A serial IGBT voltage equalization method and system based on an auxiliary voltage source is disclosed. The method includes the following steps. (1) Detect a port dynamic voltage of each serial IGBT. (2) Perform dynamic overvoltage diagnosis respectively on the port dynamic voltage of each IGBT. (3) Supply emergency high level signal to the gate of the IGBT when there is dynamic overvoltage. (4) Stop supplying emergency high level signal to the gate of the IGBT, supply a constant voltage at the gate of the IGBT through the auxiliary voltage source. The invention provides a constant voltage through the auxiliary voltage source, prolongs the off time of the faulty IGBT, and turns off other IGBTs simultaneously, thereby achieving the purpose of serial IGBT voltage equalization.

A protection circuit 60 is provided with: switches 61, 62 positioned on a power line PL of an electricity storage element 22 and a load 12; first protection elements 63, 64, 65 connected in parallel with the switches 61, 62 and absorbing surge caused when the switches 61, 62 open and cut off discharge current; and a second protection element 66 connected in parallel with the load and flowing, back to the load, the surge caused when the switches 61, 62 open and cut off the discharge current.

An electrical switching system includes a constant-power controller and a switching device electrically coupled between a first node and a second node. The constant-power controller is configured to (a) generate a digital control signal to control the switching device, (b) control a duration of an active phase of the digital control signal at least partially based on a voltage across the switching device, and (c) control a peak value of the digital control signal to regulate a peak magnitude of current flowing through the switching device.

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first circuit, a first terminal, a second terminal, a conductor and a first switch element serially coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the first circuit is configured to turn the first switch element to an OFF state when a first condition is satisfied, and the conductor is configured to physically break when a second condition is satisfied.

There is provide a current detection circuit including: a current detection unit that detects a control current flowing between a control terminal of a semiconductor element of voltage-controlled type having a current detection terminal, and a drive circuit; an overcurrent detection unit that detects an overcurrent in response to a sense current exceeding an overcurrent threshold value, the sense current flowing through the current detection terminal; and an adjustment unit that sets, based on a detection result of the current detection unit, the overcurrent threshold value in a transient period during turn on and turn off of the semiconductor element to be higher than the overcurrent threshold value in a period other than the transient period.

A current limiting circuit of a switching circuit, and a switching circuit are provided. The switching circuit uses a gallium nitride (GaN) power transistor as a main power transistor. The current limiting circuit includes a first terminal connected with a drain of the GaN power transistor, and a second terminal connected with a controller of the switching circuit. The current limiting circuit is configured to limit a current flowing out of a power supply terminal of the controller. The current limiting circuit suppresses a negative current flowing through the controller.

The disclosure relates to a switched capacitor converter with gate driving circuits for limiting currents provided by switching field effect transistors. Embodiments disclosed include a switched capacitor converter (100), SCC, comprising a plurality of gate driver circuits (101a-d, 200, 300) arranged to provide a gate voltage signal to a respective power FET (102a-d) in response to a respective input switching signal (sw1_in, sw2_in, sw3_in, sw4_in, IN), wherein each gate driver circuit (101a-d, 200, 300) comprises a first gate driver module (206) and a second gate driver module (207), the gate driver circuit (101a-d, 200, 300) configured to operate in: a first mode in which the first gate driver module (206) provides the gate voltage signal to a respective power FET (102a-d, 205) in response to an input switching signal (IN) at an input (203) of the first gate driver module (206) causing the gate voltage signal to switch between first and second voltage rails (201, 202) by operation of first and second switches (208, 209) connected between the pair of voltage rails (201, 202); and a second mode in which, in response to enabling of a current limit switching signal (climit_en), the first gate driver module disables switching of one of the first and second switches (208, 209) and the second gate driver module (207) operates to limit a current provided to the respective power FET (102a-d, 205).

A method determines a current flowing through at least one switching element of an electrical circuit arrangement. When the switching element is turned on the current flows through a switchable portion of the switching element. The switching element is associated with a temperature sensor and a voltage sensor. The temperature sensor measures a temperature of the switching element and the voltage sensor measures a voltage drop across the switchable portion of the switching element. The temperature sensor and the voltage sensor are connected to a computing device. The computing device determines a current value of the current based on the measured temperature and the measured voltage drop.

Vehicle power distribution circuit for connecting between a battery and a power line connected to a generator or DC/DC-Converter. The circuit has a charging line connecting the battery to the power line for charging the battery when a forward voltage is applied by the generator or DC/DC-Converter. An ideal diode arrangement is provided in the charging line for conducting a forward current from the generator or DC/DC-Converter to the battery when the forward voltage is applied. The ideal diode arrangement prevents conduction of a reverse current from the battery to the power line when a reverse voltage is applied.

A power supply control device controls power supply by switching on or off a first semiconductor switch and a second semiconductor switch that are arranged on a current path. A first diode and a second diode are connected between a drain and a source of the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch, respectively. Cathodes of the first diode and the second diode are arranged downstream and upstream of the respective anode on the current path. If current flows through the current path even though a microcomputer has given an instruction to switch the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch off, a first drive circuit switches the first semiconductor switch on.