Circuit and system for the reduction of voltage overshoot in power switches

A microcontroller unit for controlling a power switch having a gate input, comprising:

• a signal generator configured to generate a gate driver input signal, wherein the gate driver input signal has a first voltage during a first period of time, a second voltage during a second period of time, and toggles between the first voltage and the second voltage during a third period of time;
• wherein the gate driver input signal, when provided to a gate driver causes the gate driver to provide a gate driver output signal to the gate input of the power switch based on the gate driver input signal;
• and
• wherein the signal generator is further configured to cause the gate driver input signal to toggle during the third period of time such that the gate driver output signal has a third voltage during the second period of time, and an intermediate voltage that is less than the third voltage during the third period of time.

A method for using a microcontroller unit to control a power switch having a gate input, the method comprising:

• generating a gate driver input signal, wherein the gate driver input signal has a first voltage during a first period of time, a second voltage during a second period of time, and toggles between the first voltage and the second voltage during a third period of time;
• providing the gate driver input signal to a gate driver causing the gate driver to produce a gate driver output signal based on the gate driver input signal;
• and
• providing the gate driver output signal to the gate input of the power switch;
• wherein the gate driver input signal toggles during the third period of time such that the gate driver output signal has a third voltage during the second period of time, and an intermediate voltage that is less than the third voltage during the third period of time.