Abstract: A gate driver comprises an input terminal, an output terminal, and first logic configured to generate an output drive signal at the output terminal corresponding to an input drive signal received at the input terminal. A blanking unit is configured to connect a current sense terminal of the gate driver to a reference supply terminal responsive to a low value of the output drive signal and disconnect the current sense terminal from the reference supply terminal after a predetermined delay period responsive to a high value of the output drive signal.

Abstract: In a cooled housing for the stator of a direct drive, cooling ducts extend on an outer peripheral surface of the housing, the cooling ducts being sealed by an annular cover extending around the peripheral surface. The cover includes openings as an inlet and outlet for a cooling medium, and the cover is arranged such that sections of the peripheral surface of the housing remain free.

Abstract: A gate driver circuit for driving a power switch includes a gate driver having a first input for receiving an input signal and an output coupled to the power switch, the gate driver providing a primary gate current and an auxiliary gate current, and a differential voltage sensor having a first input for receiving the input signal, a second input coupled to a power supply voltage, a third input coupled to a terminal of the power switch, and an output coupled to a second input of the gate driver.

Abstract: In a cooled housing for the stator of a direct drive, cooling ducts extend on an outer peripheral surface of the housing, the cooling ducts being sealed by an annular cover extending around the peripheral surface. The cover includes openings as an inlet and outlet for a cooling medium, and the cover is arranged such that sections of the peripheral surface of the housing remain free.

Abstract: A driver integrated circuit for driving at least one high voltage half bridge stage. The driver including a filter circuit for filtering a signal provided to the half bridge stage, a minimum pulse width of the signal being near a constant time of the filter, wherein the filter circuit prevents distortions introduced when the signal is at its minimum pulse width from being passed to the half bridge stage.

Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, a gate driver circuit for sensorless speed detection and driving a switching stage includes high side and low side switches series connected across a DC bus and having a switching node between the series switches, the gate driver having a bootstrap power supply for powering a high side driver driving the high side switch of the switching stage and a low side driver power supply, and further includes a comparator circuit to periodically compare the voltage between the bootstrap and low side driver power supplies with a threshold and to output a first signal, wherein the first signal indicates current sign and frequency.

Abstract: A circuit for indirectly measuring a sign of a current flowing in an inverter stage coupled to a phase of a motor or indirectly measuring the sign of the voltage induced by a counter Electromotive Force (EMF) in a coil of the phase of the motor, the inverter stage being connected between a power supply and the ground. The circuit includes a gate driver circuit coupled to the inverter stage for alternatively connecting the phase of the motor to the power supply and to ground, the gate driver circuit having a current sign detection circuit, wherein the current sign detection circuit senses the sign of the current flowing in the inverter stage, or the sign of the counter EMF for controlling the commutation of switches in the inverter stage.

Abstract: A high-side driver in a driver circuit for driving a half-bridge stage having high- and low-side power switching devices series connected at a switched node, the high-side driver driving the high-side power switching device.

Abstract: A circuit for optimizing charging of a bootstrap capacitor connected to a high side floating supply voltage at a first terminal and to a switched node voltage at a second terminal, the circuit for optimizing being included in a gate driver circuit having high- and low-side driver circuits for driving high- and low-side switches connected at the switched node in a half bridge to provide current to a load, the high-side driver circuit receiving a first control voltage referenced to a first level and the low-side driver circuit receiving a second control voltage referenced to a second level, the bootstrap capacitor providing the high-side floating supply voltage for the high-side driver circuit, the optimizing circuit comprising a bootstrap diode emulator circuit comprising a bootstrap diode emulator driver circuit driving a first switch, the first switch connected between the first terminal of the bootstrap capacitor and a supply voltage for the low side driver circuit; and a phase sense comparator circuit resp

Abstract: A high-side driver in a driver circuit for driving a half-bridge stage having high- and low-side power switching devices series connected at a switched node, the high-side driver driving the high-side power switching device.

