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US 12,009,812 B2Granted
Optically switched IGBT
AssigneeSimmonds Precision Products, Inc.
InventorsDavid H. Crowne, Richard A. Poisson, Scott R. Durkee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switching device includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or MOSFET having a gate, an emitter, and a collector configured to allow current to pass between the emitter and the collector based on voltage applied to the gate. A stack of alternating layers of photo-sensitive p-n junction layers and insulating layers stacked on the gate for optical switching control of voltage through the IGBT or MOSFET.
Claims16
A switching device comprising:
- an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or MOSFET having a gate, an emitter, and a collector configured to allow current to pass between the emitter and the collector based on voltage applied to the gate;
- and
- a stack of alternating layers of photo-sensitive p-n junction layers and insulating layers stacked on the gate for optical switching control of voltage through the IGBT or MOSFET.
A system comprising:
- an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or MOSFET having a gate, an emitter, and a collector configured to allow current to pass between the emitter and the collector based on voltage applied to the gate;
- a stack of alternating layers of photo-sensitive p-n junction layers and insulating layers stacked on the gate for optical switching control of voltage through the IGBT or MOSFET;
- control logic, including a first waveform controller and a second waveform controller;
- an optical interface operatively connected to be controlled by the control logic, wherein the optical interface includes a first illuminator operatively connected to the first waveform generator and a second illuminator operatively connected to the second waveform generator;
- a first optical fiber optically connecting between the first illuminator and the stack;
- and
- a second optical fiber optically connecting between the second illuminator and the stack so the control logic can control current flow between the collector and the emitter redundantly with the first and second optical fibers.
4 more elements
A system comprising
- a plurality of switching devices, each including:
- an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or MOSFET having a gate, an emitter, and a collector configured to allow current to pass between the emitter and the collector based on voltage applied to the gate;
- and
- a stack of alternating layers of photo-sensitive p-n junction layers and insulating layers stacked on the gate for optical switching control of voltage through the IGBT or MOSFET;
- control logic, including a plurality of waveform controllers;
- an optical interface operatively connected to be controlled by the control logic, wherein the optical interface includes a plurality of illuminators each operatively connected to a respective one of the plurality of waveform controllers, each of the plurality of illuminators being of a different wavelength;
- a respective initial optical fiber optically connecting between each of the plurality of illuminators and an optical combiner;
- a main optical fiber connecting between the initial optical fibers and an optical splitter;
- and
- a respective terminal optical fiber optically each connecting between the optical splitter and a respective one of the stacks so the control logic can control current flow for all of the IGBTs or MOSFETs independently.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.