High-power switching module and method for the generation of switching synchronism in a high-power switching module

A high-power switching module for directly feeding pulse energy to a load, comprising:

• a plurality of series-connected switching stages, each switching stage comprising:
• a semiconductor switch having an anode, a cathode, and a control terminal;
• a snubber capacitor and a synchronizing resistor connected in parallel with the anode and cathode of the semiconductor switch;
• and
• a control network configured to act on the semiconductor switch and to be supplied with auxiliary power and switching pulses from a pulse driver so as to influence a switching of the semiconductor switch,
• the control network including at least one control resistor, a control diode polarized in a conducting direction of the switching pulses, an auxiliary diode polarized in a non-conducting direction of the switching pulses, an auxiliary capacitor configured to decouple and store the auxiliary power so as to maintain an offset voltage at the semiconductor switch, and an adjustable time-delay element series connected to the control diode and connected in parallel with the control resistor,
• the adjustable time-delay element being configured to variably set the offset voltage for the semiconductor switch that determines the switching of the semiconductor switch.

A method for generating synchronized switching in a high-power switching module for directly feeding pulse energy to a load, the high-power switching module including a plurality of series-connected switching stages, each switching stage including a semiconductor switch having an anode, a cathode, and a control terminal;

• a snubber capacitor and a synchronizing resistor connected in parallel with the anode and cathode of the semiconductor switch;
• and a control network configured to act on the semiconductor switch and to be supplied with auxiliary power and switching pulses from a pulse driver so as to delay a switching of the semiconductor switch, the control network including at least one control resistor and a control diode polarized in a conducting direction of the switching pulses, the method comprising the steps of:
• determining a respective value of a respective offset voltage for each switching stage as a function of a total switching stage capacitance, an instantaneous switching stage voltage, and an instantaneous switching stage temperature so that all of the semiconductor switches are switched within 1.5 ns after a switching pulse has been received;
• branching off auxiliary power from the pulse driver via an alternating current superimposed onto the switching pulse of the pulse driver;
• and
• using the auxiliary power to set the respective offset voltage for each switching stage.