Method for switching off power semiconductor switches in a bridge circuit, bridge circuit, and inverter comprising a bridge circuit

A bridge circuit having a first power semiconductor switch, a second power semiconductor switch, a third power semiconductor switch, a fourth power semiconductor switch, a fifth power semiconductor switch and a sixth power semiconductor switch, wherein a first DC voltage connection of the bridge circuit is connected to a first intermediate point via the first power semiconductor switch, the first intermediate point is connected to an AC connection of the bridge circuit via the second power semiconductor switch, the AC connection is connected to a second intermediate point via the third power semiconductor switch and the second intermediate point is connected to a second DC voltage connection of the bridge circuit via the fourth power semiconductor switch and furthermore a neutral connection of the bridge circuit is connected to the first intermediate point via the fifth power semiconductor switch and is connected to the second intermediate point via the sixth power semiconductor switch, and further comprising a control circuit configured to control the power semiconductor switches in the bridge circuit to be transferred from a switched-off state to a switched-on state and vice versa, wherein the control circuit is configured to:

• establish in a switch-off process a final switch configuration in which all power semiconductor switches in the bridge circuit are in a switched-off state, wherein during a portion of the switch-off process, a switch configuration is established in which the fifth power semiconductor switch and the sixth power semiconductor switch are concurrently in a switched-on state, while the first power semiconductor switch and the fourth power semiconductor switch are in a switched-off state.

An inverter comprising at least one bridge circuit, comprising a first power semiconductor switch, a second power semiconductor switch, a third power semiconductor switch, a fourth power semiconductor switch, a fifth power semiconductor switch and a sixth power semiconductor switch, wherein a first DC voltage connection of the bridge circuit is connected to a first intermediate point via the first power semiconductor switch, the first intermediate point is connected to an AC connection of the bridge circuit via the second power semiconductor switch, the AC connection is connected to a second intermediate point via the third power semiconductor switch and the second intermediate point is connected to a second DC voltage connection of the bridge circuit via the fourth power semiconductor switch and furthermore a neutral connection of the bridge circuit is connected to the first intermediate point via the fifth power semiconductor switch and is connected to the second intermediate point via the sixth power semiconductor switch, and further comprising a control circuit configured to control the power semiconductor switches in the bridge circuit to be transferred from a switched-off state to a switched-on state and vice versa, wherein the control unit is configured to:

• establish in a switch-off process a final switch configuration in which all power semiconductor switches in the bridge circuit are in a switched-off state, wherein during a portion of the switch-off process, a switch configuration is established in which the fifth power semiconductor switch and the sixth power semiconductor switch are concurrently in a switched-on state, while the first power semiconductor switch and the fourth power semiconductor switch are in a switched-off state.