Switching element driving device

A switching element driving device for driving first and second switching elements of a half bridge circuit, the first and second switching elements being respectively formed in an upper arm unit and a lower arm unit of the half bridge, and having respectively a first freewheeling diode and a second freewheeling diode connected thereto in antiparallel, the switching element driving device comprising:

• an upper arm driving circuit configured to output a first driving signal for driving the first switching element;
• a lower arm driving circuit configured to output a second driving signal for driving the second switching element;
• and
• a drive capability decision circuit configured to, responsive to turning on of the first switching element, set drive capability of the first driving signal to a first level and to change the drive capability of the first driving signal to a second level upon detecting a reverse recovery current of the second freewheeling diode of the second switching element, the first level being higher than the second level.