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.

An overcurrent protection circuit is provided for a switching element turned on/off based on a control voltage. The overcurrent protection circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor is a PNP bipolar transistor and has an emitter connected to the control voltage. The second transistor is an NPN bipolar transistor and has a base connected to a collector of the first transistor, a collector connected to a base of the first transistor and pulled up to a predetermined pull-up voltage, and a grounded emitter. When the control voltage exceeds a predetermined first threshold voltage, the first and second transistors are turned on, the control voltage is dropped by drop of the pull-up voltage, and thus the overcurrent protection circuit starts a protection operation of turning off the switching element.

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.

Provided is a semiconductor device capable of suppressing increase in size of a package and adjusting an amount of negative feedback. A power module as a semiconductor device includes an IGBT which is a switching element and a free wheel diode (FWD) parallelly connected to the switching element. The IGBT has, on a surface thereof, an emitter electrode and a gate electrode of the IGBT and a conductive pattern insulated from the emitter electrode and the gate electrode. The FWD has, on a surface thereof, an anode electrode of the FWD and a conductive pattern insulated from the anode electrode.

An amplifier overload power limit circuit, system, and a method thereof comprising a monitoring of a current gain of a BJT based on a current detector and limiting power to the BJT based on the monitored current gain to prevent the BJT from driven into a saturation mode and the amplifier overdrive.

A power transistor module includes a power transistor device and a control circuit. The control circuit is electrically connected to the power transistor device for providing at least one gate voltage to drive the power transistor device, and adjusting the at least one gate voltage in response to an output power of the power transistor module. When the output power is greater than a predetermined power load, the at least one gate voltage has a first swing amplitude; and when the output power is less than or equal to the predetermined power load the at least one gate voltage has a second swing amplitude less than the first swing amplitude.

Operating a bi-directional double-base bipolar junction transistor (B-TRAN). One example is a method comprising: conducting a first load current from an upper terminal of the power module to an upper-main lead of the transistor, through the transistor, and from a lower-main lead of the transistor to a lower terminal of the power module; and then responsive assertion of a first interrupt signal, interrupting the first load current from the lower-main lead to the lower terminal by opening a lower-main FET and commutating a first shutoff current through a lower-control lead the transistor to the lower terminal; and blocking current from the upper terminal to the lower terminal by the transistor.

The disclosure is directed to a power module apparatus that includes a base plate, a power substrate positioned relative to the base plate, at least two power contacts, a gate-source board mounted relative to the power substrate, gate drive connectors electrically connected to the gate-source board, a housing secured to the power substrate, and a clamping circuit electrically connected to the at least one power device. The clamping circuit being configured to clamp an input to a gate of the at least one power device. The clamping circuit being arranged with at least one of the following: the base plate, the power substrate, one of the at least two power contacts, the at least one power device, the gate-source board, the gate drive connectors, and the housing. The disclosure is further directed to a process of configuring a power module apparatus.

An electric assembly includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor device, a wide-bandgap transistor device electrically connected in parallel with the bipolar transistor device and a control circuit. The control circuit is electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the bipolar transistor device and to a control terminal of the wide-bandgap transistor device. The control circuit is configured to turn on the bipolar transistor device and to turn on the wide-bandgap transistor device at a predefined turn-on delay with respect to a turn-on of the bipolar transistor device.

A gate drive device for a switching element includes: a surge voltage detection circuit for detecting a surge voltage when the switching element is turned off; a delay circuit for outputting a timing signal when a predetermined delay time elapses after a turn-off start signal is input; and a driving current output unit for starting to supply a first gate drive current to the switching element when the turn-off start signal is input, and for starting to supply a second gate drive current to the switching element when the delay circuit outputs the timing signal. The delay circuit is configured to change and set the delay time when the surge voltage is different from a target value.