System, drivers for switches and methods for synchronizing measurements of analog-to-digital converters

A method for synchronizing a measurement of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a driver comprising a primary side having a trigger input and a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal input, the driver further comprising a secondary side comprising the ADC and a multiplexer, wherein the primary side and the secondary side are separated by a galvanic isolation barrier and communicate via a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, the method comprising:

• receiving a trigger signal at the trigger input of the primary side of the driver;
• forwarding the trigger signal to the ADC of the secondary side of the driver via the first communication circuit and the multiplexer to cause the ADC to start a measurement;
• receiving a PWM signal at the PWM signal input of the primary side of the driver;
• and
• forwarding the PWM signal to the multiplexer via the second communication circuit for synchronizing the measurement.

A driver for a switch, the driver comprising:

• a primary side connected to a control unit, the primary side comprising a trigger input, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal input;
• and
• a secondary side connected to a switch and comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for measuring a value related to the switch, wherein the primary side and the secondary side are separated by a galvanic isolation barrier and communicate via a first communication channel and a second communication channel;
• wherein the primary side is configured to receive a trigger signal at the trigger input and forward the trigger signal to the ADC of the secondary side of the driver via the first communication channel;
• wherein the primary side is configured to receive a PWM control signal at the PWM signal input from the control unit and to transmit, via the second communication channel, the received PWM control signal to the secondary side to control an output of the driver to the switch;
• wherein the secondary side comprises a multiplexer configured to output a delayed signal of the PWM signal or the trigger signal to the ADC;
• and
• wherein the secondary side is configured to synchronize a measurement of the ADC with the PWM control signal.

A method for synchronizing a measurement of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a driver comprising a primary side connected to a control unit and a secondary side connected to a switch and comprising the ADC configured to measure a value related to the switch, and a multiplexer, wherein the primary side and the secondary side are separated by a galvanic isolation barrier and communicate via a first communication circuit and a second communication circuit, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving, by the primary side, a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal transmitted by the control unit;
• receiving, by the primary side, a trigger signal;
• transmitting, by the primary side, via the first communication circuit, the received PWM control signal to the multiplexer to control an output of the driver to the switch;
• transmitting, by the primary side, via the second communication circuit and the multiplexer, the received trigger signal to the secondary side for use in a measurement of the ADC;
• and
• synchronizing the measurement of the ADC with the PWM control signal by utilizing edges of the PWM control signal for triggering measurement of the ADC.

A driver for a switch, the driver comprising:

• a primary side having a trigger input and a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal input;
• a secondary side configured to be separated from the primary side by a galvanic isolation barrier;
• a first communication channel and a second communication channel, wherein the primary side and the secondary side communicate over the galvanic isolation barrier via the first and the second communication channels, wherein the primary side is configured to receive a PWM signal at the PWM signal input and forward the PWM signal to the secondary side of the driver via the second communication channel;
• wherein the secondary side comprises:
• a first receiving channel coupled to the second communication channel;
• a second receiving channel coupled to the first communication channel and configured to receive a data signal comprising configuration data and trigger signal, wherein the second receiving channel comprises a first output configured to send the trigger signal and a second output configured to send configuration data;
• a control unit coupled to the second output of the second receiving channel;
• a multiplexer comprising a first input and a second input, the first input coupled to a output of a configurable delay element, the second input coupled to the first output of the second receiving channel, and a control input coupled to a second output of the control unit;
• and
• an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an input coupled to an output of the multiplexer, wherein the ADC is configured to start a measurement upon receiving the trigger signal.