System and method for a multi-phase snubber circuit
First Claim
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1. A circuit comprising:
- a snubber circuit configured to be coupled to outputs of n half-bridge driver circuits that are coupled to n corresponding inductive loads, wherein n is an integer greater than one, the snubber circuit comprisingn diodes, each of the n diodes coupled between a corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and a floating common node, andn capacitors, each of the n capacitors coupled between the corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and the floating common node; and
n transistors having a first load path terminal coupled to the corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and a second load path terminal coupled to a corresponding load of the n inductive loads, wherein each of the n diodes is coupled between the first load path terminal of a corresponding transistor of the n transistors and the floating common node, and each of the n capacitors is coupled between the second load path terminal of the corresponding transistor of the n transistors and the floating common node.
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Abstract
In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a snubber circuit configured to be coupled to outputs of n half-bridge driver circuits that are coupled to n corresponding inductive loads, such that n is an integer greater than one. The snubber circuit includes n diodes and n capacitors. Each of the n diodes are coupled between a corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and a floating common node, and each of the n capacitors coupled between a corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and the floating common node.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A circuit comprising:
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a snubber circuit configured to be coupled to outputs of n half-bridge driver circuits that are coupled to n corresponding inductive loads, wherein n is an integer greater than one, the snubber circuit comprising n diodes, each of the n diodes coupled between a corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and a floating common node, and n capacitors, each of the n capacitors coupled between the corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and the floating common node; and n transistors having a first load path terminal coupled to the corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and a second load path terminal coupled to a corresponding load of the n inductive loads, wherein each of the n diodes is coupled between the first load path terminal of a corresponding transistor of the n transistors and the floating common node, and each of the n capacitors is coupled between the second load path terminal of the corresponding transistor of the n transistors and the floating common node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A three-phase motor driving circuit comprising:
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a first half-bridge driving circuit having an output coupled to a first load terminal; a first phase separation transistor having a first load path terminal coupled to the output of the first half-bridge driving circuit and a second load path terminal coupled to the first load terminal; a first snubber circuit comprising a first diode coupled between the first load path terminal of the first phase separation transistor and a floating common node, and a second capacitor coupled between the second load path terminal of the first phase separation transistor and the floating common node; a second half-bridge driving circuit having an output coupled to a second load terminal; a second phase separation transistor having a first load path terminal coupled to the output of the second half-bridge driving circuit and a second load path terminal coupled to the second load terminal; a second snubber circuit comprising a second diode coupled between the first load path terminal of the second phase separation transistor and the floating common node, and a second capacitor coupled between the second load path terminal of the second phase separation transistor and the floating common node; a third half-bridge driving circuit having an output coupled to a third load terminal; a third phase separation transistor having a first load path terminal coupled to the output of the third half-bridge driving circuit and a second load path terminal coupled to the third load terminal; and a third snubber circuit comprising a third diode coupled between the first load path terminal of the third phase separation transistor and the floating common node, and a third capacitor coupled between the second load path terminal of the third phase separation transistor and the floating common node, wherein the first load terminal, second load terminal and third load terminal are configured to be coupled to a three-phase motor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a circuit that includes a snubber circuit coupled to outputs of n half-bridge driver circuits that are coupled to n corresponding inductive loads, wherein n is an integer greater than one, wherein the snubber circuit includes n diodes that are each coupled between a corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and a floating common node, and n capacitors that are each coupled between the corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and the floating common node, the method comprising:
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providing a first current by an output of a first half-bridge driver circuit of the n half-bridge driver circuits from a first load of the n inductive loads, wherein the first current flows from the output of the first half-bridge driver circuit of the n half-bridge driver circuits to the first load of the n inductive loads; providing a second current by an output of a second half-bridge driver circuit of the n half-bridge driver circuits from a second load of the n inductive loads, wherein the second current flows from the second load of the n inductive loads to the output of the second half-bridge driver circuit of the n half-bridge driver circuits; conducting the first current and the second current through at least one of the n diodes and n capacitors, wherein the circuit further comprises n transistors having a first load path terminal coupled to the corresponding output of the n half-bridge driver circuits and a second load path terminal coupled to a corresponding load of the n inductive loads, and each of the n diodes is coupled between the first load path terminal of a corresponding transistor of the n transistors and the floating common node, and each of the n capacitors is coupled between the second load path terminal of the corresponding transistor of the n transistors and the floating common node; and transitioning each of the n transistors from a conducting state to a non-conducting state upon detection of an overload condition. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification