US 2015/0085403 A1 · SOFT SHUTDOWN FOR ISOLATED DRIVERS

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a high-power drive device external to a package of a motor drive circuit includes a motor drive circuit. The motor drive circuit includes a driver to control the high-power drive device based on a first reference voltage, a second reference voltage, and a control signal based on a received control signal. A fault circuit generates a failure indicator based on a voltage across terminals of the high-power drive device. A fault condition is based on the failure indicator. A first terminal coupled to the driver charges a node of the high-power drive device over a first length of time in response to an absence of the fault condition and a first level of the control signal. A second terminal coupled to the driver discharges the node over a second length of time different from the first length of time.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An apparatus for controlling a high-power drive device external to a package of a motor drive circuit, the apparatus comprising:

the motor drive circuit comprising:
a driver configured to control the high-power drive device at least partially based on a first reference voltage, a second reference voltage, and a control signal based on a received control signal received by the motor drive circuit;
a fault circuit configured to generate a failure indicator based on a voltage across terminals of the high-power drive device, a fault condition being at least partially based on the failure indicator;
a first terminal coupled to the driver and configured to charge a node of the high-power drive device over a first length of time in response to an absence of the fault condition and a first level of the control signal;
and
a second terminal coupled to the driver and configured to discharge the node of the high-power drive device over a second length of time, the second length of time being different from the first length of time.

3 more elements

A method for controlling a high-power drive device external to a package of a motor drive circuit, the method comprising:

sensing a voltage across terminals of the high-power drive device;
and
determining a fault condition at least partially based on the sensed voltage;
charging a node of the high-power drive device over a first length of time, using a first terminal, in response to an absence of the fault condition and a first level of a control signal based on a received control signal received by the motor drive circuit;
and
discharging the node of the high-power drive device over a second length of time, using a second terminal, the second length of time being different from the first length of time.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Soft shutdown for isolated drivers

Life of this patent

Soft shutdown for isolated drivers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26