined switch is in an OFF state, based on a shift amount between the first detected voltage and a predetermined first reference voltage, when an instruction is issued to turn on all of the first forward switch, the first reverse switch, the second forward switch, and the second reverse switch.

6. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 4, wherein

the controller determines that one of the first forward switch and the second reverse switch incurs the OFF-state malfunction, when the shift amount between the first detected voltage and the first reference voltage is a positive voltage, and

the controller determines that one of the first reverse switch and the second forward switch incurs the OFF-state malfunction, when the shift amount between the first detected voltage and the first reference voltage is a negative voltage.

8. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a second voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the load, wherein

the controller determines malfunction of the semiconductor switch module, based on a second detected voltage detected by the second voltage detector.

10. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a second voltage detector to detect a voltage applied to the load, wherein

the controller determines malfunction of the semiconductor switch module, based on a second detected voltage detected by the second voltage detector.

12. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a second voltage detector that detects a voltage applied to the load, wherein

the controller determines malfunction of the semiconductor switch module, based on a second detected voltage detected by the second voltage detector.

14. The semiconductor switch control device according to claim 8, wherein

the controller specifies which of the first forward switch, the first reverse switch, the second forward switch, and the second reverse switch incurs an OFF-state malfunction, based on the second detected voltage detected by the second voltage detector, and instruction values to turn on/off the first forward switch, the first reverse switch, the second forward switch, and the second reverse switch, in the OFF-state malfunction of the semiconductor switch module.