Patents by Inventor Shawn Michael West

Shawn Michael West has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Advanced insulated gate bipolar transistor gate drive
    Patent number: 7570101
    Abstract: A gate drive for an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) includes a control and protection module coupled to a collector terminal of the IGBT, an optical communications module coupled to the control and protection module, a power supply module coupled to the control and protection module and an output power stage module with inputs coupled to the power supply module and the control and protection module, and outputs coupled to a gate terminal and an emitter terminal of the IGBT. The optical communications module is configured to send control signals to the control and protection module. The power supply module is configured to distribute inputted power to the control and protection module. The control and protection module outputs on/off, soft turn-off and/or soft turn-on signals to the output power stage module, which, in turn, supplies a current based on the signal(s) from the control and protection module for charging or discharging an input capacitance of the IGBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: James Evans Short, Shawn Michael West, Robert J. Fabean