Back to results
US 9,178,506 B2Granted
High speed charge control for power switching devices
AssigneeCrydom, Inc.
InventorsEdgar Equihua, Sergio Orozco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are systems, devices, apparatus, circuits, methods, and other implementations, including a system that includes one or more power switching devices that receive power delivered by a power unit, and a high-speed charge control circuit electrically coupled to the one or more power switching devices. The high-speed charge control circuit includes an optocoupler coupled to the power unit and further coupled to a first switching device of the high-speed charge control circuit, the first switching device actuated based on output of the optocoupler to establish an electrical path to discharge at least a portion of electrical charge present at least on the one or more power switching devices when power delivery from the power unit is stopped.
Claims17
A system comprising:
- one or more power switching semiconductor devices that receive power delivered by a power unit;
- and
- a high-speed charge control circuit electrically coupled to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices, the high-speed charge control circuit comprising:
- an optocoupler to electrically isolate the power unit from the one or more power switching semiconductor devices, the optocoupler coupled to the power unit and further coupled to a first switching device of the high-speed charge control circuit, the first switching device actuated to a conductive state based on output of the optocoupler to establish an electrical path, passing through the first switching device, between at least some terminals of the one or more power switching semiconductor devices and ground to discharge at least a portion of electrical charge present at least on the one or more power switching semiconductor devices through the first switching device actuated to the conductive state by the optocoupler and to the ground when power delivery from the power unit for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices is stopped, wherein when the power for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices is being delivered from the power unit, the first switching device coupled to the optocoupler is actuated to a non-conductive state such that the electrical path between the at least some terminals of the one or more switching devices and the ground is removed;
- and
- a charging circuit to provide an initial electrical charge to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices when the power delivery from the power unit is commenced, the charging circuit comprising:
- a second switching device actuated to an ON state in response to the power for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices being delivered from the power unit;
- and
- a capacitor coupled to a terminal of the second switching device with the initial electrical charge, previously stored on the capacitor while the power unit was not delivering power to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices, delivered to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices through the second switching device when the second switching device is actuated to the ON state in response to commencing of the power delivery for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- delivering power produced by a power unit to one or more power switching semiconductor devices;
- actuating a first switching device to a conductive state based on output of an optocoupler to establish an electrical path, passing through the first switching device, between at least some terminals of the one or more power switching semiconductor devices and ground to discharge at least a portion of electrical charge present at least on the one or more power switching semiconductor devices through the first switching device actuated to the conductive state by the optocoupler and to the ground when power delivery from the power unit for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices is stopped, with the optocoupler configured to electrically isolate the power unit from the one or more power switching semiconductor devices, the optocoupler including one or more input terminals electrically coupled to the power unit, wherein when the power for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices is being delivered from the power unit, the first switching device coupled to the optocoupler is actuated to a non-conductive state such that the electrical path between the at least some terminals of the one or more switching devices and the ground is removed;
- and
- providing an initial electrical charge to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices when the power delivery from the power unit is commenced, wherein providing the initial charge comprises:
- delivering the initial charge from a capacitor coupled to a terminal of a second switching device, with the initial electrical charge, previously stored on the capacitor while the Power unit was not delivering power to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices, delivered to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices through the second switching device when the second switching device is actuated to an ON state in response to commencing of the power delivery for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices.
2 more elements
A circuit comprising:
- one or more power switching semiconductor devices that receive power delivered by a power unit;
- and
- a high-speed charge control circuit electrically coupled to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices, the high-speed charge control circuit comprising:
- an optocoupler to electrically isolate the power unit from the one or more power switching semiconductor devices, the optocoupler coupled to the power unit and further coupled to a first switching device of the high-speed charge control circuit, the first switching device actuated to a conductive state based on output of the optocoupler to establish an electrical path, passing through the first switching device, between at least some terminals of the one or more power switching semiconductor devices and ground to discharge at least a portion of electrical charge present at least on the one or more power switching semiconductor devices through the first switching device actuated to the conductive state by the optocoupler and to the ground when power delivery from the power unit for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices is stopped, wherein when the power for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices is being delivered from the power unit, the first switching device coupled to the optocoupler is actuated to a non-conductive state such that the electrical path between the at least some terminals of the one or more switching devices and the ground is removed;
- and
- a charging circuit to provide an initial electrical charge to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices when the power delivery from the power unit is commenced;
- and
- a second switching device actuated to an ON state in response to the power for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices being delivered from the power unit;
- and
- a capacitor coupled to a terminal of the second switching device with the initial electrical charge, previously stored on the capacitor while the power unit was not delivering power to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices, delivered to the one or more power switching semiconductor devices through the second switching device when the second switching device is actuated to the ON state in response to commencing of the power delivery for powering the one or more power switching semiconductor devices.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.