The present invention provides a method of determining an electrical operating time of a circuit breaker (140) in a multiphase electrical system having a subsystem (160) at an electric potential resulting from electrical characteristics of electrical components within the subsystem. The method comprises monitoring (145) the voltage of the subsystem in the first phase, determining a first rate of change from the monitored voltage in the first phase, detecting at least one instance of switching based on the first rate of change, determining an electrical operating time of the circuit breaker based on the detected at least one instance of switching and an instance at which a command for switching was provided to the circuit breaker.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first transistor cells and a plurality of second transistor cells that are electrically connected in parallel between a collector electrode and an emitter electrode. A gate voltage on each of the plurality of first transistor cells is controlled by a first gate interconnection. A gate voltage on each of the plurality of second transistor cells is controlled by a second gate interconnection. A drive circuit is configured to: apply an ON-voltage of the semiconductor device to each of the first and second gate interconnections when the semiconductor device is turned on; and after a lapse of a predetermined time period since start of application of the ON-voltage, apply an OFF-voltage of the semiconductor device to the second gate interconnection and apply an ON-voltage to the first gate interconnection.

In one example, a method includes receiving, at a first time by a power switching device via an input connector of the power switching device, a signal that causes the power switching device to output a power signal to a load via an output connector of the power switching device. In this example, a voltage level of the power signal satisfies a voltage threshold at a second time that is later than the first time. In this example, the method also includes communicating, by the power switching device and during a time period between the first time and the second time, with an external device via the input connector.

In one example, a method includes receiving, at a first time by a power switching device via an input connector of the power switching device, a signal that causes the power switching device to output a power signal to a load via an output connector of the power switching device. In this example, a voltage level of the power signal satisfies a voltage threshold at a second time that is later than the first time. In this example, the method also includes communicating, by the power switching device and during a time period between the first time and the second time, with an external device via the input connector.

The invention provides a converter and a method for suppressing loop interference of converter. The converter includes first and second switching sets connected to each other. Each switching set includes a plurality of switching devices. The plurality of second switching devices are configured to be turned on for a first time after the turn-off time of the plurality of first switching devices, such that each of the plurality of second switching devices provides a path for current within the first time to reduce a potential difference between the first end of at least one of the plurality of second switching devices and the first end of the remaining of the plurality of second switching devices.

The invention provides a converter and a method for suppressing loop interference of converter. The converter includes first and second switching sets connected to each other. Each switching set includes a plurality of switching devices. The plurality of second switching devices are configured to be turned on for a first time after the turn-off time of the plurality of first switching devices, such that each of the plurality of second switching devices provides a path for current within the first time to reduce a potential difference between the first end of at least one of the plurality of second switching devices and the first end of the remaining of the plurality of second switching devices.

An electronic device includes a transmission interface, a driving circuit, a receiving circuit, a sampling circuit, a detecting circuit, a timing control circuit and a processing circuit. The transmission interface is for connecting to another electronic device via a connecting cable. The driving circuit outputs a backward signal via the transmission interface to the another electronic device. The receiving circuit receives a received signal including the backward signal and a forward signal from the transmission interface. The sampling circuit samples the received signal to obtain a plurality of sample results. The detecting circuit detects transitions of the sample results to obtain a plurality of detection results. The processing circuit generates a control signal according to the detection results, and adjusts a time point at which the driving circuit outputs the backward signal through the timing control circuit.

An electronic device includes a transmission interface, a driving circuit, a receiving circuit, a sampling circuit, a detecting circuit, a timing control circuit and a processing circuit. The transmission interface is for connecting to another electronic device via a connecting cable. The driving circuit outputs a backward signal via the transmission interface to the another electronic device. The receiving circuit receives a received signal including the backward signal and a forward signal from the transmission interface. The sampling circuit samples the received signal to obtain a plurality of sample results. The detecting circuit detects transitions of the sample results to obtain a plurality of detection results. The processing circuit generates a control signal according to the detection results, and adjusts a time point at which the driving circuit outputs the backward signal through the timing control circuit.

The invention generally relates to methods and circuits for controlling switching of parallel coupled power semiconductor switching devices (3), for example for use in a power converter. In an example, there is provided a circuit for controlling switching of parallel coupled power semiconductor switching devices (3), the circuit comprising: a plurality of drive modules (2), each said module for controlling a said power semiconductor switching device (3); control circuitry to transmit switch command signals to the modules, each said switch command signal to trigger a said drive module to control a said power semiconductor switching device to switch state; and voltage isolation between the drive modules and the control circuitry, wherein each said drive module for controlling a said device comprises: timing circuitry (22) to compare a switching delay of the device and a reference delay, wherein said switching delay is a time interval between detecting a said switching command signal at the drive module and switching of the device in accordance with the detected switching command signal; and delay circuitry (21) to provide a controllable delay to delay a said triggering by a said switching command signal received at the module subsequent to the detected switching command signal, the delay circuitry configured to control the controllable delay according to a result of said comparison of said switching delay of the device, to thereby reduce a time difference between the reference delay and a said switching delay of the device switching in accordance with the subsequent switching command signal.

The invention generally relates to methods and circuits for controlling switching of parallel coupled power semiconductor switching devices (3), for example for use in a power converter. In an example, there is provided a circuit for controlling switching of parallel coupled power semiconductor switching devices (3), the circuit comprising: a plurality of drive modules (2), each said module for controlling a said power semiconductor switching device (3); control circuitry to transmit switch command signals to the modules, each said switch command signal to trigger a said drive module to control a said power semiconductor switching device to switch state; and voltage isolation between the drive modules and the control circuitry, wherein each said drive module for controlling a said device comprises: timing circuitry (22) to compare a switching delay of the device and a reference delay, wherein said switching delay is a time interval between detecting a said switching command signal at the drive module and switching of the device in accordance with the detected switching command signal; and delay circuitry (21) to provide a controllable delay to delay a said triggering by a said switching command signal received at the module subsequent to the detected switching command signal, the delay circuitry configured to control the controllable delay according to a result of said comparison of said switching delay of the device, to thereby reduce a time difference between the reference delay and a said switching delay of the device switching in accordance with the subsequent switching command signal.