A pulse modulator comprises a solid state power switch having a source, a drain, a gate and a separate gate drive connected to ground. One pulse modulator comprises a plurality of stages connected as an induction adder. Each stage includes a plurality of cells and at least some of the cells each include a solid state power switch having a source, a drain, a gate and a separate gate drive connected to ground to control the discharge of a capacitor. In one embodiment the solid state power switch is a power MOSFET.

Disclosed herein are switching or other active FET configurations that implement a branch design with one or more interior FETs of a main path coupled in parallel with one or more auxiliary FETs of an auxiliary path. Such designs include a circuit assembly for performing a switching function that includes a branch with a plurality of auxiliary FETs coupled in series and a main FET coupled in parallel with an interior FET of the plurality of auxiliary FETs. The body nodes of the FETs can be interconnected and/or connected to a body bias network. The body nodes of the FETs can be connected to body bias networks to enable individual body bias voltages to be used for individual or groups of FETs.

In a switch circuit for use in a vehicle, conduction between a drain electrode and a gate electrode of each of a first main transistor and a second main transistor is switched on or off depending on a voltage between the gate electrode and a source electrode. A first surge protection device is connected between the drain electrodes of the first main transistor and the second main transistor. The first surge protection device keeps a voltage that is applied to the first surge protection device at a first predetermined voltage or lower. A sub transistor is provided between the gate electrodes and the source electrodes of the first main transistor and the second main transistor. The sub transistor is turned on when the first main transistor and the second main transistor are turned off.

A solid state power controller configured to supply electric power from a power supply to at least one load, comprises: a solid state switching device having a first terminal (D) connected to the power supply, and a second terminal (S) connected to the load, the solid state switching device configured to switch between an OFF operation mode in which the second terminal (S) is electrically disconnected from the power supply, and an ON operation mode in which the second terminal (S) is electrically connected to the power supply, and a load current detection unit configured to detect a load current through the solid state switching device; wherein the load current detection unit comprises a first load current amplifier and a second load current amplifier.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of switching elements electrically connected in parallel with each other, a control unit that outputs a control signal for controlling a current supplied to each of the switching elements, and a temperature estimation unit that estimates a temperature difference between the switching elements. When an estimated temperature difference becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold temperature, the control unit shifts an operation mode to a stop mode for stopping driving of a switching element having a temperature higher than the other.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of switching elements electrically connected in parallel with each other, a control unit that outputs a control signal for controlling a current supplied to each of the switching elements, and a temperature estimation unit that estimates a temperature difference between the switching elements. When an estimated temperature difference becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold temperature, the control unit shifts an operation mode to a stop mode for stopping driving of a switching element having a temperature higher than the other.

A circuit for selecting between a primary power source and a back-up power source is provided in one embodiment. The circuit includes a first port configured to be coupled to a primary power source, a second port configured to be coupled to a back-up power source, a third port configured to be coupled to provide power to a load. The circuit also includes first and second power field effect transistors (FET) coupled between the second port and the third port, a third power FET coupled between the first port and the third port, and a dual ideal diode-OR controller coupled between the second and third power FETs to selectively turn on and off the second and third power FETs. The circuit further includes an opto-isolator coupled to a control input of the first power FET and a controller, coupled to the opto-isolator, that selectively turns on and off the opto-isolator.

A plurality of semiconductor relays is provided between a power source and loads. The semiconductor relays have a function of a current detection for detecting a current passing through themselves. The loads are connected to output terminals respectively. A switching unit arbitrarily selects and switches a connecting destination of the semiconductor relays from among the plurality of output terminals. A microcomputer controls the switching unit on the basis of the detection results of a current flowing through the semiconductor relays, and adjusts the number of the semiconductor relays connected to the same load and connected to each other in parallel.

A plurality of semiconductor relays is provided between a power source and loads. The semiconductor relays have a function of a current detection for detecting a current passing through themselves. The loads are connected to output terminals respectively. A switching unit arbitrarily selects and switches a connecting destination of the semiconductor relays from among the plurality of output terminals. A microcomputer controls the switching unit on the basis of the detection results of a current flowing through the semiconductor relays, and adjusts the number of the semiconductor relays connected to the same load and connected to each other in parallel.

A converter comprises a first switching element and a second switching element coupled between an input power source and an output capacitor and an inductor coupled to a common node of the first switching element and the second switching element, wherein the second switching element comprises a first diode and a first switch connected in series between a first terminal and a second terminal of the second switching element and a second diode connected between the first terminal and the second terminal of the second switching element.