Efficient IGBT switching
Embodiments of the invention provide IGBT circuit modules with increased efficiencies. These efficiencies can be realized in a number of ways. In some embodiments, the gate resistance and/or voltage can be minimized. In some embodiments, the IGBT circuit module can be switched using an isolated receiver such as a fiber optic receiver. In some embodiments, a single driver can drive a single IGBT. And in some embodiments, a current bypass circuit can be included. Various other embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
1. A solid-state switch circuit module comprising
a circuit board;
a solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board having a gate, a collector, and an emitter;
a driver that provides current to the gate of the solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board; and
a plurality of traces, wherein a first trace of the plurality of traces electrically couples the gate and the driver,
wherein the circuit module is configured to couple with a load between the emitter and the collector, wherein the first trace has an inductance less than 100 nH;
wherein the solid-state switch includes a manufacturer-specified current rise time, and wherein the voltage at the gate is brought to a full voltage in a time less than the manufacturer-specified current rise time.
2. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switch includes a manufacturer-specified current fall time, and wherein the voltage at the gate is discharged in a time less than the manufacturer-specified current fall time.
3. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switch includes a manufacturer-specified current rise time, and wherein the voltage between the collector and the emitter is brought to a minimum voltage in a time less than the manufacturer-specified current rise time.
4. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switch circuit module includes an internal circuit module inductance that is greater than 50 nH.
5. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 4 , wherein the internal circuit module inductance includes either or both an internal solid-state switch inductance and a stray circuit module inductance.
6. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , further comprising a current bypass circuit between the collector and the emitter.
7. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the driver is coupled with a single solid-state switch.
8. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the driver is coupled with a pre-driver.
9. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first trace directly couples the driver with the gate without an additional component.
10. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first trace directly couples the driver with the gate without a resistor.
11. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switch has a manufacturer-specified switching loss, and the switching loss of the solid-state switch circuit module is less than the manufacturer-specified switching loss.
12. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switch has a manufacturer-specified current fall time, and the current fall time of the solid-state switch circuit module is less than the manufacturer-specified current fall time.
13. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switch has a manufacturer specified turn-on delay time, and the turn-on delay time of the solid-state switch circuit module is less than the manufacturer specified turn-on delay time.
14. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switch has a manufacturer specified turn-off delay time, and the turn-off delay time of the solid-state switch circuit module is less than the manufacturer specified turn-off delay time.
15. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein a turn-off delay time is less than 100 ns.
16. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein turn-on delay time is less than 40 ns.
17. The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switch comprises an IGBT.
18. A solid-state switch circuit module comprising
a circuit board;
an solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board having a gate, a collector, and an emitter;
a driver that provides current to the gate of the solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board; and
a plurality of traces, wherein a first trace of the plurality of traces electrically couples the gate and the driver, wherein the first trace has a resistance less than 1 ohm,
wherein the circuit module is configured to couple with a load between the emitter and the collector,
wherein the solid-state switch has a manufacturer specified turn-on delay time, and the turn-on delay time of the solid-state switch circuit module is less than the manufacturer specified turn-on delay time.