Semiconductor device controllers

A semiconductor switching device controller for controlling a semiconductor switching device, said semiconductor switching device having first and second input/output terminals and a control terminal, the switching device controller comprising:

• a control input to receive a control signal for controlling a state of said semiconductor switching device;
• a voltage sense input to sense a voltage on a said input/output terminal;
• a current sense input to sense a current passing through switching device via said input/output terminals;
• a control output to provide a drive signal to said control terminal;
• and
• a feedback control system coupled to said voltage sense input, to said current sense input and to said control input and to said control output;
• wherein said control signal defines a target effective resistance of said semiconductor switching device, and wherein said feedback control circuit is configured to control said drive signal such that said sensed voltage and said sensed current together implement said target effective resistance.

A method of controlling a semiconductor switching device, the method comprising:

• sensing a voltage across first and second input/output terminals of the semiconductor switching device;
• sensing a current flowing between said first and second input/output terminals through said semiconductor switching device;
• and
• controlling a signal on a control terminal of said semiconductor switching device responsive to said sensed voltage and current such that said semiconducting switching device behaves like a passive resistor;
• wherein said semiconductor switching device is an insulated gate device, and wherein said control connection comprises a connection to said insulated gate, the method further comprising controlling a change injected into or removed from said insulated gate to control a ratio of said sensed voltage to said sensed current responsive to a target effective resistance for the device.

A semiconductor switching device controller for controlling switching of an IGBT, the switching device controller comprising:

• a set of one or more registers to store data defining one or more of a target gate voltage value, Vg, a target collector current value, Ic, a target collector-emitter voltage value, Vce, and a target effective resistance value Re;
• a feedback control loop configured to control said Vg, Ic and Vce of said IGBT;
• and
• a controller to control said feedback control loop in accordance with said stored data to target one or more of said Vg, Ic, Vce and Re for said IGBT;
• and
• wherein said controller is configured to target intermediate states defined by one or more of said Vg, Ic, Vce and Re to control said switching of said IGBT.

A semiconductor switching device controller for controlling switching of a MOSFET, the switching device controller comprising:

• a set of one or more registers to store data defining one or more of a target gate voltage value, Vg, a target drain current value, ID, a target drain-source voltage value, VDS, and a target effective resistance value Re;
• a feedback control loop configured to control said Vg, ID and VDS of said MOSFET;
• and
• a controller to control said feedback control loop in accordance with said stored data to target one or more of said Vg, ID, VDS and Re for said MOSFET;
• and
• wherein said controller is configured to target intermediate states defined by one or more of said Vg, ID, VDS and Re to control said switching of said MOSFET.