Abstract: Driver circuitry for driving a power semiconductor switch having a control input and main terminals is described. The driver circuitry includes control terminal driver circuitry coupled to the control input and configured to provide a drive signal, a sense terminal coupled to the main terminal, a current mirror coupled to the sense terminal to mirror a current input into the sense terminal during turn-off, a first current comparator configured to compare a current signal received from the current mirror to a first current threshold and output a first signal representative of the comparison, and a second comparator configured to compare a signal received from the sense terminal to a turn-on threshold and output a second signal representative of the comparison. The turn-on threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-on. The first current threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-off.

Abstract: A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Driver circuitry for driving a power semiconductor switch having a control input and main terminals is described. The driver circuitry includes control terminal driver circuitry coupled to the control input and configured to provide a drive signal, a sense terminal coupled to the main terminal, a current mirror coupled to the sense terminal to mirror a current input into the sense terminal during turn-off, a first current comparator configured to compare a current signal received from the current mirror to a first current threshold and output a first signal representative of the comparison, and a second comparator configured to compare a signal received from the sense terminal to a turn-on threshold and output a second signal representative of the comparison. The turn-on threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-on. The first current threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-off.

Abstract: A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Driver circuitry for driving a power semiconductor switch having a control input and main terminals is described. The driver circuitry includes control terminal driver circuitry coupled to the control input and configured to provide a drive signal, a sense terminal coupled to the main terminal, a current mirror coupled to the sense terminal to mirror a current input into the sense terminal during turn-off, a first current comparator configured to compare a current signal received from the current mirror to a first current threshold and output a first signal representative of the comparison, and a second comparator configured to compare a signal received from the sense terminal to a turn-on threshold and output a second signal representative of the comparison. The turn-on threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-on. The first current threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-off.

Abstract: Driver circuitry for driving a power semiconductor switch having a control input and main terminals is described. The driver circuitry includes control terminal driver circuitry coupled to the control input and configured to provide a drive signal, a sense terminal coupled to the main terminal, a current mirror coupled to the sense terminal to mirror a current input into the sense terminal during turn-off, a first current comparator configured to compare a current signal received from the current mirror to a first current threshold and output a first signal representative of the comparison, and a second comparator configured to compare a signal received from the sense terminal to a turn-on threshold and output a second signal representative of the comparison. The turn-on threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-on. The first current threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-off.

Abstract: A turn-off circuit for a semiconductor switch includes an element having a variable resistance coupled to a control input of the semiconductor switch, a circuit for generating a control-input reference signal, and a control circuit coupled to adjust a resistance of the element having a variable resistance in response to the control-input reference signal in a closed control loop in order to turn off the semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A power conversion system comprising a system controller configured to generate an input signal in response to a system input and a switch controller coupled to the system controller, the switch controller configured to control a power switch. The switch controller comprises a driver interface configured to receive the input signal that indicates whether the power switch should be ON or OFF, the driver interface further configured to transmit one or more current pulses across a galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling. The driver interface further comprises a first local power supply configured to increase an output voltage of the first local power supply when a transmission of current pulses is imminent.

Abstract: Driver circuitry for driving a power semiconductor switch having a control input and main terminals is described. The driver circuitry includes control terminal driver circuitry coupled to the control input and configured to provide a drive signal, a sense terminal coupled to the main terminal, a current mirror coupled to the sense terminal to mirror a current input into the sense terminal during turn-off, a first current comparator configured to compare a current signal received from the current mirror to a first current threshold and output a first signal representative of the comparison, and a second comparator configured to compare a signal received from the sense terminal to a turn-on threshold and output a second signal representative of the comparison. The turn-on threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-on. The first current threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-off.

