Power electronics converter thermal management

Abstract

The disclosure relates to thermal management of a power electronics converter. An example embodiment includes a power electronics converter comprising: a first set of terminals connectable to a first voltage supply; a second set of terminals connectable to a second voltage supply; a plurality of semiconductor switches connected between the first and second sets of terminals; a voltage sensor connected to measure a voltage across the second supply; a current sensor connected to measure a current through the second supply; and a controller connected to provide switching signals to the semiconductor switches and to receive voltage and current signals from the voltage and current sensors, the controller configured, for each of the semiconductor switches, to: determine a junction temperature of the semiconductor switch; compare the determined junction temperature to a reference temperature; and adjust a switching gate voltage applied to the semiconductor switch.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.