Abstract: A circuit for optimizing charging of a bootstrap capacitor connected to a high side floating supply voltage at a first terminal and to a switched node voltage at a second terminal, the circuit for optimizing being included in a gate driver circuit having a high-and a low-side driver circuits for driving high- and low-side switches connected at a switched node in a half bridge to provide current to a load, the high-side driver circuit receiving a first control voltage referenced to a first level and a low-side driver circuit receiving a second control voltage referenced to a second level, the bootstrap capacitor providing supply voltage for the high-side driver circuit.

Abstract: A circuit for optimizing charging of a bootstrap capacitor connected to a high side floating supply voltage at a first terminal and to a switched node voltage at a second terminal, the circuit for optimizing being included in a gate driver circuit having high- and low-side driver circuits for driving high- and low-side switches connected at the switched node in a half bridge to provide current to a load, the high-side driver circuit receiving a first control voltage referenced to a first level and the low-side driver circuit receiving a second control voltage referenced to a second level, the bootstrap capacitor providing the high-side floating supply voltage for the high-side driver circuit, the optimizing circuit comprising a bootstrap diode emulator circuit comprising a bootstrap diode emulator driver circuit driving a first switch, the first switch connected between the first terminal of the bootstrap capacitor and a supply voltage for the low side driver circuit; and a phase sense comparator circuit resp

Abstract: A method of determining the speed of a spinning sensorless brushless motor driven by an inverter when the phase terminals of the motor are shorted including determining a voltage related to the voltage developed in a phase leg of the inverter; from the determined voltage, determining the direction of current and providing a first signal determining transitions between current flowing in each of two directions; and from the first signal, determining the frequency of the current and thus the motor speed.

Abstract: A driver integrated circuit for driving at least one high voltage half bridge stage. The driver including a filter circuit for filtering a signal provided to the half bridge stage, a minimum pulse width of the signal being near a constant time of the filter, wherein the filter circuit prevents distortions introduced when the signal is at its minimum pulse width from being passed to the half bridge stage.

Abstract: A circuit for optimizing charging of a bootstrap capacitor connected to a high side floating supply voltage at a first terminal and to a switched node voltage at a second terminal, the circuit for optimizing being included in a gate driver circuit having a high- and a low-side driver circuits for driving high- and low-side switches connected at a switched node in a half bridge to provide current to a load, the high-side driver circuit receiving a first control voltage referenced to a first level and a low-side driver circuit receiving a second control voltage referenced to a second level, the bootstrap capacitor providing supply voltage for the high-side driver circuit.

Abstract: A circuit in a gate driver circuit controlling a half bridge stage having high and low switches, the gate driver circuit having a high side driving circuit for driving the high switch and low side driving circuit for driving the low switch, the circuit ensuring turning OFF of the high side driving circuit and the high switch. The circuit including an input portion for receiving input signals for the high and low side driving circuits and a shutdown signals; and an output portion for providing SET and RESET signals to the high and low side driving circuits, wherein the high side driving circuit is turned OFF when the input signal for the high side driving circuit is inactive and when the input signal for the low side driving circuit becomes active.

Abstract: A circuit for indirectly measuring a sign of a current flowing in an inverter stage coupled to a phase of a motor or indirectly measuring the sign of the voltage induced by a counter Electromotive Force (EMF) in a coil of the phase of the motor, the inverter stage being connected between a power supply and the ground. The circuit includes a gate driver circuit coupled to the inverter stage for alternatively connecting the phase of the motor to the power supply and to ground, the gate driver circuit having a current sign detection circuit, wherein the current sign detection circuit senses the sign of the current flowing in the inverter stage, or the sign of the counter EMF for controlling the commutation of switches in the inverter stage.

Abstract: A bootstrap diode emulator circuit for use in a half-bridge switching circuit employing transistors connected to one another in a totem pole configuration at an output node of said half-bridge, a driver circuit for driving the transistors, and a bootstrap capacitor for providing power to the high-side driver circuit. The bootstrap diode emulator circuit includes an LDMOS transistor having a gate, a back-gate, a source and a drain, the drain of the LDMOS transistor being coupled to the high-side supply node, the source of the LDMOS transistor being coupled to the low-side supply node; a gate control circuit electrically coupled to the gate of the LDMOS transistor, and a dynamic back-gate biasing circuit electrically coupled to the back-gate of the LDMOS transistor.