Circuit arrangement, semiconductor module, electrical system, and method for optically outputting information with the aid of a MOSFET

A semiconductor module, comprising:

• a circuit arrangement for optically outputting information using a MOSFET, including:
• a MOSFET that includes an optical interface;
• and
• a gate control circuit;
• wherein the optical interface of the MOSFET is configured to guide light, generated by an inverse diode of the MOSFET, into surroundings of the MOSFET;
• and
• wherein the gate control circuit is configured to:
• receive an input signal which represents information to be output using the circuit arrangement,
• generate from the input signal an output signal which represents the information to be output and which is additionally suitable for varying a gate-source voltage of the MOSFET in a reverse mode of the MOSFET, and
• vary the gate-source voltage of the MOSFET in the reverse mode of the MOSFET based on the output signal to vary a light emission of the inverse diode of the MOSFET in a corresponding manner, as a result of which an output of the information to be output takes place via the optical interface of the MOSFET,
• wherein the optical interface of the MOSFET is optically coupled to a receiver component of the semiconductor module, and/or the semiconductor module includes an optical module interface that is optically coupled to the optical interface of the MOSFET.

An electrical system, comprising:

• (i) a circuit arrangement for optically outputting information using a MOSFET, including:
• a MOSFET that includes an optical interface;
• and
• a gate control circuit;
• wherein the optical interface of the MOSFET is configured to guide light, generated by an inverse diode of the MOSFET, into surroundings of the MOSFET;
• and
• wherein the gate control circuit is configured to:
• receive an input signal which represents information to be output using the circuit arrangement,
• generate from the input signal an output signal which represents the information to be output and which is additionally suitable for varying a gate-source voltage of the MOSFET in a reverse mode of the MOSFET, and
• vary the gate-source voltage of the MOSFET in the reverse mode of the MOSFET based on the output signal to vary a light emission of the inverse diode of the MOSFET in a corresponding manner, as a result of which an output of the information to be output takes place via the optical interface of the MOSFET;
• and/or
• (ii) a semiconductor module including the circuit arrangement, wherein the optical interface of the MOSFET is optically coupled to a receiver component of the semiconductor module, and/or the semiconductor module includes an optical module interface that is optically coupled to the optical interface of the MOSFET;
• wherein the electrical system is configured to place the MOSFET, at least temporarily, repeatedly, in a reverse mode.

A method for optically outputting information using a MOSFET of a circuit arrangement, the method comprising the following steps:

• receiving an input signal, which represents information to be output using the circuit arrangement, by a gate control circuit of the MOSFET of the circuit arrangement;
• generating an output signal from the input signal, the output signal representing the information to be output and being additionally suitable for varying a gate-source voltage of the MOSFET in a reverse mode of the MOSFET;
• and
• varying the gate-source voltage of the MOSFET in the reverse mode of the MOSFET based on the output signal to vary a light emission of the inverse diode of the MOSFET in a corresponding manner, as a result of which an output of the information to be output takes place via an optical interface of the MOSFET.