Power module with high-side and low-side programmable circuits

• US 10,305,365 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2018
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Inventors: Akahane, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Yusef A
• Application Number:
  US16/018,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20180301973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0009 Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/538 in a push-pull configuration H02M7/5375 takes precedence ; with oscillating arrangements H02M7/53832, H02M7/53846
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration

Abstract

A power module including first and second switching elements connected in a half-bridge configuration, an integrated circuit including high-side and low-side circuits that respectively drive the first and second switching elements, high-side and low-side programmable circuits that are respectively configured to implement first and second logic functions or parameters to be used by the high-side and low-side circuits. The integrated circuit includes a write port that receives data to be written to the high-side and low-side programmable circuits, internal wiring that connects the high-side and low-side programmable circuits in a daisy chain configuration, and a level shifter that is provided in the internal wiring connecting the low-side programmable circuit to the high-side programmable circuit, and that connects a low-side signal system and a high-side signal system.

Claims

1. A power module comprising:

a first switching element and a second switching element that are connected in a half-bridge configuration;

an integrated circuit including a high-side circuit that drives the first switching element and a low-side circuit that drives the second switching element;

a high-side programmable circuit that is configured to implement a first logic function or parameter to be used by the high-side circuit; and

a low-side programmable circuit that is configured to implement a second logic function or parameter to be used by the low-side circuit, wherein

the integrated circuit includes

a write port that receives data to be written to the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit,

internal wiring that connects the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit in a daisy chain configuration, and

a level shifter that is provided in the internal wiring connecting the low-side programmable circuit to the high-side programmable circuit, and that connects a low-side signal system and a high-side signal system, wherein;

the write port is provided in the low-side circuit of the integrated circuit;

the data received by the write port include write data and rewrite data, which are transferred to the high-side programmable circuit via the level shifter; and

data corresponding to the data transferred to the high-side programmable circuit are output from the low-side programmable circuit.

2. A power module comprising:

a first switching element and a second switching element that are connected in a half-bridge configuration;

an integrated circuit including a high-side circuit that drives the first switching element and a low-side circuit that drives the second switching element;

a high-side programmable circuit that is configured to implement a first logic function or parameter to be used by the high-side circuit; and

a low-side programmable circuit that is configured to implement a second logic function or parameter to be used by the low-side circuit, wherein

the integrated circuit includes

a write port that receives data to be written to the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit,

internal wiring that connects the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit in a daisy chain configuration, and

a level shifter that is provided in the internal wiring connecting the low-side programmable circuit to the high-side programmable circuit, and that connects a low-side signal system and a high-side signal system, wherein;

the write port is provided in the low-side circuit of the integrated circuit;

the data received by the write port include write or rewrite data, which are transferred to the low-side programmable circuit; and

data corresponding to the data transferred to the low-side programmable circuit are output from the high-side programmable circuit via the level shifter.

3. A power module comprising:

a first switching element and a second switching element that are connected in a half-bridge configuration;

an integrated circuit including a high-side circuit that drives the first switching element and a low-side circuit that drives the second switching element;

a high-side programmable circuit that is configured to implement a first logic function or parameter to be used by the high-side circuit; and

a low-side programmable circuit that is configured to implement a second logic function or parameter to be used by the low-side circuit, wherein

the integrated circuit includes

a write port that receives data to be written to the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit,

internal wiring that connects the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit in a daisy chain configuration, and

a level shifter that is provided in the internal wiring connecting the low-side programmable circuit to the high-side programmable circuit, and that connects a low-side signal system and a high-side signal system, wherein;

the data received by the write port include write or rewrite data, and

the low-side circuit includes a transfer timing control circuit configured to control timing of transferring the write or rewrite data input to the write port to the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit.

4. The power module according to claim 3, wherein the transfer timing control circuit permits the transferring of the write or rewrite data to the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit only when the low-side circuit receives a control signal indicating turning on the first switching element and turning off the second switching element.

5. The power module according to claim 3, wherein the transfer timing control circuit permits the transferring of the write or rewrite data to the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit only when the low-side circuit receives a control signal indicating turning off the first switching element and turning on the second switching element.

6. The power module according to claim 3, wherein the transfer timing control circuit permits the transferring of the write or rewrite data to the high-side programmable circuit and the low-side programmable circuit only when the low-side circuit receives a control signal indicating turning off both the first switching element and the second switching element.