A semiconductor device includes a first trench gate electrode and a second trench gate electrode which are electrically connected to a gate electrode, and a third trench gate electrode and a fourth trench gate electrode which are electrically connected to an emitter electrode. A plurality of p.sup.+ type semiconductor regions are formed in a part of a semiconductor layer between the first trench gate electrode and the second trench gate electrode. The plurality of p.sup.+ type semiconductor regions are arranged to be spaced apart from each other along an extending direction of the first trench gate electrode when seen in a plan view.

A method comprises configuring a power converter to operate as a boost converter, the power converter comprising a low side switch and a high side switch, during a first dead time after turning off the low side switch and before turning on the high side switch, configuring the power converter such that a current of the power converter flows through a high speed diode, and after turning on the high side switch, configuring the power converter such that the current of the power converter flows through a low forward voltage drop diode.

A power semiconductor device of the present disclosure includes: a first switching element; a second switching element connected in parallel to the first switching element, and having a higher short circuit capability than the first switching element; drive circuits to drive the first switching element and the second switching element; and determination circuits to compare a target current as a sum of a current flowing through the first switching element and a current flowing through the second switching element to a first threshold and a second threshold greater than the first threshold. The drive circuits switch off the first switching element when the determination circuits determine that the target current is equal to or greater than the first threshold, and switch off the second switching element when the determination circuits determine that the target current is equal to or greater than the second threshold.

Systems and methods relating to an electrical system comprising at least two modules, each module comprising at least one switching element. A first module comprises a first switching element made of a first semiconductor material and the second module comprises a second switching element made of a second semiconductor material.

A hybrid switch for a power converter and a method of operating said hybrid switch, the hybrid switch comprising: at a minimum a first and a second element comprising one or more switching devices of a first semiconductor type, and at a minimum a third element comprising one or more switching devices of a second semiconductor type, wherein the second semiconductor type is different from the first semiconductor type, and wherein each element is independently configurable and connected to a separate respective control terminal; and, a controller connected to the control terminals, wherein the controller is configured to control each element independently through each respective control terminal, and wherein the controller is further configured to activate elements based on a measured or estimated current and/or power as required by an operating condition of the converter.

A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes a first trench, a first gate electrode in the first trench, a second trench, a second gate electrode provided in the second trench, a third trench, a third gate electrode in the third trench, a first electrode pad electrically connected to the first gate electrode, a second electrode pad electrically connected to the second gate electrode, and a third electrode pad electrically connected to the third gate electrode, in which a thickness of a conductive semiconductor region opposed to the third gate electrode is smaller than a thickness of a conductive semiconductor region opposed to the first gate electrode, and in which the thickness of the conductive semiconductor region opposed to the third gate electrode is smaller than a thickness of a conductive type semiconductor region opposed to the second gate electrode.

Current imbalances between parallel switching devices in a power converter half leg are reduced. A gate driver generates a nominal PWM gate drive signal for a respective half leg. A first feedback loop couples the nominal PWM gate drive signal to a gate terminal of a respective first switching device. The first feedback loop has a first mutual inductance with a current path of a first parallel switching device and has a second mutual inductance with a current path of a second parallel switching device. The first and second mutual inductances are arranged to generate opposing voltages in the first feedback loop, so that when all the parallel switching devices carry equal current then the voltages cancel.

The present invention relates to a relay driving circuit and a battery system for generating a gate voltage for controlling ON/OFF of a pre-charge relay, and provides a relay driving circuit that controls electrical connection between an external device and a battery pack, including: a transistor that receives a control signal of an enable level to perform an ON operation; a first resistor having a first end connected to a positive electrode of the battery pack and a second end connected to the relay, by the ON operation of the transistor; and a second resistor connected between the the second end of the first resistor and the external device, the relay receives power supplied from the battery pack in a ratio of a resistance value of the second resistor to a sum resistance value of the first resistor and the second resistor to perform an ON operation.

A semiconductor device includes: a first power semiconductor element; a second power semiconductor element that is connected in parallel with the first power semiconductor element; a voltage changing unit that changes a voltage applied to a control terminal of the first power semiconductor element when the second power semiconductor element is turned on; a detection unit that detects a current flowing in the first power semiconductor element when the voltage changing unit has changed the voltage applied to the control terminal of the first power semiconductor element; and a temperature estimation unit that estimates a temperature of the first power semiconductor element based on a characteristic of the change of the current of the first power semiconductor element with respect to a change of the voltage applied to the first power semiconductor element.

A power semiconductor device of the present disclosure includes: a first switching element; a second switching element connected in parallel to the first switching element, and having a higher short circuit capability than the first switching element; drive circuits to drive the first switching element and the second switching element; and determination circuits to compare a target current as a sum of a current flowing through the first switching element and a current flowing through the second switching element to a first threshold and a second threshold greater than the first threshold. The drive circuits switch off the first switching element when the determination circuits determine that the target current is equal to or greater than the first threshold, and switch off the second switching element when the determination circuits determine that the target current is equal to or greater than the second threshold.