Drive compensation circuit for synchronous rectifier and method of operating the same

For use with a rectifier coupled to a secondary winding of a transformer and having a rectifier switch, a method of driving said rectifier switch, comprising:

• generating a drive signal with a series-coupled drive winding and capacitor coupled to a control terminal of said rectifier switch;
• delivering said drive signal to said control terminal;
• and
• controlling a capacitive charge within said rectifier switch with a clamp to limit a voltage excursion of said drive signal.

A power converter, comprising:

• an inverter;
• at least one transformer having a primary winding coupled to said inverter;
• a synchronous rectifier coupled to a secondary winding of said at least one transformer and having first and second rectifier switches;
• and
• a circuit for driving said first and second rectifier switches, including:
• a series-coupled drive winding and capacitor, coupled between a first control terminal of said first rectifier switch and a second control terminal of said second rectifier switch, that generates first and second drive signals and delivers said first and second drive signals to said first and second control terminals, respectively, and
• first and second clamps, coupled to said first and second control terminals, respectively, that control first and second capacitive charges within said first and second rectifier switches to limit voltage excursions of said first and second drive signals.