Power conversion circuit having off-voltage control circuit

• US 8,363,440 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tagome, Masaki, Kitabatake, Makoto, Kazama, Shun
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, EMILY P
• Application Number:
  US12/864,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 363/131, 363/132
• US Class Current: 363/131
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/28 incorporating electromagnetically-operated vibrating contacts

Abstract

In a power conversion circuit operating with high frequency, an off-voltage control circuit 101u of a lower-arm gate drive circuit 24u controls the output voltage of a gate drive power supply 103u to change the output voltage to a voltage lower than a predetermined off voltage during a time period from termination of turn-off operation of a lower arm 22u until start of turn-on operation of an upper arm 21u, and thereafter return the output voltage to the predetermined off voltage immediately after termination of the turn-on operation of the upper arm 21u. With this control, short-circuiting through the upper and lower arms occurring due to a high voltage change dv/dt can be avoided, and the life of a switching element constituting the power conversion circuit improves, increasing the reliability of the power conversion circuit.

Claims

1. A power conversion circuit, comprising:

an upper arm connected to a high-voltage side;

a lower arm connected to a low-voltage side;

an upper-arm gate drive circuit configured to drive the upper arm, and

a lower-arm gate drive circuit configured to drive the lower arm, wherein

the upper-arm gate drive circuit includes an upper-arm gate drive power supply and an upper-arm arm-drive circuit, and the lower-arm gate drive circuit includes a lower-arm gate drive power supply and a lower-arm arm-drive circuit,

the upper-arm gate drive power supply and the lower-arm gate drive power supply supply a voltage to a control terminal of the corresponding upper or lower arm,

the upper-arm arm-drive circuit and the lower-arm arm-drive circuit, receiving a control signal for controlling the corresponding upper or lower arm, output an arm drive signal according to the control signal,

the lower-arm gate drive circuit further includes a signal output circuit and an off-voltage control circuit,

the signal output circuit outputs a voltage adjustment signal responding to termination of turn-off operation of the lower arm and termination of turn-on operation of the upper arm,

the off-voltage control circuit controls the output voltage of the lower-arm gate drive power supply, in response to the voltage adjustment signal from the signal output circuit, to generate a second voltage lower than a first voltage satisfying an off state of the lower arm during a time period from termination of turn-off operation of the lower arm until start of turn-on operation of the upper arm, and to generate the first voltage instead of the second voltage at and after termination of the turn-on operation of the upper arm.

2. The power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein

the signal output circuit includes a timer circuit,

the timer circuit, receiving the control signals for the upper arm and the lower arm, outputs a timer signal that turns on in a time period when the control signals are both off and thus the lower arm and the upper arm are both in their off states, and turns off after a lapse of a predetermined time from the turn-on, which is at or after termination of turn-on operation of the upper arm, and

the off-voltage control circuit, receiving the timer signal from the timer circuit, controls the output voltage of the lower-arm gate drive power supply based on the timer signal.

3. The power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein

the signal output circuit includes an upper-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit, a lower-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit, an upper-arm determination circuit, and a lower-arm determination circuit,

the upper-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit and the lower-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit detect a main terminal voltage value of the corresponding upper or lower arm, and

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit, receiving the main terminal voltage signal detected by the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit, detect termination of turn-off operation and turn-on operation of the corresponding upper or lower arm based on the main terminal voltage signal.

4. The power conversion circuit of claim 3, wherein

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit, receiving the main terminal voltage signal detected by the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit, determine termination of turn-on operation and turn-off operation of the corresponding arm based on comparison of the voltage value of the main terminal voltage signal with a predetermined reference voltage.

5. The power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein

the signal output circuit includes an upper-arm main terminal current detection circuit, a lower-arm main terminal current detection circuit, an upper-arm determination circuit, and a lower-arm determination circuit,

the upper-arm main terminal current detection circuit and the lower-arm main terminal current detection circuit detect a main terminal current value of the corresponding upper or lower arm, and

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit detect termination of turn-off operation and turn-on operation of the corresponding upper or lower arm based on the main terminal current signal detected by the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm main terminal current detection circuit.

6. The power conversion circuit of claim 5, wherein

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit, receiving the main terminal current signal from the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm main terminal current detection circuit, determine termination of turn-on operation and turn-off operation of the corresponding arm based on comparison of the current value of the main terminal current signal with a predetermined reference current.

