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 first solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board having a gate, a collector, and an emitter;
a first driver that provides current to the gate of the first solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board;
a first pre-driver that provides current to the first driver;
a first receiver electrically coupled with the first driver;
a second solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board having a gate, a collector, and an emitter, wherein the collector of the second solid-state switch is electrically coupled with the emitter of the first solid-state switch;
a second driver that provides current to the gate of the second solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board;
a second pre-driver that provides current to the second driver;
a first receiver electrically coupled with the first driver; and
wherein the solid-state circuit module is configured to couple with a load between the emitter of the second solid state-switch and the collector of the first solid-state switch.
2 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second 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.
3 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second 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.
4 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second 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.
5 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch circuit and the second solid-state switch includes an internal circuit module inductance that is greater than 50 nH.
6 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 5 , wherein the internal circuit module inductance includes either or both an internal solid-state switch inductance and a stray circuit module inductance.
7 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , further comprising a current bypass circuit between the collector and the emitter of the first solid state switch.
8 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of traces, wherein a first trace of the plurality of traces electrically couples the gate and the driver of the first switch.
9 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 8 , 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 , further comprising a plurality of traces, wherein a first trace of the plurality of traces electrically couples the gate and the driver of the first switch.
11 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second solid-state switch comprise a MOSFET.
12 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second 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.
13 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second solid-state switch has a manufacturer-specified rise time, and a rise time of the solid-state switch circuit module is less than the manufacturer-specified rise time.
14 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second solid-state switch has a manufacturer-specified fall time, and a fall time of the solid-state switch circuit module is less than the manufacturer-specified fall time.
15 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second solid-state switch has a manufacturer specified turn-on delay time, and a turn-on delay time of the first solid-state switch and the second solid-state switch is less than the manufacturer specified turn-on delay time.
16 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 15 , wherein a turn-on delay time is less than 40 ns.
17 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second solid-state switch has a manufacturer specified turn-off delay time, and a turn-off delay time of the first solid-state switch and the second solid-state switch is less than the manufacturer specified turn-off delay time.
18 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 17 , wherein a turn-off delay time is less than 100 ns.
19 . The solid-state switch circuit module according to claim 1 , wherein the first solid-state switch and the second solid-state switch comprise an IGBT.
20 . A solid-state switch circuit module comprising
a circuit board;
a first solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board having a gate, a collector, and an emitter;
a first driver that provides current to the gate of the first solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board;
a second solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board having a gate, a collector, and an emitter;
a second driver that provides current to the gate of the second solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board, wherein the collector of the second solid-state switch is electrically coupled with the emitter of the first solid-state switch; and
a plurality of traces, wherein a first trace of the plurality of traces electrically couples the gate and the driver of the first solid-state switch, wherein the first trace has an inductance less than 100 nH, wherein a second trace of the plurality of traces electrically couples the gate and the driver of the second solid-state switch, wherein the second trace has an inductance less than 100 nH,
wherein the circuit module is configured to couple with a load between the emitter of the second solid state-switch and the collector of the first solid-state switch.
21 . A solid-state switch circuit module comprising
a circuit board;
a first solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board having a gate, a collector, and an emitter;
a first driver that provides current to the gate of the first solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board;
a second solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board having a gate, a collector, and an emitter;
a second driver that provides current to the gate of the second solid-state switch coupled with the circuit board, wherein the collector of the second solid-state switch is electrically coupled with the emitter of the first solid-state switch; and
a plurality of traces, wherein a first trace of the plurality of traces electrically couples the gate and the driver of the first solid-state switch, wherein the first trace has a resistance less than 1 ohm, wherein a second trace of the plurality of traces electrically couples the gate and the driver of the second solid-state switch, wherein the second trace has a resistance less than 1 ohm,
wherein the solid-state circuit module is configured to couple with a load between the emitter and the collector.