# US 11,121,617 B2 · Driver IC circuit of intelligent power module, intelligent power module, and air conditioner

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- Number: US 11,121,617 B2
- Document ID: US11121617B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/582,464
- Filed: 2019-09-25
- Published: 2020-01-30
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-24
- Assignees: Gd Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd.; Midea Group Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Gd Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd.; Midea Group Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yesheng Li; Yuxiang Feng
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121617B2

## CPC

- H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
- H02M 7/5387: in a bridge configuration
- F25B 49/025: {Motor control arrangements}
- H02H 7/085: against excessive load {(H02H6/00 takes precedence)}
- H02H 7/09: against over-voltage; against reduction of voltage; against phase interruption
- H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
- H02M 1/42: Circuits or arrangements for compensating for or adjusting power factor in converters or inverters
- H02M 1/4208: {Arrangements for improving power factor of AC input}
- H02P 5/00: Arrangements specially adapted for regulating or controlling the speed or torque of two or more electric motors (H02P6/04, H02P8/40 take precedence)
- H02P 5/46: for speed regulation of two or more dynamo-electric motors in relation to one another
- H02M 1/10: Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from AC or DC
- H02P 27/06: using DC to AC converters or inverters (H02P27/05 takes precedence)
- Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)
- H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

Disclosed are a driver IC circuit of an intelligent power module, an intelligent power module and an air conditioner. The driver IC circuit includes: an operating voltage input end, an inverter logic buffer circuit, an upper bridge driver circuit, a lower bridge driver circuit, a PFC logic buffer circuit, a PFC driver circuit, a first voltage regulation control input end, a second voltage regulation control input end, a first voltage regulation module and a second voltage regulation module. The first voltage regulation module increases or decreases the operating voltage according to the first voltage regulation control signal; the second voltage regulation module increase or decreases the operating voltage according to the second voltage regulation control signal; or output the operating voltage to the PFC logic buffer input circuit and the PFC driver circuit. The problem that existing driver IC circuits cannot directly drive SiC-based power switching devices can be solved.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A driver IC circuit of an intelligent power module, comprising:
an operating voltage input end, an inverter logic buffer circuit, an upper bridge driver circuit, a lower bridge driver circuit, a power factor correction (PFC) logic buffer circuit, a PFC driver circuit, a first voltage regulation control input end, a second voltage regulation control input end, a first voltage regulation module and a second voltage regulation module;
wherein:
the first voltage regulation control input end is configured to input a first voltage regulation control signal;
the first voltage regulation module is configured to regulate a voltage input by the operating voltage input end according to the first voltage regulation control signal and to supply a first driving voltage to the inverter logic buffer circuit, the upper bridge driver circuit and the lower bridge driver circuit, wherein the voltage input is regulated to increase, decrease or maintain the same to generate the first driving voltage;
the second voltage regulation control input end is configured to input a second voltage regulation control signal;
the second voltage regulation module is configured to regulate the voltage input by the operating voltage input end according to the second voltage regulation control signal and to supply a second driving voltage to the PFC logic buffer circuit and the PFC driver circuit, wherein the voltage input is regulated to increase, decrease or maintain the same to generate the second driving voltage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The driver IC circuit according to claim 1, wherein:
an input end of the first voltage regulation module is connected to the operating voltage input end, a control end of the first voltage regulation module is connected to the first voltage regulation control input end, and an output end of the first voltage regulation module is respectively connected to driving voltage input ends of the inverter logic buffer circuit, the upper bridge driver circuit and the lower bridge driver circuit;
an input end of the second voltage regulation module is connected to the operating voltage input end, a control end of the second voltage regulation module is connected to the second voltage regulation control input end, and an output end of the second voltage regulation module is respectively connected to driving voltage input ends of the PFC logic buffer circuit and the PFC driver circuit;
an output end of the inverter logic buffer circuit is respectively connected to an input end of the upper bridge driver circuit and an input end of the lower bridge driver circuit; and
an output end of the PFC logic buffer circuit is connected to an input end of the PFC driver circuit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The driver IC circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first voltage regulation module comprises:
a first step-up module, a first step-down module, and a first analog switch;
wherein:
an input end of the first step-up module and an input end of the first step-down module are connected to the operating voltage input end,
an output end of the first step-up module is connected to a first input end of the first analog switch, an output end of the first step-down module is connected to a second input end of the first analog switch, and a third input end of the first analog switch is directly connected to the operating voltage input end,
a common end of the first analog switch is respectively connected to the driving voltage input ends of the inverter logic buffer circuit, the upper bridge driver circuit and the lower bridge driver circuit, and
a control end of the first analog switch is connected to the first voltage regulation control input end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The driver IC circuit according to claim 1, wherein, the second voltage regulation module comprises:
a second step-up module, a second step-down module, and a second analog switch;
wherein:
an input end of the second step-up module and an input end of the second step-down module are connected to the operating voltage input end,
an output end of the second step-up module is connected to a first input end of the second analog switch, an output end of the second step-down module is connected to a second input end of the second analog switch, a third input end of the second analog switch is directly connected to the operating voltage input end,
a common end of the second analog switch is respectively connected to the driving voltage input ends of the PFC logic buffer circuit and the PFC driver circuit, and
a control end of the second analog switch is connected to the second voltage regulation control input end.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An intelligent power module comprising:
a power input end of a low voltage region, a first voltage regulation end, a second voltage regulation end, an upper bridge-arm control input end, a lower bridge-arm control input end, and a PFC control input end, a plurality of resistors, a first upper bridge-arm switch transistor, a second upper bridge-arm switch transistor, a third upper bridge-arm switch transistor, a first lower bridge-arm switch transistor, a second lower bridge-arm switch transistor, a third lower bridge-arm switch transistor, a PFC switch transistor, and the driver IC circuit according to claim 1;
wherein:
the power input end of the low voltage region is connected to the operating voltage input end of the driver IC circuit;
the first voltage regulation end is connected to the first voltage regulation control input end of the driver IC circuit, the second voltage regulation end is connected to the second voltage regulation control input end of the driver IC circuit;
the upper bridge-arm control input end is connected to the upper bridge control input end of the driver IC circuit, the lower bridge-arm control input end is connected to the lower bridge control input end of the driver IC circuit;
the PFC control input end is connected to a PFC control input end of the driver IC circuit;
a first output end of the upper bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the first upper bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors, a second output end of the upper bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the second upper bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors, and a third output end of the upper bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the third upper bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors;
a first output end of the lower bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the first lower bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors, a second output end of the lower bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the second lower bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors, and a third output end of the lower bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the third lower bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors; and
an output end of the PFC driver circuit is connected to a control end of the PFC switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

