Fast switching for power inverter
First Claim
1. An apparatus addressing a potential transitory overshoot condition in a switch, the apparatus comprising:
- an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, said inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage, wherein the apparatus has parasitic inductance, and wherein controlling the switches to generate said time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of said switches of said inverter due to the parasitic inductance;
a drive control, coupled to said inverter, to generate said drive control signals and to set a level of each of said rail voltages responsive to a plurality of controller signals; and
a controller monitoring one or more parameters indicative of said potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, said controller dynamically adjusting, responsive to said monitored parameters, said controller signals to reduce a risk of occurrence of said potential transitory voltage overshoot condition despite the parasitic inductance in the apparatus;
wherein said parameters include one or more signals in anticipation of said potential transitory voltage overshoot condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, the inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage wherein controlling the switches to generate the time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of the switches of the inverter; a drive control, coupled to the inverter, to generate the drive control signals and to set a level of each of the rail voltages responsive to a plurality of controller signals; and a controller monitoring one or more parameters indicative of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, the controller dynamically adjusting, responsive to the monitored parameters, the controller signals to reduce a risk of occurrence of the potential transitory voltage overshoot condition.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus addressing a potential transitory overshoot condition in a switch, the apparatus comprising:
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an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, said inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage, wherein the apparatus has parasitic inductance, and wherein controlling the switches to generate said time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of said switches of said inverter due to the parasitic inductance; a drive control, coupled to said inverter, to generate said drive control signals and to set a level of each of said rail voltages responsive to a plurality of controller signals; and a controller monitoring one or more parameters indicative of said potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, said controller dynamically adjusting, responsive to said monitored parameters, said controller signals to reduce a risk of occurrence of said potential transitory voltage overshoot condition despite the parasitic inductance in the apparatus; wherein said parameters include one or more signals in anticipation of said potential transitory voltage overshoot condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method addressing a potential transitory overshoot condition in a switch, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) generating, in a system comprising an inverter with at least one switch, a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage, wherein the system has parasitic inductance, and wherein said time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for the switch of the inverter due to the parasitic inductance; b) generating, using the system, said drive control signals and setting a level of one or more of said rail voltages for said inverter responsive to a plurality of controller signals; c) monitoring, using the system, one or more parameters indicative of said potential transitory voltage overshoot condition; and d) adjusting, using the system, dynamically, responsive to said monitored parameters, said controller signals to at least reduce a risk of occurrence of said potential transitory voltage overshoot condition despite the parasitic inductance in the system; wherein said monitoring step c) includes evaluating one or more parameters anticipating a change to said drive current. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 20)
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14. A method addressing a potential transitory overshoot condition in a switch, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) calculating, in a system comprising an inverter with at least one switch, a maximum available voltage overshoot for the inverter producing a time-varying drive current, wherein the system has parasitic inductance; b) determining, using the system, a current voltage overshoot for said inverter responsive to said time-varying drive current; c) operating, using the system, said inverter in a first operational mode for minimization of switching losses when said current voltage overshoot is not greater than said maximum available voltage overshoot while increasing a risk of occurrence, due to the parasitic inductance, of a potential transitory voltage overshoot condition destructive to said inverter; and d) operating, using the system, said inverter in a second operational mode for reduction of said risk of occurrence of said potential transitory voltage overshoot condition, despite the parasitic inductance in the system, when said current voltage overshoot is greater than said maximum available voltage overshoot while increasing switching losses, wherein said determining step b) includes evaluating one or more parameters anticipating a change to said drive current. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification