# US 11,909,304 B2 · Method for controlling semiconductors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,909,304 B2 - Document ID: US11909304B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/415,495 - Filed: 2019-12-12 - Published: 2022-02-17 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-18 - Assignees: Meritor Electric Vehicles Germany GmbH - Applicants: Meritor Electric Vehicles Germany GmbH - Inventors: Jürgen Ditterich; Herbert Eder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909304B2 ## CPC - H02M 1/088: for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices - H03K 17/0812: by measures taken in the control circuit - B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} - H02M 1/092: the control signals being transmitted optically - H02M 5/4585: {having a rectifier with controlled elements} - H03K 17/0412: by measures taken in the control circuit - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - 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) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract In a method for controlling a plurality of semiconductors that form a power converter, a protocol for controlling the plurality of semiconductors is transmitted via a signal line between a control unit and the semiconductors. Additionally transmitted via the signal line is a sign-of-life signal, wherein the semiconductors are switched off, when the sign-of-life signal is absent, and the semiconductors of the power converter are switched using optimized pulse patterns. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: transmitting data in accordance with a protocol for controlling a plurality of semiconductors that form a power converter via a signal line between a control unit and the plurality of semiconductors; additionally transmitting a sign-of-life signal via the signal line; switching off the plurality of semiconductors, when the sign-of-life signal is absent; switching the plurality of semiconductors of the power converter using optimized pulse patterns; and switching off a transmission of the sign-of-life signal by the control unit for initiating a protective intervention. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sign-of-life signal is transmitted cyclically or permanently. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sign-of-life signal is transmitted as a Manchester code. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the signal line is embodied as an optical waveguide and/or bus system. ### Claim 5 A semiconductor circuit, comprising: a plurality of semiconductors configured to form a power converter; driver circuits operably connected to the plurality of semiconductors in one-to one correspondence; a control unit; a signal line arranged between the control unit and the plurality of semiconductors for transmitting data in accordance with a protocol for controlling the plurality of semiconductors and for additionally transmitting a sign-of-life signal, wherein the driver circuits are designed to switch off the plurality of semiconductors, when the sign-of-life signal is absent; wherein the plurality of semiconductors of the power converter are switched by optimized pulse patterns; and wherein the control unit is arranged to switch off transmission of the sign-of-life signal for initiating a protective intervention. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The semiconductor circuit of claim 5, wherein the signal line is embodied as an optical waveguide and/or bus system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The semiconductor circuit of claim 5, wherein the sign-of-life signal is transmitted as a Manchester code. ### Claim 8 A power converter, comprising a semiconductor circuit, said semiconductor circuit comprising a plurality of semiconductors, with the semiconductors or at least part of the semiconductors being arranged in a bridge circuit, driver circuits operably connected to the plurality of semiconductors in one-to one correspondence, a control unit, a signal line arranged between the control unit and the plurality of semiconductors for transmitting data in accordance with a protocol for controlling the plurality of semiconductors and for further transmitting a sign-of-life signal, wherein the driver circuits are designed to switch off the plurality of semiconductors, when the sign-of-life signal is absent, wherein the plurality of semiconductors of the power converter are switched by optimized pulse patterns, and wherein the control unit is arranged to switch off transmission of the sign-of-life signal for initiating a protective intervention. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The power converter of claim 8, constructed in the form of a modular power converter, said modular power converter comprising at least two power converter modules, said control unit embodied to control at least two of the at least two power converter modules. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The power converter of claim 9, wherein the power converter modules are arranged in a series circuit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The power converter of claim 9, wherein the power converter modules are arranged galvanically separated from one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A vehicle, comprising a power converter as set forth in claim 8. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A wind turbine, comprising a power converter as set forth in claim 8.