Gate control of power semiconductor devices using reduced gate drivers is disclosed. A circuit breaker may include a multitude of transistors, such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), connected in series with one another. Each transistor may be connected to a respective gate resistor. Diodes may be connected between various gate resistors. One or more resistor-capacitor (RC) snubber circuits may be provided in parallel with one or more of the transistors. Likewise, one or more metal-oxide varistors (MOVs) may be connected in parallel to one or more of the transistors. A gate driver (e.g., a single gate drive) may be connected to the one or more diodes and an emitter of at least one of transistors.

An adapter device, including an AC connection including first AC contact and second AC contact; a DC connection including first DC contact and second DC contact; a first bridge branch including first switching device and second switching device, the first switching device and second switching device connected in series at a first bridge point, the first bridge point connected to first AC contact; a second bridge branch including third switching device and fourth switching device, third switching device and fourth switching device connected in series at a second bridge point, the second bridge point connected to second AC contact; and mode-setting device configured to predetermine a direction of power flow between AC connection and/or DC connection, first bridge branch and second bridge branch connected in parallel to the first DC contact and second DC contact, and different types of switching devices used as switching devices of a bridge branch.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include an electronic switch comprising: a semiconductor switch; and a series circuit. The series circuit is arranged parallel to the semiconductor switch and includes a first resistor, a capacitor, and a second resistor arranged in order R-C-R. The first resistor and the second resistor are arranged to create a bifilar resistor.

Various embodiments include a DC switch for disconnecting a DC line. The switch may include: a power semiconductor switch arranged in a current path of the DC line; a first sensor for measuring the input and output voltages; a second sensor for measuring the current flowing through the DC line; and a controller for the power semiconductor switch. The control device is configured to: switch on the DC switch for a first time period; determine the input voltage present; determine the output voltage present at the end of the first time period; determine the current intensity present at the end of the first time period; and determine an inductance and/or capacitance from the determined values.

A device includes a first switch and a first diode connected in parallel between a midpoint and a first terminal of the hybrid power device, a second switch and a second diode connected in parallel between the midpoint and a second terminal of the hybrid power device, a third switch coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, and a third diode connected between the first terminal and the second terminal.

Various embodiments include a switching device for disconnecting a current path in a DC supply system, said current path comprising inductances at the source end and the load end, the switching device comprising: two series-connected switching modules; wherein each of the series-connected switching modules comprises a controllable semiconductor switching element and a series circuit; the series circuit including a resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel to the controllable semiconductor switching element.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first transistor cells and a plurality of second transistor cells that are electrically connected in parallel between a collector electrode and an emitter electrode. A gate voltage on each of the plurality of first transistor cells is controlled by a first gate interconnection. A gate voltage on each of the plurality of second transistor cells is controlled by a second gate interconnection. A drive circuit is configured to: apply an ON-voltage of the semiconductor device to each of the first and second gate interconnections when the semiconductor device is turned on; and after a lapse of a predetermined time period since start of application of the ON-voltage, apply an OFF-voltage of the semiconductor device to the second gate interconnection and apply an ON-voltage to the first gate interconnection.

A DC-DC voltage converter including a main switch formed by a normally ON switch element connected in series with a normally OFF switch element including a control circuit, a load in series with the main switch, the main switch and the load being configured to be connected to terminals of a DC voltage source. A voltage source, that can be used for controlling is obtained by connecting a main peak detector circuit to the mid-point of the main switch. The control circuit of the normally OFF switch element can be supplied with the DC voltage that makes the entire device self-supplied. Such a converter can, for example, find application in aeronautics.

A switching circuit has a primary MOSFET switch connected between first and second terminals that are connected to a power line and a load represented as a resistance and inductance. The primary switch is operable by primary control commands to assume a conductive or non-conductive state. Four protection branches are connected in parallel with the primary switch, each having a series connected resistive element and a secondary MOSFET switch operable by branch control commands received at branch command terminals to assume a conductive or non-conductive state. A timing circuit applies branch turn off control commands in sequence to the branch command terminals, each delayed by a different predetermined time interval relative to when a primary turn off control command is applied to the primary switch.

A circuit arrangement includes a plurality of switch assemblies connected in series, each provided with a parallel circuit of three assembly components, in which a first assembly component is a semiconductor switch, a second assembly component is a freewheeling diode, and a third assembly component is a surge arrester. The assembly components are disposed one above the other or next to one another as an assembly component stack, the three assembly components of each switch assembly are disposed in the assembly component stack in a consecutive manner. Each two adjacent assembly components are electrically connected to one another by a direct connection. A power converter module and a method for operating a power converter module are also provided.