Circuit arrangement for switching switch elements

A method for actuating a switching element (101) during operation,

• wherein the switching element has two switching states,
• wherein the different switching states are set by actuating the switching element with an actuation voltage, the method comprising the steps of:
• providing (401) a first pre-actuation voltage and a second pre-actuation voltage;
• applying (402) the second pre-actuation voltage to a control connection of the switching element as the actuation voltage so as to switch the switching element (101) to a first switching state;
• reducing (403) the first pre-actuation voltage of the switching element (101) while the switching element (101) is in the first switching state;
• applying (404) the first pre-actuation voltage to the control connection of the switching element as the actuation voltage so as to switch the switching element (101) to a second switching state;
• increasing (405) the first pre-actuation voltage while the switching element (101) is in the second switching state;
• and
• applying (406) the second pre-actuation voltage to the control connection of the switching element as the actuation voltage.

An inverter (501) comprising a circuit arrangement (100) for switching a switching element (101), wherein the circuit arrangement includes

• an actuation circuit (104) and
• a switching element (101),
• wherein the circuit arrangement (100) is configured to switch over between a first and a second switching state of the switching element (101);
• wherein the actuation circuit (104) is configured to provide a variable pre-actuation voltage that is dependent on the switching state of the switching element (101),
• wherein the pre-actuation voltage is a voltage that is applied to the control connection of the switching element (101) as the actuation voltage during one of the two switching states,
• and wherein the actuation circuit (104) is also configured to vary the pre-actuation voltage during a switching state without the switching state changing.