Abstract: A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A turn-off circuit for a semiconductor switch includes an element having a variable resistance coupled to a control input of the semiconductor switch, a circuit for generating a control-input reference signal, and a control circuit coupled to adjust a resistance of the element having a variable resistance in response to the control-input reference signal in a closed control loop in order to turn off the semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A turn-off circuit for a semiconductor switch includes an element having a variable resistance coupled to a control input of the semiconductor switch, a circuit for generating a control-input reference signal, and a control circuit coupled to adjust a resistance of the element having a variable resistance in response to the control-input reference signal in a closed control loop in order to turn off the semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A controller comprising a driver interface referenced to a first reference potential, a drive circuit referenced to a second reference potential, and an inductive coupling. The driver interface comprises a first receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a first polarity on the first terminal of the inductive coupling with a first threshold, and a second receiver configured to compare a portion of signals having a second polarity on the second terminal of the inductive coupling with a third threshold. The drive circuit comprises a first transmitter configured to drive current in a first direction in the second winding to transmit first signals, and a second transmitter configured to drive current in a second direction in the second winding to transmit second signals, the second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A controller for a semiconductor switch is described that includes a transmitter and a receiver that communicate across galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling. An example controller includes first circuitry referenced to a first reference potential, second circuitry referenced to a second reference potential and galvanically isolated from the first circuitry, and an inductive coupling galvanically isolating the first circuitry and the second circuitry. The inductive coupling includes a first winding referenced to the first reference potential and a second winding referenced to the second reference potential, wherein the first circuitry includes signal reception circuitry coupled to the inductive coupling, wherein the signal reception circuitry includes one or more signal receivers coupled to the first winding to receive signals transmitted over the inductive coupling.

Abstract: Driver circuitry for driving a power semiconductor switch having a control input and main terminals is described. The driver circuitry includes control terminal driver circuitry coupled to the control input and configured to provide a drive signal, a sense terminal coupled to the main terminal, a current mirror coupled to the sense terminal to mirror a current input into the sense terminal during turn-off, a first current comparator configured to compare a current signal received from the current mirror to a first current threshold and output a first signal representative of the comparison, and a second comparator configured to compare a signal received from the sense terminal to a turn-on threshold and output a second signal representative of the comparison. The turn-on threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-on. The first current threshold represents a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-off.

Abstract: A power conversion system comprising a system controller configured to generate an input signal in response to a system input and a switch controller coupled to the system controller, the switch controller configured to control a power switch. The switch controller comprises a driver interface configured to receive the input signal that indicates whether the power switch should be ON or OFF, the driver interface further configured to transmit one or more current pulses across a galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling. The driver interface further comprises a first local power supply configured to increase an output voltage of the first local power supply when a transmission of current pulses is imminent.

Abstract: Signal transmission circuitry comprises a conductive transmitting coil, a first power supply, a semiconductor switch to reversibly couple the transmitting coil to the first power supply, control circuitry to control the coupling of the transmitting coil to the first power supply by the semiconductor switch, a second power supply coupled to supply power to the control circuitry.

Abstract: A controller for a semiconductor switch is described that includes a transmitter and a receiver that communicate across galvanic isolation using an inductive coupling. An example controller includes first circuitry referenced to a first reference potential, second circuitry referenced to a second reference potential and galvanically isolated from the first circuitry, and an inductive coupling galvanically isolating the first circuitry and the second circuitry. The inductive coupling includes a first winding referenced to the first reference potential and a second winding referenced to the second reference potential, wherein the first circuitry includes signal reception circuitry coupled to the inductive coupling, wherein the signal reception circuitry includes one or more signal receivers coupled to the first winding to receive signals transmitted over the inductive coupling.

Abstract: A signal transmission system for communicating across galvanic isolation includes a magnetic coupling having a transmitter-side inductor and a receiver-side inductor. The transmitter is coupled to the transmitter-side inductor, is referenced to a first potential, and includes a pulse generator coupled to output to the transmitter-side inductor a first state representation that represents a first logic state with multiple transitions, and a second state representation that represents a second logic state with multiple transitions. The pulse generator in outputting the first state representation is coupled to output a first information portion that includes the multiple transitions of the first state representation, and a first initial delay portion having a duration longer than a duration of the multiple transitions of the second state representation.