Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices – circuits – and – Gating – Utilizing three or more electrode solid-state device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-20
2001-02-20
Callahan, Timothy P. (Department: 2816)
Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices, circuits, and
Gating
Utilizing three or more electrode solid-state device
C327S442000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06191640
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of power electronics. It proceeds from a method and a device for turning a GTO on and off in accordance with the preambles of the independent claims.
2. Discussion of Background
A method and a device of the generic type are disclosed in European Patent Application EP 0 489 945 A1. A description is given of the so-called hard driving of a turn-off thyristor, in which, by contrast with conventional driving, a higher and very much steeper current is applied to the gate to turn off GTO. Moreover, means are provided for generating a turn-on current. Said means generate a current for turning the GTO on, and a holding current for maintaining the turned-on state. The means comprise in each case capacitors in which the required energy is stored and drawn as required with the aid of switches.
A spatial arrangement for a driving unit of the generic type has, furthermore, been disclosed in the German Patent Application with the file number 197 08 873.2, which was not published before the priority date of the present application. This is because arrangements designed to have very low inductance are required to implement hard driving. For this purpose, it is proposed, in the patent application not published before the priority date of the present application, to arrange the components in the immediate vicinity of the GTO.
In very general terms, however, it would be desirable to have a driving circuit which manages with as little outlay as possible in terms of circuitry and energy in order to permit the design of a compact power converter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a novel driving method and a corresponding circuit arrangement which manage with an extremely small amount of space and energy and are suitable, in particular, for the application of the hard driving method. This object is achieved by means of the features of the independent claims.
Thus, the core of the invention is that the turn-on current and the holding current are generated from voltage pulses which are converted into currents with the aid of an electric energy store. In terms of circuitry, it is particularly advantageous when the required voltage pulses are drawn from the same energy source, or the same energy store, as the pulse required to generate the turn-off current. The holding current is preferably generated by repeating voltage pulses. The repetition frequency of said voltage pulses can be increased or reduced as required. In particular, when the gate-cathode voltage becomes negative, the frequency is reduced, and then is raised again in the case of a newly positive voltage.
In a driving circuit according to the invention, the turn-on circuit comprises at least one electric energy store which converts the voltage pulses into currents. It is possible to provide a common energy store for the turn-on current and for the holding current, or else to provide separate energy stores. The transmission of the required energy from the energy store of the turn-off circuit to the energy stores of the turn-on circuit can be performed either by means of inductive coupling or by means of capacitive coupling. Particular preference is given to a driving circuit in which the electric feeding of the required logic circuits and the other components is based on the abovementioned energy store of the turn-off circuit.
The outlay in terms of circuitry can be kept extremely low by means of the method according to the invention and the corresponding device. The efficiency of the circuit arrangement is very high. It is therefore possible to arrange the driving circuit very near the GTO and to keep the inductance low, as desired.
Further advantageous embodiments follow from the corresponding dependant claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4097770 (1978-06-01), Fisher
patent: 4203047 (1980-05-01), Seki
patent: 4298809 (1981-11-01), Onda et al.
patent: 4593204 (1986-06-01), McMurray
patent: 5493247 (1996-02-01), Gruning
patent: 5684426 (1997-11-01), De Doncker
patent: 3418657 A1 (1985-11-01), None
patent: 34 34 607 (1986-03-01), None
patent: 3446344 A1 (1986-06-01), None
patent: 3509617 A1 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 37 14 683 (1987-10-01), None
patent: 197 08 873 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 0 144 978 (1985-06-01), None
patent: 0 416 933 (1991-03-01), None
patent: 0 489 945 A1 (1992-06-01), None
patent: 0 712 206 A2 (1996-05-01), None
patent: WO 93/09600 (1993-05-01), None
patent: WO 94/07309 (1994-03-01), None
M. Bildgen, et al., Elektronik, vol. 26, pp. 59-62, “Verbesserter Wirkungsgrad Bei LeistungsschalTern”, Dec. 22, 1989.
“An Optimum Gate Drive For High Power GTO Thyristors” by H.A. Kojori, M. Narui, F.P. Dawson, Dept. Of Electrical Engineering, University of Toronto, Publication Date Feb. 23, 1992 IEEE, pp. 439-444.
Coenraads Ard
Gruning Horst
Asea Brown Boveri AG
Callahan Timothy P.
Englund Terry L.
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
LandOfFree
Method and device for driving a turn-off thyristor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and device for driving a turn-off thyristor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and device for driving a turn-off thyristor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2596033