A communication device for a field device for transferring output information to a controller, including a passive digital output with a first connection point and a second connection point, a circuit arrangement connected between the first connection point and the second connection point, and a control device configured to selectively put the circuit arrangement into one of a plurality of switching states according to the output information to be transferred. The communication device is configured, in a state in which the passive digital output is connected to the controller, to provide an electric output signal with a first signal value according to a first communication protocol at the connection points in a first switching state of the circuit arrangement and to provide the electric output signal with a second signal value according to the first communication protocol at the connection points in a second switching state of the circuit arrangement. The communication device is also configured to provide the electric output signal with a signal value according to a second communication protocol at the connection points in a third switching state of the circuit arrangement.

A multi-phase voltage converter can include: a control chip configured to generate N pulse distribution signals, where N is a positive integer greater than 1; a power conversion module comprising N first-level conversion modules; where the first-level conversion module comprises at least one second-level conversion module, and the second-level conversion module comprises at least one third-level conversion module; where when the second-level conversion module comprises multiple third-level conversion modules, the multiple third-level conversion modules are coupled in parallel with each other; and where the first-level conversion module receives a corresponding one of the N pulse distribution signals, the second-level conversion module receives a first phase distribution signal generated based on the corresponding pulse distribution signal, and the third-level conversion module receives a second phase distribution signal generated based on the first phase distribution signal.

A method for estimating a fundamental component of an AC voltage includes receiving a timely varying measurement signal of the AC voltage; parametrizing a fundamental component of the AC voltage; and determining parameters of the fundamental component based on minimizing a cost function. The fundamental component has a rated frequency, a variable amplitude and a variable phase shift. The cost function is based on an integral of a norm of a difference between the measurement signal and the parametrized fundamental component via a time horizon. The time horizon starts at an actual time point and goes back via a predefined length. The cost function includes a term based on a norm of the difference between a value of the fundamental component at the actual time point and a value of a previously estimated fundamental component at the actual time point, where the previously estimated fundamental component has been determined for a previous time point.

A communication device for a field device for transferring output information to a controller, including a passive digital output with a first connection point and a second connection point, a circuit arrangement connected between the first connection point and the second connection point, and a control device configured to selectively put the circuit arrangement into one of a plurality of switching states according to the output information to be transferred. The communication device is configured, in a state in which the passive digital output is connected to the controller, to provide an electric output signal with a first signal value according to a first communication protocol at the connection points in a first switching state of the circuit arrangement and to provide the electric output signal with a second signal value according to the first communication protocol at the connection points in a second switching state of the circuit arrangement. The communication device is also configured to provide the electric output signal with a signal value according to a second communication protocol at the connection points in a third switching state of the circuit arrangement.

An integrated circuit and method are provided. The integrated circuit comprises: a digital core configured to output a first voltage signal; and a first input/output cell; wherein the first input/output cell is configured to convert the first voltage signal to a first current signal and provide the first current signal to circuitry external to the integrated circuit.

A gate driving circuit for an insulated gate-type power semiconductor element includes an Nch MOSFET which turns on the insulated gate-type power semiconductor element, a Pch MOSFET which turns off the insulated gate-type power semiconductor element, a control circuit which turns on the Nch MOSFET by applying a positive voltage to the gate electrode of the Nch MOSFET, and which turns on the Pch MOSFET by applying a negative voltage to the gate electrode of the Pch MOSFET, and a power supply which applies a negative voltage to the drain electrode of the Pch MOSFET and to a negative-side electrode of the control circuit, which applies a positive voltage to the drain electrode of the Nch MOSFET, and which applies to a positive-side electrode of the control circuit a positive voltage whose absolute value is larger than absolute value of the positive voltage applied to the drain electrode of the Nch MOSFET.

This disclosure discloses a motor control device configured to control a motor. The motor control device includes an inverter part, a gate driving circuit, a PWM generation circuit, at least one gate buffer, and a control part. The inverter part is configured to convert direct current into alternate current in response to a motor drive command. The gate driving circuit is configured to drive the inverter part. The PWM generation circuit is configured to generate a PWM signal applied to the gate driving circuit. The at least one gate buffer is disposed between the gate driving circuit and the PWM generation circuit. The control part is configured to apply a test signal to the gate buffer to determine abnormality of the gate buffer.

The disclosure discloses a driver circuit that is intended for a power semiconductor switch having a unidirectional flow direction and having a control connection, a reference potential connection and a controlled connection. The driver circuit includes a driver module having a control output, a reference potential input and an overvoltage monitoring input. In this case, the control output is connected to a first connection that is provided for connection to the control connection, the reference potential input is connected to a second connection that is provided for connection to the reference potential connection, and the overvoltage monitoring input is connected, via a first diode, to a third connection that is provided for connection to the controlled connection. The overvoltage monitoring input is also connected to the reference potential input via a capacitance. A connection path from the second connection to the third connection via the capacitance and the first diode is switchable in the driver circuit by means of an actively controllable switching element. Furthermore, the disclosure also discloses a circuit arrangement comprising such a driver circuit and a power semiconductor switch with a unidirectional flow direction as well as a bidirectional circuit arrangement comprising two subcircuit arrangements that are each formed by such a circuit arrangement. Such a bidirectional circuit arrangement is used in an inverter having a BSNPC bridge circuit.

An integrated circuit and method are provided. The integrated circuit comprises: a digital core configured to output a first voltage signal: and a first input/output cell: wherein the first input/output cell is configured to convert the first voltage signal to a first current signal and provide the first current signal to circuitry external to the integrated circuit.

A controller for a multi-level converter compares a first voltage proportional to an input voltage or an output voltage with a second voltage proportional to a voltage of a flying capacitor and adjusting a slope of a ramp signal for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal so that the second voltage follows the first voltage in controlling the multi-level converter.