An apparatus comprises an energy transfer device configured to supply power from a primary side of an isolation barrier through the isolation barrier to a secondary side of the of the isolation barrier for driving a gate of a switch for controlling output of the switch at the secondary side. The apparatus comprises a monitoring component. The monitoring component is configured to monitor an operating state of the switch. The monitoring component is configured to evaluate the operating state to determine whether a fault has occurred, perform a countermeasure, and/or provide a signal of the fault.

A method for operating a gate driver system includes measuring a first parameter according to a first priority schedule synchronously to a first edge of a switching signal generated by a gate driver integrated circuit and having a variable duty cycle. The method includes after measuring the first parameter of the gate driver system and prior to a second edge of the switching signal, measuring at least a second parameter of the gate driver system according to a first round-robin schedule synchronously to the first edge of the switching signal.

The present disclosure provides a controller for controlling a GaN-based semiconductor device. The controller is configured to receive a current sensing signal V.sub.CS which is indicative of a drain-to-source current of the GaN-based semiconductor device and generate a control driving signal V.sub.DRV to the GaN-based semiconductor device such that a gate-to-source voltage V.sub.GS applied to the GaN-based semiconductor device for switching on the GaN-based semiconductor device is stabilized to a voltage value equal to a reference voltage V.sub.ref over an on-time duration. Impact of the change in the voltage drop across the current sensing resistor to the operation of the GaN-based semiconductor device is eliminated.

A gate driver includes: an input pin for receiving switching control information from a controller; an output pin for driving a control terminal of a power transistor; a power supply pin for receiving power from an external supply; an input side electrically connected to the input pin; an output side electrically connected to the output pin and the power supply pin; and an isolation structure galvanically isolating the input side and the output side from one another. The output side is configured to transfer a fraction of the power received at the power supply pin to the input side over the isolation structure for powering the input side. The input side is configured to convey the switching control information received at the input pin to the output side over the isolation structure. A power electronic system that includes the gate driver is also described.

A gate driver includes: an input pin for receiving switching control information from a controller; an output pin for driving a control terminal of a power transistor; a power supply pin for receiving power from an external supply; an input side electrically connected to the input pin; an output side electrically connected to the output pin and the power supply pin; and an isolation structure galvanically isolating the input side and the output side from one another. The output side is configured to transfer a fraction of the power received at the power supply pin to the input side over the isolation structure for powering the input side. The input side is configured to convey the switching control information received at the input pin to the output side over the isolation structure. A power electronic system that includes the gate driver is also described.

A fully isolated drive circuit to be used for regulating an output voltage across a load. The isolated drive circuit may charge, discharge, or preserve the load charge using a controller that controls one or more switches. The controller may operate a switch according to an internal/external clock or an external control signal received by the controller. The isolated drive circuit may be an effective solution to simplify the drive design and decrease the amount of energy dissipated by the drive, especially when the load, associated with the drive, requires a high input voltage level.

A fully isolated drive circuit to be used for regulating an output voltage across a load. The isolated drive circuit may charge, discharge, or preserve the load charge using a controller that controls one or more switches. The controller may operate a switch according to an internal/external clock or an external control signal received by the controller. The isolated drive circuit may be an effective solution to simplify the drive design and decrease the amount of energy dissipated by the drive, especially when the load, associated with the drive, requires a high input voltage level.

The electro-magnetic coupler uses a coil to induce voltage onto a transistor. By controlling the amount of the current that flows through the coil, one is able to control the strength of the magnetic field emmitted by the inductor. And by controlling the q-point of the transistor, the amount voltage and current induced, the transistor can then be used as a switch or an amplifier without any electrical/electronic connection to the internal coil. The use of a transistor enables high speed switching and potentail amplification of communication signals.

In one embodiment, an impedance matching network includes a variable reactance circuit providing a variable capacitance or inductance. The variable reactance circuit includes reactance components and corresponding switching circuits. Each of the switching circuits includes a diode and a driver circuit to switch the diode. The driver circuit includes first and second switches coupled in series. A first driver is coupled to the first switch, a second driver is coupled to the second switch, and a third driver is coupled to the first and second drivers. The third driver provides a first signal to the first driver, and a second signal to the second driver. In providing the signals, the third driver increases and decreases a duration of a dead time between (a) driving the first driver on and the second driver off, or (b) driving the second driver on and the first driver off.

A signal transmission device includes a signal transmission chip, and a first lead frame supporting the signal transmission chip. A first inductor spiral ring is on a surface of the signal transmission chip, a second inductor spiral ring is inside the signal transmission chip, a first bonding pad is electrically coupled between the first and second inductor spiral rings, a guard ring covers the first and second inductor spiral rings in a plan view, and bonding pads are outside of the guard ring. A direction of rotation between the first and second inductor spiral rings are different from each other. The signal transmission device further includes a semiconductor chip and a second lead frame supporting the semiconductor chip, wherein the signal transmission chip and the semiconductor chip face each other.