Solid state power controller, power management system and power converter

A power management system comprising:

• a direct current (DC) power supply;
• a load and a load capacitor;
• and
• a power bus connecting the power supply and the load,
• wherein the power bus comprises a solid state power controller,
• wherein the solid state power controller comprises:
• at least one semiconductor switch having a control terminal;
• a controller configured to generate a pulsed signal;
• and
• a gate driver circuit configured to receive the pulsed signal generated by the controller and generate a pulsed driver signal that is applied to the control terminal of the at least one semiconductor switch,
• wherein the gate driver circuit of the solid state power controller comprises:
• a gate driver configured to receive from the controller the pulsed signal and provide a pulsed output signal;
• and
• driver signal generating device configured to operate in a first state and a second state, wherein the first state and the second state are controlled by the controller,
• wherein the driver signal generating device is configured to:
• receive the pulsed output signal from the gate driver;
• generate, in the first state, a first pulsed driver signal that operates the at least one semiconductor switch in an active region;
• and generate, in the second state, a second pulsed driver signal that operates the at least one semiconductor switch in a saturated region,
• wherein the controller of the solid state power controller is configured to set the driver signal generating device in the first state or in the second state depending on a voltage level signal received by the controller, and
• wherein the controller of the solid state power controller is further configured to set the driver signal generating device in the first state in a pre-charging phase before the load is fully connected to the power supply.

A power converter comprising:

• a direct current (DC) power supply having a DC positive terminal, a DC negative terminal, and a DC voltage;
• a high side voltage rail connected to the DC positive terminal;
• a low side voltage rail connected to the DC negative terminal;
• a load capacitor arranged between the high side voltage rail and the low side voltage rail;
• and
• a power converter circuitry arranged between the high side voltage rail and the low side voltage rail, the power converter circuitry comprising semiconductor switches,
• wherein the high side voltage rail and/or the low side voltage rail comprise a solid state power controller,
• wherein the solid state power controller comprises:
• at least one semiconductor switch having a control terminal;
• a controller configured to generate a pulsed signal;
• and a gate driver circuit configured to receive the pulsed signal generated by the controller and generate a pulsed driver signal that is applied to the control terminal of the at least one semiconductor switch,
• wherein the gate driver circuit of the solid state power controller comprises:
• a gate driver configured to receive from the controller the pulsed signal and provide a pulsed output signal;
• and
• driver signal generating device configured to operate in a first state and a second state, wherein the first state and the second state are controlled by the controller,
• wherein the driver signal generating device is configured to:
• receive the pulsed output signal from the gate driver;
• generate, in the first state, a first pulsed driver signal that operates the at least one semiconductor switch in an active region;
• and generate, in the second state, a second pulsed driver signal that operates the at least one semiconductor switch in a saturated region,
• wherein the controller of the solid state power controller is configured to set the driver signal generating device in the first state or in the second state depending on a voltage level signal received by the controller, and
• wherein the controller of the solid state power controller is further configured to set the driver signal generating device in the first state in a pre-charging phase before the power converter circuitry is fully connected to the power supply.