High efficiency gate driver circuit for a high frequency converter

• US 4,967,109 A
• Filed: 12/08/1989
• Issued: 10/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: North American Power Supplies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Steigerwald, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Stanley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/447,948
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 207/270, 207/585, 207/552, 207/557, 207/559, 207/542, 207/571, 207/576, 207/575, 207/584, 207/578, 207/255, 207/482, 207/585, 207/572
• US Class Current: 327/434
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/04123 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/04163 in field-effect transistor switches

Abstract

A high efficiency gate driver circuit for driving a power switching device of a high frequency power converter utilizes a series resonant circuit to reduce or substantially eliminate turn-on switching losses. The resonant circuit comprises the input capacitance of the power switching device and an inductance connected in series between the upper and lower switching devices of a half-bridge driver circuit. During device turn-on, the input capacitance resonates up to a voltage level approximately twice that of the gate drive power supply, and turn-on is substantially lossless. The input capacitance is prevented from discharging back to the supply by a Schottky diode connected in series between the supply and the upper switching device of the half-bridge. During device turn-off, the input capacitance discharges through the lower switching device.

Claims

1. An efficient gate driver circuit for driving a semiconductor power switching device of a high-frequency power converter, said power switching device having an input capacitance, comprising:

a first switch means for coupling to a gate drive power supply for turning ons aid power switching device;

a second switch means coupled in series with said first switch means for turning off said power switching device;

inductance means coupled in series with said first and second switch means, said first and second switch means thereby being coupled in a half-bridge configuration, said inductance means being of a size selected to resonate with said input capacitance and to charge said input capacitance to a predetermined lelve when said power switching device is turned on; and

blocking means coupled in series with said first switch means for preventing said input capacitance from discharging through said first switch means to said gate drive power supply.

2. The driver circuit of claim 1 wherein said power switching device comprises a MOSFET.

3. The driver circuit of claim 1 wherein said power switching device comprises an insulated gate bipolar transistor.

4. The driver circuit of claim 1 wherein said power switching device comprises a MOS-controlled thyristor.

5. The driver circuit of claim 1 wherein said first and second switch means each respectively comprises a first and a second semiconductor bidirectional switching device, respectively.

6. The driver circuit of claim 5 wherein said first and second bidirectional switching devices each comprises a MOSFET.

7. The driver circuit of claim 1 wherein said blocking mean comprises a unidirectional current device.

8. The driver circuit of claim 7 wherein said unidirectional current device comprises a Schottky diode.

9. An efficient gate driver circuit for driving a semiconductor power switching device of a high-frequency power converter, said power switching device having an input capacitance, comprising:

a first switch means for turning ons aid power switching device;

a second switch means coupled in series with said first switch means for turning off said power switching device;

inductance means coupled in series with said first and second switch means, said first and second switch means thereby being coupled in a half-bridge configuration, said inductance means being of a size selected to resonate with said input capacitance and to charge said input capacitance to a predetermined level when said power switching device is turned on; and

blocking emans for coupling to a gate drive power supply, said blocking means being coupled to said first switch means so as to prevent said input capacitance from discharging through said first switch means to said gate drive power supply.

10. The driver circuit of claim 9 wherein said blocking means comprises a unidirectional current device.

11. The driver circuit of claim 10 wherein said unidirectional current device comprises a Schottky diode.