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US 12,676,545 B2Granted
Detecting signals from cascode power devices
AssigneePower Integrations, Inc.
InventorRobert J. Mayell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Detecting signals from cascode power devices is described herein. By sensing a gate signal from the high-voltage device, drain waveform characteristics may be monitored. In this manner a power switch may be controlled to avail enhanced performance in a power converter comprising a cascode power device.
Claims21
A power converter comprising:
- a cascode power device comprising a first device and a second device electrically coupled in cascode to a switch node, the switch node configured to provide a switch node voltage according to a switching cycle;
- a current sense element electrically coupled to a gate of the second device and configured to provide a sense signal in response toa signal at the gate of the second device, wherein the current sense element comprises a resistance electrically coupled between the gate of the second device and a source of the first device;
- a switch driver configured to provide a gate drive signal to a gate of the first device in response to a drive signal;
- a signal detection circuit configured to provide a state signal in response to the sense signal, wherein the signal detection circuit comprises a comparator configured to provide the state signal in response to a comparison of the sense signal with a reference;
- and
- a break before make controller, wherein the break before make controller is configured to control the gate drive signal in response to the state signal and the drive signal such that the first device operates in an off state during a portion of the drive signal and transitions to an on state at a conclusion of the portion of the drive signal.
3 more elements
A power converter, comprising:
- a first power circuit electrically coupled to an input of the power converter, wherein the first power circuit comprises:
- a first transistor;
- a second transistor electrically connected in cascode with the first transistor;
- and
- a current sense element configured to provide a sense signal in response to a signal at a gate of the second transistor, wherein the current sense element comprises a resistance electrically coupled between a source of the first transistor and the gate of the second transistor;
- a second power circuit, electrically coupled between electrical ground and the first power circuit at a switch node, the switch node configured to provide a switch node voltage according to a switching cycle;
- a driver circuit electrically coupled to a first control connection of the first power circuit and to a second control connection of the second power circuit, wherein the driver circuit is configured to selectively control the first power circuit and the second power circuit in response to a drive signal;
- a detection circuit configured to provide a state signal in response to the sense signal, wherein the detection circuit comprises a comparator configured to provide the state signal in response to a comparison of the sense signal with a reference;
- and
- a break before make controller, wherein the break before make controller is configured to control a gate drive signal provided to a gate of the first transistor, via the first control connection of the first power circuit, in response to the state signal and the drive signal such that the first transistor operates in an off state during a portion of the drive signal and transitions to an on state at a conclusion of the portion of the drive signal.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.