Abstract: A power semiconductor module includes a half-bridge circuit having a first power semiconductor element and a second power semiconductor element that are connected in series with each other. The power semiconductor module also includes first to third external terminals, a first wiring member that connects a high-potential-side main electrode of the first power semiconductor element to the first external terminal, a second wiring member that connects a low-potential-side main electrode of the second power semiconductor element to the second external terminal, a third wiring member that connects an output of the half-bridge circuit to a third external terminal, and at least one of a first corrosion sensor disposed in an installation environment of the first wiring member, a second corrosion sensor disposed in an installation environment of the second wiring member, or a third corrosion sensor disposed in an installation environment of the third wiring member.

Abstract: There is provided a drive circuit of a switching element and an intelligent power module both capable of preventing deterioration of a switching loss of the switching element. A gate drive circuit includes a first current supply section which supplies a first current to a gate terminal provided in an IGBT when a gate voltage of the gate terminal is lower than a first voltage, a second current supply section which supplies a second current smaller than the first current to the gate terminal when the gate voltage of the gate terminal is higher than a second voltage which is the same as or higher than the first voltage, and a third current supply section which supplies a third current smaller than the first current and larger than the second current to the gate terminal when the gate voltage of the gate terminal is lower than a third voltage lower than the first voltage.

Abstract: A power module, including a power element, and a control unit that controls the power element. The control unit includes: a frequency divider circuit that receives a signal for driving the power element and has a frequency dividing function, by which the frequency divider circuit generates an output having a frequency lower than that of the received signal; an overcurrent detection comparator that detects an overcurrent of the power element; an overheat protection warning comparator that outputs a warning signal upon detection of the power element having a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature; and a logic circuit that outputs an enable signal to activate the frequency dividing function of the frequency divider circuit only while the overcurrent detection comparator does not detect the overcurrent and the overheat protection warning comparator outputs the warning signal. The power module further includes an overheat protection alarm comparator that outputs an alarm signal.

Abstract: A drive circuit of a voltage-controlled power semiconductor element, including first to fourth switching elements, first and second delay circuits, an overcurrent detection circuit, a slow shutdown detection circuit and a flip-flop. The first switching element turns on upon receiving an off signal. The second switching element is turned on by the first delayed signal generated by the first delay circuit. The third switching element turns on upon receiving a second delayed signal generated by the second delay circuit through the flip-flop. The fourth switching element is turned on by the slow shutdown detection signal generated by the slow shutdown detection circuit. The first to fourth switching elements extract electric charges from the gate terminal of the voltage-controlled power semiconductor element, with first to fourth extracting capabilities, respectively. The first and fourth extracting capabilities are larger than the third extracting capability and smaller than the second extracting capability.

Abstract: A power semiconductor module includes a half-bridge circuit having a first power semiconductor element and a second power semiconductor element that are connected in series with each other. The power semiconductor module also includes first to third external terminals, a first wiring member that connects a high-potential-side main electrode of the first power semiconductor element to the first external terminal, a second wiring member that connects a low-potential-side main electrode of the second power semiconductor element to the second external terminal, a third wiring member that connects an output of the half-bridge circuit to a third external terminal, and at least one of a first corrosion sensor disposed in an installation environment of the first wiring member, a second corrosion sensor disposed in an installation environment of the second wiring member, or a third corrosion sensor disposed in an installation environment of the third wiring member.

Abstract: A drive circuit of a voltage-controlled power semiconductor element, including first to fourth switching elements, first and second delay circuits, an overcurrent detection circuit, a slow shutdown detection circuit and a flip-flop. The first switching element turns on upon receiving an off signal. The second switching element is turned on by the first delayed signal generated by the first delay circuit. The third switching element turns on upon receiving a second delayed signal generated by the second delay circuit through the flip-flop. The fourth switching element is turned on by the slow shutdown detection signal generated by the slow shutdown detection circuit. The first to fourth switching elements extract electric charges from the gate terminal of the voltage-controlled power semiconductor element, with first to fourth extracting capabilities, respectively. The first and fourth extracting capabilities are larger than the third extracting capability and smaller than the second extracting capability.

Abstract: A switching power supply device includes: a latch circuit to be set by a latch signal that is generated when an anomaly is detected, the latch circuit stopping the turning ON and OFF of the switching element when set by the latch signal; a pulse generator that receives said latch signal and generates a pulse signal at a prescribed cycle in response to said latch signal; a discharge circuit that is activated every time said pulse signal is provided so as to discharge electric charges stored in the capacitor; and a comparator for undervoltage protection that, when said control power supply voltage decreases to a prescribed operation stop voltage as said capacitor discharges, resets the latch circuit and the pulse generator, respectively.

Abstract: A voltage dividing circuit includes a first register that is supplied with an input voltage and a second resistor, and divides the input voltage to generate a divided voltage. A detection circuit compares the divided voltage with a brown-in detection threshold value, and outputs a first detection signal of H level when the divided voltage is equal to or higher than the threshold value, and outputs the first detection signal of L level when the divided voltage is lower than the threshold value. A brown-in timer outputs a second detection signal after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the time point of the first detection signal. A latch circuit latches an output from the detection circuit in response to the second detection signal. A logical element at least performs logical AND operation of an output of the latch circuit and a PWM signal.

