Power switch arrangement and turn-off method therefor

Details Power switch arrangement and turn-off method therefor Power switch arrangement and turn-off method therefor

2005-07-12

2005-07-12

Callahan, Timothy P. (Department: 2816)

Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices, circuits, and

Signal converting, shaping, or generating

Amplitude control

C327S378000, C327S513000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06917234

ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a power switch arrangement having a semiconductor power switch connected by its load path serially in a load circuit, and a clamping circuit, which is connected between a control electrode terminal and a load-side electrode terminal of the semiconductor power switch. Upon the turn-off of the semiconductor power switch, a clamping voltage is set across the load path thereof. The power switch arrangement additionally has a temperature estimator, which supplies an estimated value corresponding to an instantaneous peak temperature of the semiconductor power switch that occurs directly after the turn-off instant of the semiconductor power switch. The power switch arrangement also has a control device that generates, after the turn-off instant a control signal that is fed to the clamping circuit, if the estimated temperature value has a magnitude that corresponds to a temperature value of the semiconductor power switch that exceeds the maximum desired temperature of said semiconductor power switch. The control device controls the clamping circuit in such a way that the latter sets the clamping voltage in such a way that the protected peak temperature does not exceed the maximum desired temperature, a minimum voltage value of the clamping voltage not being exceeded, which value is determined in such a way that the change in the load current through the semiconductor power switch with respect to time does not become positive and is subsequently increased, first gradually and then very rapidly again.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4709160 (1987-11-01), Kinoshita
patent: 6108183 (2000-08-01), Beene
patent: 6860347 (2005-03-01), Sinclair et al.
patent: 2803557 (1979-08-01), None
patent: 2001085618 (2001-03-01), None
patent: WO 03/034590 (2003-04-01), None

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