Gate Energy Recovery
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorYogesh Kumar Ramadass
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiment of the inventive subject matter include an apparatus comprising a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a transistor. The first switch is coupled to a first voltage device and the transistor to selectively electrically connect the first voltage device to the transistor to provide a first charge to the transistor. The second switch is coupled to a second voltage device and the transistor to selectively electrically connect the second voltage device to the transistor to remove charge from the transistor. The third switch is coupled to the third voltage device and the transistor to selectively couple the third voltage device to the transistor to provide a second charge to the transistor.
Claims8
An apparatus comprising:
- a first switch coupled to a first voltage device and a transistor to selectively electrically connect the first voltage device to the transistor, wherein when connected to the transistor the first voltage device is configured to provide a first charge sufficient to allow current to flow through the transistor;
- a second switch coupled to a second voltage device and the transistor to selectively electrically connect the second voltage device to the transistor, wherein when connected to the transistor the second voltage device is configured to remove charge from the transistor to stop flow of current through the transistor;
- a third switch coupled to a third voltage device and the transistor to selectively electrically connect the third voltage device to the transistor, wherein when connected to the transistor the third voltage device is configured to provide a second charge to the transistor that is less than the first charge;
- and
- the transistor.
A method of controlling application and removal of charge from a gate of a transistor, the method comprising:
- closing a pre-charge switch, wherein closing the pre-charge switch applies a charge from a pre-charge voltage device to a transistor;
- opening the pre-charge switch;
- and
- closing an on switch, wherein closing the on switch applies a charge from an on voltage device to the transistor, the charge from the on voltage device sufficient to allow current to flow through the transistor and higher than the charge from the pre-charge voltage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.