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US 10,312,914 B2Granted
Gate driver with serial communication
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsXiong Li, Toru Tanaka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gate driver includes a drive signal input terminal, a drive signal output terminal, a gate drive circuit, and a serial communication interface. The drive signal input terminal is configured to receive a gate drive signal. The gate drive circuit is coupled to the drive signal input terminal and the drive signal output terminal. The gate drive circuit is configured to provide the gate drive signal to the drive signal output terminal. The serial communication interface is coupled to the drive signal input terminal.
Claims19
A gate driver, comprising:
- a drive signal input terminal configured to receive a gate drive signal;
- a drive signal output terminal;
- a gate drive circuit coupled to the drive signal input terminal and the drive signal output terminal, the gate drive circuit configured to provide the gate drive signal to the drive signal output port;
- and
- a serial communication interface coupled to the drive signal input terminal,
- wherein:
- the gate drive circuit is configured to amplify the gate drive signal;
- and
- the serial communication interface comprises:
- a data input terminal;
- and
- control circuitry configured to assign a value received via the data input terminal to be an address of the serial communication interface responsive to activation of the gate drive signal.
9 more elements
A motor drive circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of power transistors configured to drive an electric motor;
- and
- a plurality of gate drivers, one of the gate drivers connected to a control terminal of each of the power transistors, each of the gate drivers comprising:
- a drive signal input terminal;
- a gate drive circuit coupled to the drive signal input terminal, the gate drive circuit configured to drive a signal received at the drive signal input terminal to the control terminal of the one of the power transistors connected to the gate driver;
- a serial communication interface coupled to the gate drive circuit, the serial communication interface comprising:
- a data input terminal;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- enter an address initialization mode during initialization of the gate driver;
- and
- remain in the address initialization mode until the signal received at the drive signal input terminal is activated and thereafter deactivated.
9 more elements
A traction inverter, comprising:
- a plurality of power transistors configured to drive an electric motor;
- a plurality of gate drivers, each of the gate drivers connected to a control terminal of one of the power transistors;
- and
- a controller comprising a plurality of motor drive terminals, each of the motor drive terminals connected to a drive signal input terminal of one of the gate drivers;
- wherein each of the gate drivers comprises a serial communication interface coupled to the controller, the serial communication interface comprising:
- a data input terminal;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- enter an address initialization mode during initialization of the gate driver;
- remain in the address initialization mode until a signal received at the drive signal input terminal is activated and thereafter inactivated;
- and
- while in the address initialization mode, assign a value received via the data input terminal to be an address of the serial communication interface.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.