7. The power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein

the signal output circuit includes an upper-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit, a lower-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit, an upper-arm determination circuit, and a lower-arm determination circuit,

the upper-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit and the lower-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit detect a control terminal voltage value of the corresponding upper or lower arm, and

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit detect termination of turn-off operation and turn-on operation of the corresponding upper or lower arm based on the control terminal voltage signal detected by the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit.

8. The power conversion circuit of claim 7, wherein

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit, receiving the control terminal voltage signal detected by the control terminal voltage detection circuit of the corresponding arm, determine termination of turn-on operation and turn-off operation of the corresponding arm based on comparison of the voltage of the control terminal voltage signal with a predetermined reference voltage.

9. The power conversion circuit of claim 3, wherein

the signal output circuit further includes a lower-arm main terminal voltage change rate detection circuit,

the lower-arm main terminal voltage change rate detection circuit detects a change rate of the main terminal voltage of the corresponding lower arm, and

the off-voltage control circuit, receiving the detection result of the lower-arm main terminal voltage change rate detection circuit, changes the voltage value of the second voltage generated by the lower-arm gate drive power supply based on the detection result.

10. The power conversion circuit of claim 9, wherein

the off-voltage control circuit adjusts the voltage value of the second voltage generated by the lower-arm gate drive power supply to be lower as the change rate of the main terminal voltage of the lower arm is larger.

11. The power conversion circuit of claim 9, wherein

the off-voltage control circuit keeps the voltage value of the second voltage generated by the lower-arm gate drive power supply at the first voltage when the change rate of the main terminal voltage of the lower arm is smaller than a predetermined change rate.

12. The power conversion circuit of claim 3, wherein

the signal output circuit further includes a lower-arm arm-temperature detection circuit,

the lower-arm arm-temperature detection circuit detects the temperature of the corresponding lower arm, and

the off-voltage control circuit, receiving the detection result of the lower-arm arm-temperature detection circuit, changes the voltage value of the second voltage generated by the lower-arm gate drive power supply based on the detection result.

13. The power conversion circuit of claim 12, wherein

the off-voltage control circuit adjusts the voltage value of the second voltage generated by the lower-arm gate drive power supply to be lower as the temperature of the lower arm detected by the lower-arm arm-temperature detection circuit is higher.

27. The power conversion circuit of claim 1, wherein each of the upper arm and the lower arm is constructed of a MOSFET.

28. The power conversion circuit of claim 1,

wherein each of the upper arm and the lower arm is constructed of a wide bandgap semiconductor including silicon carbide or gallium nitride.

14. A power conversion circuit, comprising:

an upper arm connected to a high-voltage side;

a lower arm connected to a low-voltage side;

an upper-arm gate drive circuit configured to drive the upper arm, and

a lower-arm gate drive circuit configured to drive the lower arm, wherein

the upper-arm gate drive circuit includes an upper-arm gate drive power supply and an upper-arm arm-drive circuit, and the lower-arm gate drive circuit includes a lower-arm gate drive power supply and a lower-arm arm-drive circuit,

the upper-arm gate drive power supply and the lower-arm gate drive power supply supply a voltage to a control terminal of the corresponding upper or lower arm,

the upper-arm arm-drive circuit and the lower-arm arm-drive circuit, receiving a control signal for controlling the corresponding upper or lower arm, output an arm drive signal according to the control signal,

the upper-arm gate drive circuit further includes a signal output circuit and an off-voltage control circuit,

the signal output circuit outputs a voltage adjustment signal corresponding to termination of turn-off operation of the upper arm and termination of turn-on operation of the lower arm,

the off-voltage control circuit controls the output voltage of the upper-arm gate drive power supply, in response to the voltage adjustment signal from the signal output circuit, to generate a second voltage lower than a first voltage satisfying an off state of the upper arm during a time period from termination of turn-off operation of the upper arm until start of turn-on operation of the lower arm, and to generate the first voltage instead of the second voltage at and after termination of the turn-on operation of the lower arm.

15. The power conversion circuit of claim 14, wherein

the signal output circuit includes a timer circuit,

the timer circuit, receiving the control signals for the upper arm and the lower arm, outputs a timer signal that turns on in a time period when the control signals are both off and thus the lower arm and the upper arm are both in their off states, and turns off after a lapse of a predetermined time of the turn-on, which is at or after termination of turn-on operation of the lower arm, and

the off-voltage control circuit, receiving the timer signal from the timer circuit, controls the output voltage of the lower-arm gate drive power supply based on the timer signal.

