A semiconductor device includes first and second electrodes, a semiconductor part therebetween, and a control electrode between the semiconductor part and the first electrode. The semiconductor part includes first, third and fifth layers of a first conductivity type and second and fourth layers of a second conductivity type. The second layer is provided between the first layer and the first electrode. The third layer is provided between the second layer and the first electrode. The fourth layer and the fifth layer are selectively provided between the first layer and the second electrode. In a method for controlling the semiconductor device, first to third voltages are applied in order to the control electrode while a p-n junction between the first and second layers is biased in a forward direction. The second and third voltages are greater than the first voltage, and the third voltage is less than the second voltage.

The invention relates to a method of controlling the on-time of a plurality of energy modules of an energy storage. The energy storage comprising a plurality of series connected energy modules forming an energy module string. A string controller is controlling which of the individual energy modules that is part of a current path through the energy module string, by control of the status of a plurality of switches. The string controller is controlling the frequency of the energy module string voltage according to an electric system reference related to a system to which the energy storage is connected. And wherein the string controller is controlling the switches of the individual energy modules so that each of the individual energy modules that are required to be included in the current path to establish the energy modules string voltage are included in the current path for at least a minimum on-time.

A voltage converter includes a capacitive voltage conversion circuit, an output capacitor, an inductor, a current detector, and a controller. The capacitive voltage conversion circuit includes switches, at least one flying capacitor, and an intermediate capacitor at an output portion. The current detector detects a current flowing in the inductor. The controller controls the switches in the capacitive voltage conversion circuit to change between at least two states by comparing the current flowing in the inductor to a threshold current.

An apparatus may include a first switch leg connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may also include a second switch leg connected between a second input terminal and the first output terminal, the second switch leg comprising serially connected switches. The apparatus may further include a third switch leg connected between an input voltage midpoint and the first output terminal. A control circuit may control the first switch leg, the second switch leg and the third switch leg.

A gate drive circuit according to an embodiment includes: a voltage detector that detects a voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of a switching device; a delay circuit that outputs, with a delay for a predetermined time, a detected value of the voltage obtained from the voltage detector; and a first off-mode drive circuit and a second off-mode drive circuit that apply a control signal to a control terminal of the switching device for turning off the switching device, wherein the first off-mode drive circuit turns off the switching device faster than the second off-mode drive circuit, and stops its operation to turns off the switching device when the delayed voltage value output from the delay circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

A drive circuit driving a first switching element, including: a first diode with a cathode terminal connected to a first switching element gate terminal; a second switching element with a first terminal connected to a first diode anode terminal, a second terminal connected to a first switching element gate terminal, a third terminal connected to a first switching element source terminal; a third switching element with a drain terminal connected to the first diode anode terminal, and a source terminal connected to the first switching element source terminal; a parallel circuit; and a drive transformer having a coil, one end connected to the drain terminal, the other end connected to the third switching element gate terminal, and connected to the third switching element source terminal, one end of the parallel circuit connected to one coil end, the second diode cathode terminal connected to the other end of the coil.

Controller and method for a power converter. For example, a controller for a power converter includes: a first terminal configured to receive a first terminal voltage; a second terminal configured to receive a second terminal voltage; a comparator configured to receive a first threshold voltage and the second terminal voltage and to generate a comparison signal based at least in part on the first threshold voltage and the second terminal voltage; and a switch configured to receive the first terminal voltage and the comparison signal, the switch being further configured to be closed to allow a current to flow out of the second terminal through the switch if the comparison signal is at a first logic level; wherein the comparator is further configured to: receive a first reference voltage as the first threshold voltage if the first terminal voltage is smaller than a second threshold voltage.

Power converter for converting between a DC voltage and a AC voltage. The power converter may include: a DC link with a series of three capacitors, the outer nodes of the series forming an upper and a lower DC terminal and connection points between the capacitors forming an upper and a lower intermediate voltage node; and one or more phase legs. Each phase leg includes: an upper switch series between the upper DC terminal and the lower intermediate voltage node, with two semiconductor switches; a lower switch series between the lower DC terminal and the upper intermediate voltage node, with two semiconductor switches; and an inner switch series between the midpoints of the upper and the lower switch series, the inner switch series comprising two semiconductor switches, the midpoint forming an AC terminal of the power converter, wherein the semiconductor switches of the inner switch series are bidirectional semiconductor switches.

A method to control a synchronous rectifier (SR) switch in a switching power supply circuit having an energy storage component coupled to the SR switch, the method is: generating a turning-ON control signal by comparing a drain-source sensing voltage of the SR switch with a turn ON threshold voltage; limiting an ON-time of the SR switch at least not less than a minimum on-time when the turning-ON control signal is asserted and an indicium signal having a first level indicating a fast mode; and removing the minimum on-time limitation to the SR switch and turning OFF the SR switch responsive to the drain-source sensing voltage of the SR switch exceeding a turn OFF threshold voltage when the turning-ON control signal is asserted and the indicium signal having a second level indicating a slow mode.

A buck-boost switching regulator includes: a power switch circuit including an input switch unit and an output switch unit; a bypass control circuit configured to operably generate a bypass control signal according to a conversion voltage difference between an input voltage of an input power and an output voltage of an output power and according to whether an inductor current flowing through an inductor reaches an output current of the output power; and a bypass switch circuit, wherein when the conversion voltage difference is below a reference voltage and when the inductor current flowing through the inductor reaches the output current, the bypass control signal controls the bypass switch circuit to electrically connect the input power with the output power, so that the buck-boost switching regulator operates in a bypass mode.