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Cryogenically-cooled switching circuit

  • US 6,172,550 B1
  • Filed: 08/16/1996
  • Issued: 01/09/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A power conversion system comprising:

  • a switching circuit having an input terminal for supplying power to said circuit and an output terminal coupled to a load which receives power from said circuit, said circuit comprising;

    cryogenically cooled first and second switching devices, each switching device comprising an intrinsic drain-to-source commutating diode capable of conveying an inductive current component from the load;

    a controller, which controls a deadtime period between switching of the first switching device and the second switching device, the controller providing a first control signal to turn-on the first switching device in a first time interval following turn-off of the second switching device, such that an inductive current component flows through the first switching device rather than through the intrinsic drain-to-source diode associated with the first switching device, said controller including a sensing circuit for sensing said inductive current component for generating said first control signal; and

    a refrigeration unit for cryogenically cooling at least said switching devices.

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