Driver circuit for soft turning on a power element connected to an inductive load

A driver circuit for driving an IGBT transistor connected to an inductive load, the driver circuit comprising:

• an input terminal connected to a conduction terminal of the IGBT transistor, and an output terminal connected to a control terminal of the IGBT transistor;
• a first current generator connected between a voltage reference and the output terminal for providing a first charge current to the control terminal of the IGBT transistor;
• a second current generator connected in parallel with said first current generator between the voltage reference and the output terminal for providing a second charge current to the control terminal of the IGBT transistor, the second charge current being based upon a voltage at the input terminal;
• and
• a switch connected between said second current generator and the output terminal for disconnecting said second current generator from the output terminal so that the control terminal of the IGBT transistor is charged with the first charge current when the power element initiates a turn-on.

An electronic ignition system comprising:

• a power element;
• and
• a driver circuit for driving said power element and comprising
• an input terminal connected to a conduction terminal of said power element, and an output terminal connected to a control terminal of said power element,
• a first current generator connected between a voltage reference and the output terminal for providing a first charge current to the control terminal of said power element, and
• a second current generator connected in parallel with said first current generator between the voltage reference and the output terminal for providing a second charge current to the control terminal of said power element, the second charge current being based upon a voltage at the input terminal.