Temperature detection of power switch using modulation of driver output impedance
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorsJens Barrenscheen, Andre Arens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure is directed to circuits and techniques for detecting or responding to temperature of a power switch. A driver circuit for the power switch may be configured to deliver a modulation signal to a control node of the power switch to control on/off switching of the power switch, wherein the driver circuit is further configured to modulate an output impedance of the driver circuit at the control node, perform one or more voltage measurements while modulating the output impedance of the driver circuit, and control the power switch based at least in part on the one or more voltage measurements.
Claims21
A circuit configured to control a power switch circuit that includes a power switch and a temperature-dependent circuit element electrically coupled to at least one node of the power switch, the circuit comprising:
- a driver circuit configured to be coupled to a supply circuit, wherein the driver circuit is configured to deliver a modulation signal to a control node of the power switch to control on/off switching of the power switch, wherein the driver circuit is further configured to modulate an output impedance of the driver circuit at the control node, perform one or more voltage measurements while modulating the output impedance of the driver circuit, and control the power switch based at least in part on the one or more voltage measurements.
A method of controlling a power switch circuit including a power switch and a temperature-dependent circuit element electrically coupled to at least one node of the power switch, the method comprising:
- delivering a modulation signal to a control node of the power switch to control on/off switching of the power switch;
- modulating an output impedance of the driver circuit at the control node;
- performing one or more voltage measurements while modulating the output impedance of the driver circuit;
- and
- controlling the power switch based at least in part on the one or more voltage measurements.
A circuit arrangement comprising:
- a power switch circuit including a power switch and a temperature-dependent circuit element electrically coupled to at least one node of the power switch;
- and
- a driver circuit configured to be coupled to a supply circuit, wherein the driver circuit is configured to deliver a modulation signal to a control node of the power switch to control on/off switching of the power switch, wherein the driver circuit is further configured to modulate an output impedance of the driver circuit at the control node, perform one or more voltage measurements while modulating the output impedance of the driver circuit, and control the power switch based at least in part on the one or more voltage measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.