Patent classifications
H03K17/04213
Controlling a semiconductor switch which includes a transmitter and receiver that communicate across galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling
A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.
SOLID-STATE MULTI-CHANNEL PROTECTION CIRCUIT
A solid-state multi-channel protection circuit includes a microcontroller, a current sensor, a plurality of temperature sensors, and first and second multiplexers selectively connecting the current sensor to one of a plurality of solid-state devices and each of the plurality of temperature sensors to the microcontroller. The microcontroller selectively controls the second multiplexer to receive a temperature output associated with one of the plurality of solid-state devices, and selectively controls the first multiplexer to receiver a current output related to the measured current associated with the same solid-state device, wherein the microcontroller provide over-current protection and over-temperature protection based on the received temperature output and the received current output.
PHASE CONTROL DIMMER CIRCUIT
A trailing edge phase control dimmer circuit for controlling alternating current (AC) power to a load, the circuit including: a switching circuit for controlling delivery of AC power to the load by conducting power to the load in an ON state and not conducting power to the load in an OFF state; and a switching control circuit for controlling turn-OFF and turn-ON of the switching circuit at each cycle of the AC to control switching of the ON and OFF states of the switching circuit, wherein the switching control circuit controlling turn-OFF of the switching circuit includes controlling a turn-OFF transition of the switching circuit between the ON state and the OFF state of the switching circuit extending for a selected turn-OFF transition time, and wherein the switching control circuit further includes a dv/dt feedback circuit for controlling a turn-OFF transition profile indicative of a drain voltage of the switching circuit of the turn-OFF transition and the selected turn-OFF transition time by returning at least some dv/dt feedback current generated by the switching circuit back to the switching circuit, whereby the dv/dt feedback circuit is configured to control said at least some dv/dt feedback current over the turn-OFF transition so as to reduce a rate of change of at least an initial region of the turn-OFF transition profile to minimise harmonics generation by the switching circuit.
COMMUNICATIONS USING AN INDUCTIVE COUPLING
A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.
Controller for a semiconductor switch can include a transmitter and receiver that communicate across galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling
A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.
DRIVER FOR INSULATED GATE TRANSISTOR WITH CIRCUIT FOR COMPENSATING FOR TIME DELAYS
A power stage includes a power transistor and a driver, the power transistor comprising a collector, a gate and an emitter and being configured to change over from a saturated state to an off state and vice versa in accordance with a control from the driver, the power stage comprising a resistor Rg positioned between the driver and the gate, the power stage comprising a circuit for compensating for delays that is positioned in parallel with the resistor Rg, comprising: a circuit for compensating for turn-on initialization delays, which is configured to divert the current from the resistor Rg when a saturation of the power transistor is initialized, a circuit for compensating for turn-off initialization delays, which is configured to divert the current from the resistor Rg when a switching-off of the power transistor is initialized, a circuit for compensating for delays that is configured to divert the current from the resistor Rg when the power transistor is close to the saturated state.
COMMUNICATIONS USING AN INDUCTIVE COUPLING
A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.
COMMUNICATIONS USING AN INDUCTIVE COUPLINGS
A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.
Communications using an inductive coupling
A controller for a semiconductor switch is described that includes a transmitter and a receiver that communicate across galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling. An example controller includes first circuitry referenced to a first reference potential, second circuitry referenced to a second reference potential and galvanically isolated from the first circuitry, and an inductive coupling galvanically isolating the first circuitry and the second circuitry. The inductive coupling includes a first winding referenced to the first reference potential and a second winding referenced to the second reference potential, wherein the first circuitry includes signal reception circuitry coupled to the inductive coupling, wherein the signal reception circuitry includes one or more signal receivers coupled to the first winding to receive signals transmitted over the inductive coupling.
COMMUNICATIONS USING AN INDUCTIVE COUPLING
A controller for a semiconductor switch is described that includes a transmitter and a receiver that communicate across galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling. An example controller includes first circuitry referenced to a first reference potential, second circuitry referenced to a second reference potential and galvanically isolated from the first circuitry, and an inductive coupling galvanically isolating the first circuitry and the second circuitry. The inductive coupling includes a first winding referenced to the first reference potential and a second winding referenced to the second reference potential, wherein the first circuitry includes signal reception circuitry coupled to the inductive coupling, wherein the signal reception circuitry includes one or more signal receivers coupled to the first winding to receive signals transmitted over the inductive coupling.