Power supply for IGBT/FET drivers

• US 8,004,255 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powerwise Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Powerwise Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Lumsden, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US12/187,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20100033155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 323/268, 323/271, 323/272, 323/364, 323/369, 323/370
• US Class Current: 323/268
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/6871 the output circuit comprising more than one controlled field-effect transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/78 using opto-electronic devices, i.e. light-emitting and photoelectric devices electrically- or optically-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0081 Power supply means, e.g. to the switch driver

Abstract

A power supply for IGBT/FET drivers (1) that provides separated, isolated power to each IGBT/FET driver in a system wherein the power supply (1) is connected to at least one voltage controller (16) having at least one line in main power connector (14), at least one line out main power connector (15) and at least one drive signal command input (11) for connection to at least one IGBT/FET driver. The power supply (1) includes at least one power supply unit (5) in connection with at least voltage controller (16), at least one diode (2) for routing a predetermined amount of power from the at least one voltage controller (16) to at least one capacitor (3) and at least one capacitor (3) for routing said predetermined amount of power from said at least one diode (2) to said at least one voltage controller (16).

Claims

1. A power supply configured for providing DC voltage to IGBT drivers, comprising:

an AC voltage controller having a line in main power connector, a line out main power connector and a drive command signal input configured for connection to an IGBT driver;

a first power supply unit in connection with said voltage controller and configured to provide a first DC voltage to said IGBT driver;

a first capacitor in connection with said drive command signal input and said first power supply unit; and

a first diode configured for routing a pulse of power from said voltage controller to said first capacitor when said IGBT driver is in an off condition;

wherein said line in main AC power connector is configured for connection to an emitter of said IGBT driver and for receiving an AC current;

wherein said line out main AC power connector is configured for connection to a collector of said IGBT driver and for allowing said AC current to exit;

wherein said line in main power connector and said line our main power connector are configured for having an AC voltage across them when said IGBT driver is in an off condition; and

wherein said first capacitor is configured to have a second DC voltage across said first capacitor that is applied to said first power supply unit when said AC current is received in said line in main power connector.

2. The power supply of claim 1 wherein:

said first diode is configured to route said pulse of power from said voltage controller to said first power supply unit.

3. The power supply of claim 1 wherein:

said first power supply unit has a power supply unit switcher.

4. The power supply of claim 2 wherein:

said first power supply unit has a power supply unit switcher.

11. The power supply of claim 1,

wherein said first capacitor is referenced to said drive command signal input;

and

wherein said second DC voltage across said first capacitor is referenced to said emitter and dependent upon said AC current.

12. The power supply of claim 11,

wherein said voltage controller further comprises a positive half cycle control transistor and a negative half cycle control transistor;

wherein said positive half cycle control transistor is in connection with said first diode and said negative half cycle control transistor is in connection with a second diode.

5. A power supply configured for providing DC voltage to FET drivers, comprising:

an AC voltage controller having a line in main power connector, a line out main power connector and a drive command signal input configured for connection to an FET driver;

a first power supply unit in connection with said voltage controller and configured to provide a first DC voltage to said FET driver;

a first capacitor in connection with said drive command signal input and said first power supply unit; and

a first diode configured for routing a pulse of power from said voltage controller to said first capacitor when said FET driver is in an off condition;

wherein said line in main power connector is configured for connection to a source of said FET driver and for receiving an AC current;

wherein said line out main power connector is configured for connection to a drain of said FET driver and for allowing said AC current to exit;

wherein said line in main power connector and said line our main power connector are configured for having an AC voltage across them when said FET driver is in an off condition; and

wherein said first capacitor is configured to have a second DC voltage across said first capacitor that is applied to said first power supply unit when said AC current is received in said line in main power connector.

6. The power supply of claim 5 wherein:

said first power supply unit has a power supply unit switcher.

13. The power supply of claim 5,

wherein said first capacitor is referenced to said drive command signal input;

and

wherein said second DC voltage across said first capacitor is referenced to said emitter and dependent upon said AC current.

