US 9,318,975 B2 · Power system controlling and monitoring power semiconductor devices employing two serial signals

Abstract

A power system includes a power semiconductor devices; a control circuit outputting first firing signals each being for a corresponding power semiconductor device, and outputting first activation response signals each being associated with a corresponding power semiconductor device. A first interface circuit cooperates with the control circuit to input a first serial signal and output the first firing signals, and to input the first activation response signals and output a second serial signal. A second interface circuit cooperates with a controller to input the second serial signal, to output to the controller second activation response signals corresponding to the first activation response signals, to input from the controller second firing signals corresponding to the first firing signals, and to output the first serial signal. The controller controls the power semiconductor devices with the second firing signals, and monitors the power semiconductor devices with the second activation response signals.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electrical system, comprising:

a first module including a plurality of power semiconductor devices and a first control circuit;
and
a second module including a second control circuit;
and
a serial communication link provided between the first module and the second module;
wherein the second control circuit is structured to generate a first serial signal and transmit the first serial signal to the first module over the serial communication link, wherein the first serial signal includes information for controlling the power semiconductor devices, and wherein the first control circuit is structured to receive the first serial signal and generate a plurality of control signals using the first serial signal, and wherein the control signals are used to control the power semiconductor devices;
and
wherein the first control circuit is structured to generate a second serial signal and transmit the second serial signal to the second module over the serial communication link, wherein the second serial signal includes information the monitoring the power semiconductor devices, and wherein the second control circuit is structured to receive the second serial signal and generate a plurality of monitoring signals using the second serial signal, and wherein the monitoring signals are used to monitor the power semiconductor devices.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Power system controlling and monitoring power semiconductor devices employing two serial signals

Life of this patent

Power system controlling and monitoring power semiconductor devices employing two serial signals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20