Abstract: Discharge systems for electric vehicles and electric vehicles having discharge systems. In one implementation, a discharge system for an electric vehicle includes a step-down power converter configured to step down an input voltage to an output voltage; discharge circuitry coupled to the output of the step-down power converter, wherein the discharge circuitry is reversibly driveable to load the step-down power converter; an input component configured to receive input that originated from a human user or a sensor of the electric vehicle, wherein the input indicates that the electric vehicle is to shutdown; and discharge drive circuitry configured to drive the discharge circuitry to load the step-down power converter in response to the indication that the electric vehicle is to shutdown.

Abstract: Discharge systems for electric vehicles and electric vehicles having discharge systems. In one implementation, a discharge system for an electric vehicle includes a step-down power converter configured to step down an input voltage to an output voltage; discharge circuitry coupled to the output of the step-down power converter, wherein the discharge circuitry is reversibly driveable to load the step-down power converter; an input component configured to receive input that originated from a human user or a sensor of the electric vehicle, wherein the input indicates that the electric vehicle is to shutdown; and discharge drive circuitry configured to drive the discharge circuitry to load the step-down power converter in response to the indication that the electric vehicle is to shutdown.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for active discharge of an electric drive system for a vehicle includes an inverter having at least one phase leg, wherein a first of the phase legs includes a first power switch, a dc/dc converter configured to generate an internal supply voltage that is regulated with respect to a voltage on a rail , and a gate drive channel configured to drive the first power switch into conductance by applying a relatively high voltage difference during operation of the vehicle and to continue the driving of the first power switch with a relatively lower voltage difference after a signal indicating shut-down or fault. The dc/dc converter is configured to generate the internal supply voltage to have either a relatively high voltage difference with respect to the voltage on the rail or a relatively lower voltage difference with respect to the voltage on the rail.

Abstract: An electric drive system for a vehicle includes an inverter having at least one phase leg, wherein a first of the phase legs includes a first power switch; an internal voltage supply configured to generate an internal supply voltage regulated with respect to a voltage on a rail and a second voltage, wherein the internal voltage supply is configured to reduce a voltage difference between the internal supply voltage and the second voltage in response to a signal indicating a shut-down or a fault; and a gate drive channel configured to drive the first power switch into conductance by applying the voltage difference between the internal supply voltage and the second voltage between a control terminal and a main terminal of the power switch, gate drive channel configured to continue the driving of the first power switch for a time duration after the signal indicating the shut-down or the fault.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a first power switch having a first gate, a second power switch paralleled with the first power switch and having a second gate, a gate driver to output a gate drive signal to drive both the first gate and the second gate, a first conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the first gate, a second conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the second gate, and a distribution choke to distribute the gate drive signal to the first and second power switches. The distribution choke has a first winding disposed in the first conduction path and a second winding disposed in the second conduction path. The distribution choke is coupled in a differential mode.

Abstract: Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to the comparison indicating the overcurrent condition, and a gating transistor to be coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, the gating transistor configured to divert a portion of a drive signal away from the control terminal of the power switch in response to the triggering signal.

Abstract: Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to the comparison indicating the overcurrent condition, and a gating transistor to be coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, the gating transistor configured to divert a portion of a drive signal away from the control terminal of the power switch in response to the triggering signal.

Abstract: Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to the comparison indicating the overcurrent condition, and a gating transistor to be coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, the gating transistor configured to divert a portion of a drive signal away from the control terminal of the power switch in response to the triggering signal.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a first power switch having a first gate, a second power switch paralleled with the first power switch and having a second gate, a gate driver to output a gate drive signal to drive both the first gate and the second gate, a first conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the first gate, a second conduction path to couple the gate drive signal to the second gate, and a distribution choke to distribute the gate drive signal to the first and second power switches. The distribution choke has a first winding disposed in the first conduction path and a second winding disposed in the second conduction path. The distribution choke is coupled in a differential mode.

Abstract: Circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch and a power converters that includes circuitry for soft shutdown are described. In one aspect, circuitry for soft shutdown of a power switch includes a sense input to be coupled to a power switch receive a signal representative of current passing through the power switch, a comparator to compare the signal with an overcurrent threshold indicative of an overcurrent condition of the power switch and to output a triggering signal in response to the comparison indicating the overcurrent condition, and a gating transistor to be coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, the gating transistor configured to divert a portion of a drive signal away from the control terminal of the power switch in response to the triggering signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a height-adjustable pedestal comprising a height adjustable pedestal platform, a spring device that provides a spring force according to a corresponding spring characteristic, and a lever mechanism that is interconnected between the spring device and the pedestal platform in such a way that the spring force is transferred by the lever mechanism to the pedestal platform in the form of a lifting force that counteracts the weight force of the pedestal platform, in order to facilitate the height-adjustment of the pedestal platform, wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that it at least partially compensates for a variation of the spring force that occurs according to the spring characteristics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a height-adjustable pedestal comprising a height adjustable pedestal platform, a spring device that provides a spring force according to a corresponding spring characteristic, and a lever mechanism that is interconnected between the spring device and the pedestal platform in such a way that the spring force is transferred by the lever mechanism to the pedestal platform in the form of a lifting force that counteracts the weight force of the pedestal platform, in order to facilitate the height-adjustment of the pedestal platform, wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that it at least partially compensates for a variation of the spring force that occurs according to the spring characteristics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a height-adjustable pedestal comprising a height adjustable pedestal platform, a spring device that provides a spring force according to a corresponding spring characteristic, and a lever mechanism that is interconnected between the spring device and the pedestal platform in such a way that the spring force is transferred by the lever mechanism to the pedestal platform in the form of a lifting force that counteracts the weight force of the pedestal platform, in order to facilitate the height-adjustment of the pedestal platform, wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that it at least partially compensates for a variation of the spring force that occurs according to the spring characteristics.

Abstract: A power semiconductor arrangement including conditional active clamping (CAC). One embodiment includes a power semiconductor arrangement. A controllable power semiconductor switch includes a load path. A driver unit for switching the load path to either an ON-state or an OFF-state. An active clamping (AC) unit configured to switch the load path in the ON-state if the voltage affecting the controllable power semiconductor switch is higher than or equal to an allowable voltage. A switching unit includes a control input, and configured to activate and/or to deactivate the AC unit dependent on a signal applied to the control input.

Abstract: A power semiconductor arrangement including conditional active clamping (CAC). One embodiment includes a power semiconductor arrangement. A controllable power semiconductor switch includes a load path. A driver unit for switching the load path to either an ON-state or an OFF-state. An active clamping (AC) unit configured to switch the load path in the ON-state if the voltage affecting the controllable power semiconductor switch is higher than or equal to an allowable voltage. A switching unit includes a control input, and configured to activate and/or to deactivate the AC unit dependent on a signal applied to the control input.