Current regulated switching regulator for gating gate turnoff devices

A gate current regulator comprising:

• a source of electric current;
• a switch connected in series with said source of electric current;
• a gate electrode of a gate turn off thyristor receiving current through said switch from said source of electric current;
• means for sensing said current through said gate electrode;
• comparator means responsive to said current through said gate electrode for turning said switch on and off so that the average current through said gate electrode has a predetermined value;
• and,
• a reference and hysteresis circuit connected to said comparator means for adjusting said average current through said gate electrode to said predetermined value, and for switching said switch on at a predetermined low current value, and for switching said switch off at a predetermined high current value.

A variable frequency inverter comprising:

• a plurality of gate turn off thyristors (GTO), each having a control electrode for switching electric current;
• a source of direct electric current;
• a switch connected in series with said source of direct electric current, said control electrode of said GTO receiving current through said switch from said source of direct electric current;
• means for sensing said current received by said control electrode;
• comparator means responsive to said current received by said control electrodes for turning said switch on and off so that the average current received by said control electrodes has a predetermined value;
• and,
• a reference and hysteresis circuit connected to said comparator means for adjusting said average current through said control electrode to said predetermined value, and for switching said switch on at a predetermined low current value, and for switching said switch off at a predetermined high current value.