An air conditioner, comprising the intelligent power module according to claim 5.

### Claim 7

A driver IC circuit of an intelligent power module, comprising:
an operating voltage input end, an inverter logic buffer circuit, an upper bridge driver circuit, a lower bridge driver circuit, a PFC logic buffer circuit, a PFC driver circuit, a voltage regulation control input end, and a voltage regulation module; wherein:
the voltage regulation control input end is configured to input a voltage regulation control signal;
the voltage regulation module is configured to regulate a voltage input by the operating voltage input end according to the voltage regulation control signal input by the voltage regulation control input end and to supply a driving voltage to the inverter logic buffer circuit, the upper bridge driver circuit, the lower bridge driver circuit, the PFC logic buffer circuit, and the PFC driver circuit;
an input end of the voltage regulation module is connected to the operating voltage input end, a control end of the voltage regulation module is connected to the voltage regulation control input end, and an output end of the voltage regulation module is respectively connected to driving voltage input ends of the inverter logic buffer circuit, the upper bridge driver circuit, the lower bridge driver circuit, the PFC logic buffer circuit and the PFC driver circuit;
an output end of the inverter logic buffer circuit is respectively connected to an input end of the upper bridge driver circuit and an input end of the lower bridge driver circuit; and
an output end of PFC logic buffer circuit is connected to an input end of the PFC driver circuit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The driver IC circuit according to claim 7, wherein:
the voltage regulation module comprises a step-down module and an analog switch, wherein:
an input end of the step-down module is connected to the operating voltage input end,
an output end of the step-down module is connected to a first input end of the analog switch,
a second input end of the analog switch is directly connected to the operating voltage input end,
a common end of the analog switch is respectively connected to the driving voltage input ends of the inverter logic buffer circuit, the upper bridge driver circuit, the lower bridge driver circuit, the PFC logic buffer circuit, and the PFC
driver circuit, and a control end of the analog switch being connected to the voltage regulation control input end; or
the voltage regulation module comprises a step-up module and an analog switch, wherein:
an input end of the step-up module is connected to the operating voltage input end,
an output end of the step-up module is connected to a first input end of the analog switch,
a second input end of the analog switch is directly connected to the operating voltage input end,
a common end of the analog switch is respectively connected to the driving voltage input ends of the inverter logic buffer circuit, the upper bridge driver circuit, the lower bridge driver circuit, the PFC logic buffer circuit, and the PFC driver circuit, and
a control end of the analog switch is connected to the voltage regulation control input end.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

An intelligent power module comprising:
a power input end of a low voltage region, a voltage regulation end, an upper bridge-arm control input end, a lower bridge-arm control input end, a PFC control input end, a plurality of resistors, a first upper bridge-arm switch transistor, a second upper bridge-arm switch transistor, a third upper bridge-arm switch transistor, a first lower bridge-arm switch transistor, a second lower bridge-arm switch transistor, a third lower bridge-arm switch transistor, a PFC switch transistor, and the driver IC circuit according to claim 5; wherein,
the power input end of the low voltage region is connected to the operating voltage input end of the driver IC circuit;
the voltage regulation end is connected to the voltage regulation control input end of the driver IC circuit;
the upper bridge-arm control input end is connected to an upper bridge control input end of the driver IC circuit, the lower bridge-arm control input end is connected to a lower bridge control input end of the driver IC circuit;
the PFC control input end is connected to a PFC control input end of the driver IC circuit;
a first output end of the upper bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the first upper bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors, a second output end of the upper bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the second upper bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors, and a third output end of the upper bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the third upper bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors;
a first output end of the lower bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the first lower bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors, a second output end of the lower bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the second lower bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors, and a third output end of the lower bridge driver circuit is connected to a control end of the third lower bridge-arm switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors; and
an output end of the PFC driver circuit is connected to a control end of the PFC switch transistor via one of the plurality of resistors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

An air conditioner, comprising the intelligent power module according to claim 9.