US 10,998,843 B2 · External adjustment of a drive control of a switch

Abstract

A control system to control a conductivity modulated device of a power switching array. The control system comprises a system controller to sense a power event and to output a command signal to adjust a drive characteristic of the conductivity modulated device in response to the sensed power event and a switch controller configured to receive the command signal and to control energy delivery to the load by controlling the turn on and turn off of the conductivity modulated device. The switch controller includes an adjustable drive element to control a rise time and/or fall time of a voltage across the conductivity modulated device and a drive characteristic control to receive the command signal and vary the drive characteristics by control of the adjustable drive element to adjust the rise time and/or fall time of the voltage across the conductivity modulated device in response to the command signal.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A control system configured to control a conductivity modulated device of a power switching array and configured to control energy delivery to a load, comprising:

a system controller configured to sense a power event in the control system and to output a command signal to adjust a drive characteristic of the conductivity modulated device in response to the sensed power event;
and
a switch controller coupled to die system controller and configured to receive the command signal, the switch controller further configured to control energy delivery to the load by controlling the turn on and turn off of the conductivity modulated device, wherein the switch controller comprises:
an adjustable drive element configured to control a rise time, a fall time, or both of a voltage across the conductivity modulated device;
and
a drive characteristic control configured to receive the command signal and vary the drive characteristic of die conductivity modulated device, the drive characteristic control further configured to vary the adjustable drive element to adjust the rise time the fall time, or both of the voltage across the conductivity modulated device in response to the command signal generated by the system controller.

3 more elements

A control system configured to control a conductivity modulated device which is configured to control energy delivery to a load, comprising:

a system controller configured to sense a power event in the control system and to assert a command signal in response to the sensed power event;
and
a switch controller coupled to die system controller and configured to receive the command signal, the switch controller further configured to control the turn on and the turn off of the conductivity modulated device to control the energy delivery to the load by variation of a rise time, a fall time, or both of a voltage across the conductivity modulated de vice in response to a first command in die command signal, wherein the switch controller is configured to not vary the rise time, the fall time, or both in response to a second command in the command signal.

A switch controller configured to control energy delivery to a load by controlling the turn on and turn off of a conductivity modulated device, the switch controller comprising:

a drive characteristic control configured to receive drive characteristics from a command signal, wherein the command signal is provided to actively adjust a drive current of the conductivity modulated device;
and
a first drive element coupled to the drive characteristic control comprising:
a first switch coupled to the drive characteristic control and configured to be turned on or off to transition the conductivity modulated device from a first state to a second state;
and
a first trimmable current source coupled to the drive characteristic control and coupled in series with the first switch, the first trimmable current source configured to provide current for the conductivity modulated device to transition the conductivity modulated device from the first state to the second state at a first rate in response to a first command of the command signal and to provide current for the conductivity modulated device to transition the conductivity modulated device from the first state to the second state at a second rate in response to a second command of the command signal.

3 more elements

A control system configured to control a transistor which is configured to control energy delivery to a load, comprising:

a system controller configured to sense a power event in the control system and to assert a command signal in response to the sensed power event;
and
a switch controller coupled to the system controller and configured to receive the command signal, the switch controller further configured to control the turn on and the turn off of the transistor to control the energy delivery to the load and to vary a drive strength of the transistor in response to a first command in the command signal, wherein the switch controller is configured to not vary the drive strength of the transistor in response to a second command in the command signal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

External adjustment of a drive control of a switch

Life of this patent

External adjustment of a drive control of a switch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27