Universal clamping circuit for automotive switch gate drives

A power converter comprising:

• an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT);
• a gate driver circuit configured to provide power to a gate of the IGBT;
• and
• a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) configured to, responsive to the gate driver circuit being de-energized and a voltage of a gate of the IGBT exceeding a predetermined threshold value, conduct current from the gate to dissipate the voltage and clamp the gate to an emitter of the IGBT, wherein a collector of the BJT is directly electrically connected with the emitter of the IGBT.

An automotive vehicle comprising:

• an electric machine;
• a traction battery;
• and
• a power converter configured to transfer power between the electric machine and traction battery, and including a switch defining a portion of a phase leg, a gate driver circuit configured to provide power to a gate of the switch, and a clamping circuit including first and second clamping switches,
• wherein the first clamping switch is configured to, responsive to the gate driver circuit being de-energized and a voltage of the gate of the switch exceeding a predetermined threshold value, conduct current from the gate of the switch to a gate of the second clamping switch to increase a voltage of the gate of the second clamping switch, and
• wherein the second clamping switch is configured to, responsive to the voltage of the gate of the second clamping switch exceeding another predetermined threshold value, conduct current such that the gate and emitter of the switch are clamped together.