Rectifier circuit, and semiconductor device and power supply device using same

Abstract

A rectifier circuit is capable of setting, without using a current detection unit, the number of semiconductor switching elements to be turned on among a plurality of synchronous rectification semiconductor switching elements connected in parallel. The rectifier circuit causes a current to flow in one direction between an anode and a cathode through synchronous rectification. A plurality of semiconductor switching elements are connected in parallel between the anode and the cathode, and a plurality of drive circuits are included to drive the semiconductor switching elements. A control unit creates a control command signal for each drive circuit based on a voltage between main terminals of the semiconductor switching elements. The control unit sets, based on the voltage and during a synchronous rectification period, the number of semiconductor switching elements to be turned on, and generates an on-control command signal for the set number of drive circuits.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.