14. The power supply of claim 13,

wherein said voltage controller further comprises a positive half cycle control transistor and a negative half cycle control transistor;

wherein said positive half cycle control transistor is in connection with said first diode and said negative half cycle control transistor is in connection with a second diode.

7. A power supply system for providing DC voltage to IGBT drivers, comprising:

an IGBT driver comprising an emitter and a collector;

an AC voltage controller having a line in main power connector, a line out main power connector and a drive command signal input connected to said IGBT driver;

a first power supply unit in connection with said voltage controller and configured to provide a first DC voltage to said IGBT driver;

a first capacitor in connection with said drive command signal input and said first power supply unit; and

a first diode configured for routing a pulse of power from said voltage controller to said first capacitor and to said first power supply unit when said IGBT driver is in an off condition;

wherein said line in main power connector is connected to said emitter and configured for receiving an AC current;

wherein said line out main power connector is connected to said collector and configured for allowing said AC current to exit;

wherein said line in main power connector and said line our main power connector are configured for having an AC voltage across them when said IGBT driver is in an off condition; and

wherein said first capacitor is configured to have a second DC voltage across said first capacitor that is applied to said first power supply unit when said AC current is received in said line in main power connector.

8. The power supply system of claim 7 wherein:

said first power supply unit has a power supply unit switcher.

15. The power supply of claim 7,

wherein said first capacitor is referenced to said drive command signal input;

and

wherein said second DC voltage across said first capacitor is referenced to said emitter and dependent upon said AC current.

16. The power supply of claim 15,

wherein said voltage controller further comprises a positive half cycle control transistor and a negative half cycle control transistor;

wherein said positive half cycle control transistor is in connection with said first diode and said negative half cycle control transistor is in connection with a second diode.

9. A power supply system for providing DC voltage to FET drivers, comprising:

an FET driver comprising a source and a drain;

an AC voltage controller having a line in main power connector, a line out main power connector and a drive command signal input connected to said FET driver;

a first power supply unit in connection with said voltage controller and configured to provide a DC voltage to said FET driver;

a first capacitor in connection with said drive command signal input and said first power supply unit; and

a first diode configured for routing a pulse of power from said voltage controller to said first capacitor and to said first power supply unit when said FET driver is in an off condition;

wherein said line in main power connector is connected to said source and configured for receiving an AC current;

wherein said line out main power connector is connected to said drain and configured for allowing said AC current to exit;

wherein said line in main power connector and said line our main power connector are configured for having an AC voltage across them when said IGBT driver is in an off condition; and

wherein said first capacitor is configured to have a second DC voltage across said first capacitor that is applied to said first power supply unit when said AC current is received in said line in main power connector.

10. The power supply system of claim 9 wherein:

said first power supply unit has a power supply unit switcher.

17. The power supply system of claim 9, further comprising:

a second power supply unit in connection with said voltage controller and configured to provide said first DC voltage to said FET driver;

a second capacitor in connection with said drive command signal input and said second power supply unit; and

a second diode configured for routing said pulse of power from said voltage controller to said second capacitor and to said second power supply unit;

wherein said second capacitor is configured to have said second DC voltage across said second capacitor that is applied to said second power supply unit when said AC current is received in said line in main power connector.

18. The power supply system of claim 17,

wherein said first capacitor and said second capacitor are referenced to said drive command signal input;

and

wherein said second DC voltage across said first capacitor and said second capacitor is referenced to said source and dependent upon said AC current.

19. The power supply of claim 18,

wherein said voltage controller further comprises a positive half cycle control transistor and a negative half cycle control transistor;

wherein said positive half cycle control transistor is in connection with said first diode and said negative half cycle control transistor is in connection with said second diode.

20. The power supply of claim 19,

wherein said first power supply unit comprises a power supply unit switcher, two diodes, two capacitors, two resistors, and an inductor.