16. The power conversion circuit of claim 14, wherein

the signal output circuit includes an upper-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit, a lower-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit, an upper-arm determination circuit, and a lower-arm determination circuit,

the upper-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit and the lower-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit detect a main terminal voltage value of the corresponding upper or lower arm, and

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit, receiving the main terminal voltage signal detected by the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit, detect termination of turn-off operation and turn-on operation of the corresponding upper or lower arm based on the main terminal voltage signal.

17. The power conversion circuit of claim 16, wherein

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit, receiving the main terminal voltage signal detected by the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm main terminal voltage detection circuit, determine termination of turn-on operation and turn-off operation of the corresponding arm based on comparison of the voltage value of the main terminal voltage signal with a predetermined reference voltage.

18. The power conversion circuit of claim 14, wherein

the signal output circuit includes an upper-arm main terminal current detection circuit, a lower-arm main terminal current detection circuit, an upper-arm determination circuit, and a lower-arm determination circuit,

the upper-arm main terminal current detection circuit and the lower-arm main terminal current detection circuit detect a main terminal current value of the corresponding upper or lower arm, and

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit detect termination of turn-off operation and turn-on operation of the corresponding upper or lower arm based on the main terminal current signal detected by the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm main terminal current detection circuit.

19. The power conversion circuit of claim 18, wherein

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit, receiving the main terminal current signal from the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm main terminal current detection circuit, determine termination of turn-on operation and turn-off operation of the corresponding arm based on comparison of the current value of the main terminal current signal with a predetermined reference current.

20. The power conversion circuit of claim 14, wherein

the signal output circuit includes an upper-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit, a lower-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit, an upper-arm determination circuit, and a lower-arm determination circuit,

the upper-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit and the lower-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit detect a control terminal voltage value of the corresponding upper or lower arm, and

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit detect termination of turn-off operation and turn-on operation of the corresponding upper or lower arm based on the control terminal voltage signal detected by the corresponding upper-arm or lower-arm control terminal voltage detection circuit.

21. The power conversion circuit of claim 20, wherein

the upper-arm determination circuit and the lower-arm determination circuit, receiving the control terminal voltage signal detected by the control terminal voltage detection circuit of the corresponding arm, determine termination of turn-on operation and turn-off operation of the corresponding arm based on comparison of the voltage of the control terminal voltage signal with a predetermined reference voltage.

22. The power conversion circuit of claim 16, wherein

the signal output circuit further includes an upper-arm main terminal voltage change rate detection circuit,

the upper-arm main terminal voltage change rate detection circuit detects a change rate of the main terminal voltage of the corresponding upper arm, and

the off-voltage control circuit, receiving the detection result of the upper-arm main terminal voltage change rate detection circuit, changes the voltage value of the second voltage generated by the upper-arm gate drive power supply based on the detection result.

23. The power conversion circuit of claim 22, wherein

the off-voltage control circuit adjusts the voltage value of the second voltage generated by the upper-arm gate drive power supply to be lower as the change rate of the main terminal voltage of the upper arm is larger.

24. The power conversion circuit of claim 22, wherein

the off-voltage control circuit keeps the voltage value of the second voltage generated by the upper-arm gate drive power supply at the first voltage when the change rate of the main terminal voltage of the upper arm is smaller than a predetermined change rate.

25. The power conversion circuit of claim 16, wherein

the signal output circuit further includes an upper-arm arm-temperature detection circuit,

the upper-arm arm-temperature detection circuit detects the temperature of the corresponding upper arm, and

the off-voltage control circuit, receiving the detection result of the upper-arm arm-temperature detection circuit, changes the voltage value of the second voltage generated by the upper-arm gate drive power supply based on the detection result.

26. The power conversion circuit of claim 25, wherein

the off-voltage control circuit adjusts the second voltage generated by the upper-arm gate drive power supply to be lower as the temperature of the upper arm detected by the upper-arm arm-temperature detection circuit is higher.

29. The power conversion circuit of 14, wherein

each of the upper arm and the lower arm is constructed of a MOSFET.

30. The power conversion circuit of 14, wherein

each of the upper arm and the lower arm is constructed of a wide bandgap semiconductor including silicon carbide or gallium nitride.