Abstract: A switching power supply device includes: a latch circuit to be set by a latch signal that is generated when an anomaly is detected, the latch circuit stopping the turning ON and OFF of the switching element when set by the latch signal; a pulse generator that receives said latch signal and generates a pulse signal at a prescribed cycle in response to said latch signal; a discharge circuit that is activated every time said pulse signal is provided so as to discharge electric charges stored in the capacitor; and a comparator for undervoltage protection that, when said control power supply voltage decreases to a prescribed operation stop voltage as said capacitor discharges, resets the latch circuit and the pulse generator, respectively.

Abstract: A voltage dividing circuit includes a first register that is supplied with an input voltage and a second resistor, and divides the input voltage to generate a divided voltage. A detection circuit compares the divided voltage with a brown-in detection threshold value, and outputs a first detection signal of H level when the divided voltage is equal to or higher than the threshold value, and outputs the first detection signal of L level when the divided voltage is lower than the threshold value. A brown-in timer outputs a second detection signal after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the time point of the first detection signal. A latch circuit latches an output from the detection circuit in response to the second detection signal. A logical element at least performs logical AND operation of an output of the latch circuit and a PWM signal.

Abstract: A delay circuit using a capacitor with an MOS structure as a delay component, includes a clamp circuit operating a clamp operation and a clamp release operation in response to levels of an input signal, the clamp circuit clamping a voltage applied to the capacitor to a specified charging initiation voltage during the clamp operation; a charging circuit charging the capacitor with a constant current when the clamp operation is released; and a delayed signal producing circuit producing a delayed signal when the voltage of the capacitor being charged reaches a voltage of a predetermined value.

Abstract: A switching power source device includes a switching power supply main body switching an input voltage via a switching element to obtain a predetermined DC output voltage, a control circuit performing on/off-driving of the switching element; and a capacitor connected to the control circuit to be charged by an external power supply via an activation switch circuit during activation and charged by a voltage generated in the switching power supply main body after completion of activation to supply a control power voltage to the control circuit. The control circuit further includes a latch circuit set according to a latch signal emitted when an abnormality is detected, to stop the driving of the switching element, a discharge circuit receiving the latch signal to be turned on and discharging charges accumulated in the capacitor, and a comparator resetting the latch circuit when the control power voltage decreases to an operation stop voltage.

Abstract: A delay circuit using a capacitor with an MOS structure as a delay component, includes a clamp circuit operating a clamp operation and a clamp release operation in response to levels of an input signal, the clamp circuit clamping a voltage applied to the capacitor to a specified charging initiation voltage during the clamp operation; a charging circuit charging the capacitor with a constant current when the clamp operation is released; and a delayed signal producing circuit producing a delayed signal when the voltage of the capacitor being charged reaches a voltage of a predetermined value.

Abstract: A switching power source device includes a switching power supply main body switching an input voltage via a switching element to obtain a predetermined DC output voltage, a control circuit performing on/off-driving of the switching element; and a capacitor connected to the control circuit to be charged by an external power supply via an activation switch circuit during activation and charged by a voltage generated in the switching power supply main body after completion of activation to supply a control power voltage to the control circuit. The control circuit further includes a latch circuit set according to a latch signal emitted when an abnormality is detected, to stop the driving of the switching element, a discharge circuit receiving the latch signal to be turned on and discharging charges accumulated in the capacitor, and a comparator resetting the latch circuit when the control power voltage decreases to an operation stop voltage.

Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus employing a voltage obtained by rectifying an output from an AC power supply, as an input thereof includes a switching control circuit. The switching control circuit conducts a PFM control having a fixed ON-period of a switching device when a load is judged to be light based on a load signal indicating the load, and a PWM control when the load is judged not to be light. The switching control circuit changes the ON-period based on whether the AC power supply is a high voltage system or a low voltage system.

Abstract: A semiconductor device controls a switching power supply. The semiconductor device includes a current inflow terminal; a starter circuit to cause a starting current to flow from the current inflow terminal to a power supply terminal to charge a capacitor externally connected to the power supply terminal; a control unit which controls the starter circuit to turn on to charge the capacitor with the starting current and controls the starter circuit to turn off to perform brown-out detection; a comparator which detects a brown-out state while the starter circuit is turned off; and a brown-out detection unit which receives output signals from the comparator and the control unit as inputs. The brown-out detection is performed while the starter circuit is off, so that the current inflow terminal for the starter circuit is used in common as a voltage detection terminal for detection of the brown-out state.

Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus employing a voltage obtained by rectifying an output from an AC power supply, as an input thereof includes a switching control circuit. The switching control circuit conducts a PFM control having a fixed ON-period of a switching device when a load is judged to be light based on a load signal indicating the load, and a PWM control when the load is judged not to be light. The switching control circuit changes the ON-period based on whether the AC power supply is a high voltage system or a low voltage system.

Abstract: A semiconductor device controls a switching power supply. The semiconductor device includes a current inflow terminal; a starter circuit to cause a starting current to flow from the current inflow terminal to a power supply terminal to charge a capacitor externally connected to the power supply terminal; a control unit which controls the starter circuit to turn on to charge the capacitor with the starting current and controls the starter circuit to turn off to perform brown-out detection; a comparator which detects a brown-out state while the starter circuit is turned off; and a brown-out detection unit which receives output signals from the comparator and the control unit as inputs. The brown-out detection is performed while the starter circuit is off, so that the current inflow terminal for the starter circuit is used in common as a voltage detection terminal for detection of the brown-out state.