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US 7,028,651 B1Granted
Quasi resonant gate controller for a power driver
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorJeffrey D. Merwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive circuit for a power device includes a power transistor utilized to drive the power device. The drive circuit utilizes a resonant circuit that drives the power transistor at a high current level when the gate of the power transistor is in its Miller region. In one embodiment, the drive circuit includes dual transistors and an inductor tuned to the gate capacitance to drive the gate of the power transistor. The drive circuit may be useful in a variety of areas, such as with a valve controller for a camless engine.
Claims44
A drive circuit for a power device, comprising:
- a high side driver having a first power transistor adapted to couple to a first end of a drive coil, the high side driver having a first inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the first power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the first power transistor as the gate capacitance of the first power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- and
- a low side driver having a second power transistor adapted to couple to a second end of the drive coil, the low side driver having a second inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the second power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the second power transistor as the gate capacitance of the second power transistor transitions through its Miller region.
A controlled drive circuit for a power device, comprising:
- a high side driver having a first power transistor adapted to couple to a first end of a drive coil, the high side driver having a first inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the first power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the first power transistor as the gate capacitance of the first power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- a low side driver having a second power transistor adapted to couple to a second end of the drive coil, the low side driver having a second inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the second power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the second power transistor as the gate capacitance of the second power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- and
- a control circuit operably coupled to the high side driver and to the low side driver, the control circuit being adapted to selectively activate and deactivate the high side driver and the low side driver.
1 more element
An engine control module, comprising:
- a fuel management control;
- and
- a valve management control, the valve management control comprising;
- a high side driver having a first power transistor adapted to couple to a first end of a drive coil, the high side driver having a first inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the first power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the first power transistor as the gate capacitance of the first power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- a low side driver having a second power transistor adapted to couple to a second end of the drive coil, the low side driver having a second inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the second power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the second power transistor as the gate capacitance of the second power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- and
- a control circuit operably coupled to the high side driver and to the low side driver, the control circuit being adapted to selectively activate and deactivate the high side driver and the low side driver.
4 more elements
A camless engine control, comprising:
- at least one electrically actuated engine valve, the at least one electrically actuated engine valve comprising at least one solenoid adapted to facilitate movement of the engine valve between open and closed positions;
- and
- a valve control circuit for each electrically actuated engine valve, the valve control circuit comprising:
- a high side driver having a first power transistor coupled to a first end of a drive coil of the solenoid, the high side driver having a first inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the first power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the first power transistor as the gate capacitance of the first power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- a low side driver having a second power transistor coupled to a second end of the drive coil of the solenoid, the low side driver having a second inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the second power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the second power transistor as the gate capacitance of the second power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- and
- a control circuit operably coupled to the high side driver and to the low side driver, the control circuit being adapted to selectively activate and deactivate the high side driver and the low side driver to activate and deactivate the solenoid to facilitate movement of the valve between the opened and closed positions.
4 more elements
A camless engine, comprising:
- an engine having at least one electrically actuated engine valve, the at least one electrically actuated engine valve comprising at least one solenoid adapted to facilitate movement of the valve between open and closed positions;
- and
- a valve control circuit for each electrically actuated engine valve, the valve control circuit comprising:
- a high side driver having a first power transistor coupled to a first end of a drive coil of the solenoid, the high side driver having a first inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the first power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the first power transistor as the gate capacitance of the first power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- a low side driver having a second power transistor coupled to a second end of the drive coil of the solenoid, the low side driver having a second inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the second power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the second power transistor as the gate capacitance of the second power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- and
- a control circuit operably coupled to the high side driver and to the low side driver, the control circuit being adapted to selectively activate and deactivate the high side driver and the low side driver to activate and deactivate the solenoid to facilitate movement of the valve between the opened and closed positions.
4 more elements
A vehicle system, comprising:
- a vehicle having an engine having at least one electrically actuated engine valve, the at least one electrically actuated engine valve comprising at least one solenoid adapted to facilitate movement of the valve between open and closed positions;
- and
- a valve control circuit for each electrically actuated engine valve, the valve control circuit comprising:
- a high side driver having a first power transistor coupled to a first end of a drive coil of the solenoid, the high side driver having a first inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the first power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the first power transistor as the gate capacitance of the first power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- a low side driver having a second power transistor coupled to a second end of the drive coil of the solenoid, the low side driver having a second inductor tuned to a gate capacitance of the second power transistor to supply at least 80% of maximum current to the gate of the second power transistor as the gate capacitance of the second power transistor transitions through its Miller region;
- and
- a control circuit operably coupled to the high side driver and to the low side driver, the control circuit being adapted to selectively activate and deactivate the high side driver and the low side driver to activate and deactivate the solenoid to facilitate movement of the valve between the opened and closed positions.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.