Driver circuit for a low inductive power module and a low inductive power module with enhanced short circuit withstand capability

A driver circuit for a low-inductance power module, comprising:

• a connection;
• and
• an output;
• wherein the connection is connectable to a source contact of a power transistor and the output is connectable to a gate contact of the power transistor, and the driver circuit is configured to produce, in a first operating mode, a first gate-source voltage for the gate contact of the power transistor and to provide the first gate-source voltage at the output of the driver circuit;
• and
• wherein the driver circuit is further configured to produce, in a second operating mode, during at least one preset minimum time span, a lower second gate-source voltage for the gate contact of the power transistor and to provide the second gate-source voltage at the output of the driver circuit,
• wherein the driver circuit includes two different voltage sources by which the first gate-source voltage and the second gate-source voltage can be produced and can be provided at the output of the driver circuit,
• wherein the two different voltage sources each has an input connected to the connection of the driver circuit, and each has a voltage output, an voltage output of a first voltage source of the two different voltage sources being connected to the output of the driver circuit via a series circuit of a first diode and a first resistor, and an voltage output of a second voltage source of the two different voltage sources is connected to the output of the driver circuit via a parallel circuit of two paths, a diode and/or a resistor being provided in each of the paths.

A low-inductance power module, comprising:

• a driver circuit for a low-inductance power module, including:
• a connection;
• and
• an output;
• wherein the connection is connectable to a source contact of a power transistor and the output is connectable to a gate contact of the power transistor, and the driver circuit is configured to produce, in a first operating mode, a first gate-source voltage for the gate contact of the power transistor and to provide the first gate-source voltage at the output of the driver circuit;
• and
• wherein the driver circuit is further configured to produce, in a second operating mode, during at least one preset minimum time span, a lower second gate-source voltage for the gate contact of the power transistor and to provide the second gate-source voltage at the output of the driver circuit;
• and
• the power transistor having the source contact and the gate contact, the source contact being connected to the connection of the driver circuit and the gate contact being connected to the output of the driver circuit,
• wherein the preset minimum time span corresponds to a time span that is required by a short circuit recognition circuit connected to the power transistor to recognize a short circuit when the power transistor is switched on and to initiate and/or carry out a switching off of the power transistor.