Half-bridge circuit and method for driving the half-bridge circuit
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorMartin Feldtkeller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A half-bridge circuit has first and second semiconductor switches, which have load paths connected in series and which are driven in dependence on an input signal that is applied to an input terminal. At least one first drive circuit is provided, which is connected to the control connection of the first semiconductor switch and which makes a first drive signal available. The first drive signal is dependent on the input signal and on a current from or to the control connection of the second semiconductor switch.
Claims11
A half-bridge circuit, comprising:
- a first semiconductor switch having a first control connection and a first load path;
- a second semiconductor switch having a second control connection and a second load path connected in series with said first load path;
- an output terminal disposed between said first and second load paths;
- an input terminal for receiving an input signal;
- at least one drive circuit coupled to said input terminal and having an output connected to said first control connection of said first semiconductor switch and outputting a drive signal at said output, said drive circuit receiving a signal dependent on the input signal and an enable signal dependent on a current from or to said second control connection of said second semiconductor switch, the drive signal being dependent on the input signal and on the current from or to said second control connection of said second semiconductor switch;
- and
- an enable circuit generating the enable signal and having a current measurement configuration connected in a current path to said second control connection of said second semiconductor switch and providing a current measurement signal on which the enable signal is dependent.
A method for driving a half-bridge circuit having first and second semiconductor switches, each of the semiconductor switches having a control connection and a load path connected in series with each other, and the half-bridge circuit receiving an input signal, the method which comprises the step of:
- measuring a current from or to the control connection of the second semiconductor switch resulting in a current measurement signal;
- and
- driving the first semiconductor switch in dependence on the input signal and the current measurement signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.