A driver for improving reliability of a switch in a power device, comprising one or more sensors configured to sense an operational parameter of a power device. The driver comprises a controller configured to receive one or more sensor values from the respective sensors. The controller is configured to adjust a driving pulse according to the sensor values. The controller is configured to apply the driving pulse to one or more control terminal of one or more switch of the power device.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a switching device for a DC voltage grid. The device may include: a first controllable semiconductor switch with a control contact and two load contacts; and a controller for the first switch using a control signal at the control contact. The controller is configured to: actuate the first switch using a control pulse that causes the electrical conductivity of the semiconductor switch to reduce for less than 1 ms; apply a current to a test circuit including the first switch; ascertain a first value representing the voltage or the change in voltage across the first switch as a result of the control pulse and the applied current; analyzing the first value; and generating a signal that represents the functionality of the first semiconductor switch.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a switching device for a DC voltage grid. The device may include: a first controllable semiconductor switch with a control contact and two load contacts; and a controller for the first switch using a control signal at the control contact. The controller is configured to: actuate the first switch using a control pulse that causes the electrical conductivity of the semiconductor switch to reduce for less than 1 ms; apply a current to a test circuit including the first switch; ascertain a first value representing the voltage or the change in voltage across the first switch as a result of the control pulse and the applied current; analyzing the first value; and generating a signal that represents the functionality of the first semiconductor switch.

A power module, including a power element, and a control unit that controls the power element. The control unit includes: a frequency divider circuit that receives a signal for driving the power element and has a frequency dividing function, by which the frequency divider circuit generates an output having a frequency lower than that of the received signal; an overcurrent detection comparator that detects an overcurrent of the power element; an overheat protection warning comparator that outputs a warning signal upon detection of the power element having a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature; and a logic circuit that outputs an enable signal to activate the frequency dividing function of the frequency divider circuit only while the overcurrent detection comparator does not detect the overcurrent and the overheat protection warning comparator outputs the warning signal. The power module further includes an overheat protection alarm comparator that outputs an alarm signal.

A switch state determining device, includes: an external terminal to which a switch is externally attached; a constant current generating part configured to generate a constant current and flow the constant current through the external terminal; a voltage comparing part configured to compare a terminal voltage of the external terminal with a threshold voltage to generate a comparison signal; an ON/OFF determining part configured to output an ON/OFF determination signal of the switch depending on the comparison signal; a threshold voltage control part configured to adjust the threshold voltage depending on a threshold voltage set value; and a level determining part configured to output a level determination signal of the terminal voltage or a terminal voltage value.

A switching power supply device includes: a latch circuit to be set by a latch signal that is generated when an anomaly is detected, the latch circuit stopping the turning ON and OFF of the switching element when set by the latch signal; a pulse generator that receives said latch signal and generates a pulse signal at a prescribed cycle in response to said latch signal; a discharge circuit that is activated every time said pulse signal is provided so as to discharge electric charges stored in the capacitor; and a comparator for undervoltage protection that, when said control power supply voltage decreases to a prescribed operation stop voltage as said capacitor discharges, resets the latch circuit and the pulse generator, respectively.

A switching power supply device includes: a latch circuit to be set by a latch signal that is generated when an anomaly is detected, the latch circuit stopping the turning ON and OFF of the switching element when set by the latch signal; a pulse generator that receives said latch signal and generates a pulse signal at a prescribed cycle in response to said latch signal; a discharge circuit that is activated every time said pulse signal is provided so as to discharge electric charges stored in the capacitor; and a comparator for undervoltage protection that, when said control power supply voltage decreases to a prescribed operation stop voltage as said capacitor discharges, resets the latch circuit and the pulse generator, respectively.

An alarm processing circuit includes a plurality of abnormality detection circuits for detecting different abnormalities and outputting alarm signals respectively; a signal conversion circuit for converting the alarm signals outputted from the plurality of abnormality detection circuits into time signals with time widths corresponding to types of the abnormalities respectively; and a determination circuit for determining the types of the abnormalities respectively based on the time widths of the time signals outputted from the signal conversion circuit.

An alarm processing circuit includes a plurality of abnormality detection circuits for detecting different abnormalities and outputting alarm signals respectively; a signal conversion circuit for converting the alarm signals outputted from the plurality of abnormality detection circuits into time signals with time widths corresponding to types of the abnormalities respectively; and a determination circuit for determining the types of the abnormalities respectively based on the time widths of the time signals outputted from the signal conversion circuit.

The present disclosure provides techniques for predicting failure of power switches and taking action based on the predictions. In an example, a method can include controlling the at least two parallel-connected power switches via a first driver and a second driver, the first a second driver responsive to a single command signal, measuring a failure characteristic of a first power switch, and disabling a first driver of the first power switch when the first failure characteristic exceeds a failure precursor threshold.