ENHANCED PERFORMANCE HYBRID THREE-LEVEL INVERTER/RECTIFIER

    公开(公告)号:US20190238062A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-08-01

    申请号:US16251696

    申请日:2019-01-18

    Abstract: A 3-level T-type neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter/rectifier is disclosed in which neutral point clamping is dynamically enabled/disabled responsive to load, e.g. enabled at low load for operation in a first mode as a 3-level inverter/rectifier and disabled at high/peak load for operation in a second mode as a 2-level inverter/rectifier. When the neutral clamping leg is enabled only under low load and low current, middle switches S2 and S3 can be smaller, lower cost devices with a lower current rating. Si, SiC, GaN and hybrid implementations provide options to optimize efficiency for specific load ratios and applications. For reduced switching losses and enhanced performance of inverters based on Si-IGBT power switches, a hybrid implementation of the dual-mode T-type NPC inverter is proposed, wherein switches S1 and S4 comprise Si-IGBTs and switches S2 and S3 of the neutral clamping leg comprise GaN HEMTs. Applications include electric vehicle traction inverters.

    GaN TRANSISTOR WITH INTEGRATED DRAIN VOLTAGE SENSE FOR FAST OVERCURRENT AND SHORT CIRCUIT PROTECTION

    公开(公告)号:US20190140630A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-05-09

    申请号:US15807021

    申请日:2017-11-08

    Abstract: A GaN transistor switch SW_MAIN has an integrated drain voltage sense circuit, which provides a drain voltage sense signal VDSEN. The integrated drain voltage sense circuit comprises GaN sense transistor SW_SEN and GaN sense resistor RSEN, which form a resistive divider for sensing the drain voltage of SW_MAIN, and generating the drain sense voltage output VDSEN. Fault detection logic circuitry of a driver circuit generates a fault signal FLT when VDSEN reaches or exceeds a reference voltage Vref, which triggers fast turn-off of the gate of SW_MAIN within less than 100 ns of an overcurrent or short circuit condition. During turn-off, RSEN resets to VDSEN=0. For two stage turn-off, the driver circuit further comprises fast soft turn-off circuitry which is triggered first by the fault signal to pull-down the gate voltage to the threshold voltage, followed by a delay before full turn-off of the gate SW_MAIN by the gate driver.

    DIRECT-DRIVE D-MODE GaN HALF-BRIDGE POWER MODULE

    公开(公告)号:US20230370059A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-11-16

    申请号:US17741813

    申请日:2022-05-11

    Inventor: Di CHEN

    Abstract: A protected direct-drive depletion-mode (D-mode) GaN semiconductor half-bridge power module is disclosed. Applications include high power inverter applications, such as 100kW to 200kW electric vehicle traction inverters, and other motor drives. The high-side switch is a normally-on D-mode GaN semiconductor power switch Q1 in series with a normally-off LV Si MOSFET power switch M1 and the low-side switch is a normally on D-mode GaN semiconductor power switch Q2. The gates of both Q1 and Q2 are directly driven. M1 in series with Q1 provides a high-side switch which is a normally-off device for start-up and fail-safe protection. M1 may also be used for current sensing and overcurrent protection. For example, a control circuit determines an operational mode of M1 responsive to a UVLO signal and a voltage sense signal indicative of an overcurrent event. Examples of single phase and three-phase half-bridge modules and driver circuits are described.

    ARCHITECTURE FOR AC/DC SMPS WITH PFC AND MULTI-MODE LLC DC/DC CONVERTER

    公开(公告)号:US20230111992A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-04-13

    申请号:US17497233

    申请日:2021-10-08

    Abstract: An AC/DC Switching Mode Power Supply (SMPS) comprises a PFC stage, an isolated LLC DC/DC converter stage, and a control circuit that provides feedback/control signals to PFC and LLC controllers, to enable a plurality of operating modes, dependent on a sensed peak AC input voltage and required output voltage Vo. The PFC provides a first DC bus voltage Vdc (e.g. 200V) for low line AC input and a second DC bus voltage (e.g. 400V) for high line or universal AC input. A multi-mode LLC converter is operable in a half-bridge mode or a full-bridge mode. For low line AC input, output voltage Vo, and PFC output Vdc, the LLC operates in full-bridge mode; for high line input, output voltage Vo and PFC output 2×Vdc, the LLC operates in half-bridge mode; for universal AC input, output voltage 2×Vo, and PFC output 2×Vdc, the LLC operates in full-bridge mode.

    DUAL-SIDE COOLED EMBEDDED DIE PACKAGING FOR POWER SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

    公开(公告)号:US20230402342A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-12-14

    申请号:US18094477

    申请日:2023-01-09

    CPC classification number: H01L23/3672 H01L29/1608 H01L29/2003 H01L29/66462

    Abstract: Embedded die packaging for high voltage, high temperature operation of power semiconductor switching devices is disclosed, wherein a power semiconductor die is embedded in laminated body comprising a layer stack of a plurality of dielectric layers and electrically conductive layers, and wherein a first thermal pad on one side of the package and a second thermal pad on an opposite side of the package provides for dual-side cooling. Example embodiments of the dual-side cooled package may be based on a bottom-side cooled layup with a primary bottom-side thermal pad and a secondary top-side thermal pad, or a top-side cooled layup with primary top-side thermal pad and a secondary bottom side thermal pad, using layups with or without a leadframe. For example, the power semiconductor switching device comprises a GaN power transistor, such as a GaN HEMT rated for operation at ≥100V or ≥600V, for switching tens or hundreds of Amps.

    POWER MODULES FOR ULTRA-FAST WIDE-BANDGAP POWER SWITCHING DEVICES

    公开(公告)号:US20210398875A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-12-23

    申请号:US17465345

    申请日:2021-09-02

    Abstract: Low inductance power modules for ultra-fast wide-bandgap semiconductor power switching devices are disclosed. Conductive tracks define power buses for a switching topology, e.g. comprising GaN E-HEMTs, with power terminals extending from the power buses through the housing to provide a heatsink-to-busbar distance which meets creepage and clearance requirements. Low-profile, low-inductance terminals for gate and source-sense connections extend from contact areas located adjacent each power switching device to provide for a low inductance gate drive loop, for high di/dt switching. The gate driver board is mounted on the low-profile terminals, inside or outside of the housing, with decoupling capacitors provided on the driver board. For paralleled switches, additional terminals, which are referred to as dynamic performance pins, are provided to the power buses. These pins are configured to provide a low inductance path for high-frequency current and balance inductances of the power commutation loops for each switch.

    POWER MODULES FOR ULTRA-FAST WIDE-BANDGAP POWER SWITCHING DEVICES

    公开(公告)号:US20200185302A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-06-11

    申请号:US16705696

    申请日:2019-12-06

    Abstract: Low inductance power modules for ultra-fast wide-bandgap semiconductor power switching devices are disclosed. Conductive tracks define power buses for a switching topology, e.g. comprising GaN E-HEMTs, with power terminals extending from the power buses through the housing to provide a heatsink-to-busbar distance which meets creepage and clearance requirements. Low-profile, low-inductance terminals for gate and source-sense connections extend from contact areas located adjacent each power switching device to provide for a low inductance gate drive loop, for high di/dt switching. The gate driver board is mounted on the low-profile terminals, inside or outside of the housing, with decoupling capacitors provided on the driver board. For paralleled switches, additional terminals, which are referred to as dynamic performance pins, are provided to the power buses. These pins are configured to provide a low inductance path for high-frequency current and balance inductances of the power commutation loops for each switch.

Patent Agency Ranking