Turn-off of gate-controlled switch
First Claim
1. A gate controlled switch configuration comprising:
- a gate-controlled switch and a gate driver system connected to a gate of the gate controlled switch, the gate driver system including a controller adapted to output control signals, the gate driver system has a first functional state and a second functional state, in its first functional state the gate driver system is configured to change the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled switch to provide a normal turn-off functionality for the gate-controlled switch and in its second functional state the gate driver system is configured to maintain the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled switch substantially constant, the gate driver system adopts its first or second functional state based on control signals of the controller, wherein the controller is configured to produce a soft turn-off functionality during which the gate driver system adopts the first functional state a plural number of times, and between the subsequent first functional states the gate driver system is in its second functional state,wherein the controller is configured to change the ratio of the durations of the first functional states to the durations of the second functional states during the soft turn-off functionality by altering the duration of individual first functional states and/or by changing their number per time unit.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gate-controlled switch configuration comprising a gate-controlled switch (V4) and a gate driver system (Ctrl, D1, D2, V1, V2), which in its first functional state is configured to change the amount of charge (Qgate) in the gate (G) of the gate-controlled switch (V4) to provide a normal turn-off functionality for the gate-controlled switch (V4), and in its second functional state it is configured to maintain the amount of charge (Qgate) in the gate (G) of the gate-controlled switch (V4) substantially constant. The gate driver system (Ctrl, D1, D2, V1, V2) is configured to produce a soft turn-off functionality during which the gate driver system (Ctrl, D1, D2, V1, V2) is in the first functional state a plural number of times, and between the subsequent first functional states it is in its second functional state.
6 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A gate controlled switch configuration comprising:
- a gate-controlled switch and a gate driver system connected to a gate of the gate controlled switch, the gate driver system including a controller adapted to output control signals, the gate driver system has a first functional state and a second functional state, in its first functional state the gate driver system is configured to change the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled switch to provide a normal turn-off functionality for the gate-controlled switch and in its second functional state the gate driver system is configured to maintain the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled switch substantially constant, the gate driver system adopts its first or second functional state based on control signals of the controller, wherein the controller is configured to produce a soft turn-off functionality during which the gate driver system adopts the first functional state a plural number of times, and between the subsequent first functional states the gate driver system is in its second functional state,
wherein the controller is configured to change the ratio of the durations of the first functional states to the durations of the second functional states during the soft turn-off functionality by altering the duration of individual first functional states and/or by changing their number per time unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a gate-controlled switch and a gate driver system connected to a gate of the gate controlled switch, the gate driver system including a controller adapted to output control signals, the gate driver system has a first functional state and a second functional state, in its first functional state the gate driver system is configured to change the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled switch to provide a normal turn-off functionality for the gate-controlled switch and in its second functional state the gate driver system is configured to maintain the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled switch substantially constant, the gate driver system adopts its first or second functional state based on control signals of the controller, wherein the controller is configured to produce a soft turn-off functionality during which the gate driver system adopts the first functional state a plural number of times, and between the subsequent first functional states the gate driver system is in its second functional state,
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10. A method for providing a soft turn-off functionality of a gate-controlled switch, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
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(a) changing the charge of the gate of the gate-controlled switch during a predetermined time period in the same way as in a normal turn-off of the gate-controlled switch; (b) maintaining the charge of the gate substantially constant during a predetermined time period; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for a plural number of times until predetermined conditions are met. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A gate-controlled switch configuration comprising:
- a gate-controlled switch, a gate driver system connected to a gate of the gate controlled switch, and a controller adapted to control the gate driver system by control signals, the gate driver system has a first functional state and a second functional state, in its first functional state the gate driver system is adapted to change the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled switch in order to provide a normal turn-off functionality for the gate controlled switch, and in its second functional state the gate driver system is adapted to maintain the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled witch substantially constant, the gate driver system adopts it first or second functional state based on control signals of the controller, wherein the controller has a soft turn-off state in which the controller controls the gate driver system to the first functional state in a plural number of times, and between the subsequent first functional states the controller controls the gate drive system to the second functional state,
wherein the gate driver system comprises a first output stage switch and a second output stage switch, both the first output stage switch and the second output stage switch having a conducting state and a non-conducting state, the controller being adapted to change the state of both the first output stage switch and the second output stage switch between the conducting state and the non-conducting state by the control signals, wherein the first functional state of the gate driver system is achieved with a first state combination of the first output stage switch and the second output stage switch, and the second functional state of the gate driver system is achieved with a second state combination of the first output stage switch and the second output stage switch, and wherein the first state combination the first output stage switch is in the non-conducting state and the second output stage switch is in the conducting state, and in the second state combination both the first output stage switch and the second output stage switch are in the non-conducting state.
- a gate-controlled switch, a gate driver system connected to a gate of the gate controlled switch, and a controller adapted to control the gate driver system by control signals, the gate driver system has a first functional state and a second functional state, in its first functional state the gate driver system is adapted to change the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled switch in order to provide a normal turn-off functionality for the gate controlled switch, and in its second functional state the gate driver system is adapted to maintain the amount of charge in the gate of the gate-controlled witch substantially constant, the gate driver system adopts it first or second functional state based on control signals of the controller, wherein the controller has a soft turn-off state in which the controller controls the gate driver system to the first functional state in a plural number of times, and between the subsequent first functional states the controller controls the gate drive system to the second functional state,
Specification