Driving circuit for a semiconductor switching element
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorsHendrik Ten Pierick, Dirk J. A. Teuling, Friedrich Hahn, Gianlorenzo Paoletti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a driving circuit (2,3) for a semiconductor switching element (1), a storage time (Ts) of the semiconductor switching element (1) is measured (2) to control the semiconductor switching element (1) such that the storage time (Ts) is kept substantially constant.
Claims17
A driving circuit for a semiconductor switching element having a control terminal and a main current path, during a switch-off phase said switching element having a storage time between reversal of the control current and the start of switching off of the main current path, the driving circuit comprising:
- measurement means for obtaining a measurement result indicative of a dissipation in said switching element, and
- control means for supplying a control signal to said control terminal responsive to said measurement result to limit said dissipation,
- characterized in that the measurement means measure said storage time, and in that the control means compare the measured storage time to a predetermined value, and vary the control signal to obtain a substantially constant storage time.
A method of driving a semiconductor switching element having a control terminal and a main current path, during a switch-off phase said switching element having a storage time between reversal of the control current and the start of switching off of the main current path, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- measuring to obtain a measurement result indicative of a dissipation in said switching element, and
- controlling to supply a control signal to said control terminal responsive to said measurement result to limit said dissipation,
- characterized in that the measurement means are adapted to measure said storage time, and in that the control means compare said storage time to a predetermined value, and vary the control signal to obtain a substantially constant storage time.
A line deflection circuit comprising:
- a series arrangement of a choke and a flyback capacitor coupled to receive a power supply voltage,
- a diode and a deflection coil both coupled in parallel with the flyback capacitor,
- a semiconductor switching element with a control terminal, and a main current path coupled in parallel with the diode, said switching element showing a storage time during a switch-off phase, the diode having a direction of conduction opposite to a direction of conduction of the switching element, and
- a driving circuit comprising:
- measurement means for obtaining a measurement result indicative of a dissipation in said switching element, and
- control means for supplying a control signal to said control terminal responsive to said measurement result to limit said dissipation,
- characterized in that the measurement means measure said storage time, and in that the control means compare the measured storage time to a predetermined value, and vary the control signal to obtain a substantially constant storage time.
A switched mode power supply circuit comprising:
- a transformer with a primary winding,
- a semiconductor switching element coupled to the primary winding for periodically supplying current to the primary winding, said switching element showing a storage during a switch-off phase, and
- a driving circuit comprising:
- measurement means for obtaining a measurement result indicative of a dissipation in said switching element, and
- control means for supplying a control signal to said control terminal responsive to said measurement result to limit said dissipation,
- characterized in that the measurement means measure said storage time, and in that the control means compare the measured storage time to a predetermined value, and vary the control signal to obtain a substantially constant storage time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.