Driver system with an optical power based isolated power supply
The present invention relates to a driver system that can include an optical power based isolated power supply. The driver system can include an optical receiver that can be in communication with an optical transmitter to receive an optical signal. The optical receiver can be configured to convert the optical signal to a drive signal having a determined drive strength. The driver system can further include a driving circuit that can be configured to drive an input of the transistor device based on the drive signal according to a control signal defining an on-time and off-time for the driving circuit over a time interval. In some examples, the driver system can be integrated with a protection system.
1. A driver system comprising:
a plurality of optical receivers, wherein a first optical receiver of the plurality of optical receivers is configured to receive an optical power signal generated by a first optical transmitter of a plurality of optical transmitters over a first transmission medium, and wherein a second optical receiver of the plurality of optical receivers is configured to receive and an optical data signal generated by a second optical transmitter of the plurality of optical transmitters over a second transmission medium;
wherein the first optical receiver is coupled to the first optical transmitter via a first optical fiber corresponding to the first transmission medium, and the second optical receiver is coupled to the second optical transmitter via a second optical fiber corresponding to the second transmission medium;
wherein the first optical receiver is configured to convert the optical power signal to an electrical power signal comprising a given drive strength; and
a driving circuit configured to apply the electrical power signal to an input of a transistor device to drive the transistor device at the given drive strength according to a control signal, wherein the control signal defines an on-time and an off-time for the driving circuit over a given time interval.
2. The driver system of claim 1 , wherein the second optical receiver is configured to convert the optical data signal to an electrical data signal.
3. The driver system of claim 2 ,
wherein the electrical data signal comprises timing information characterizing the on-time and the off-time for the driving circuit over the given time interval; and
further comprising a controller configured to generate the control signal based on the electrical data signal.
4. The driver system of claim 3 , wherein during the on-time, the driving circuit is configured to provide the electrical power signal to the input of the transistor device to drive the transistor device.
5. The driver system of claim 4 , further comprising a direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter configured to receive the electrical power signal and generate a gate power signal, wherein the driving circuit is configured to apply the gate power signal to the input of transistor device to drive the transistor device at the given drive strength according to the control signal.
6. The driver system of claim 5 , wherein the DC-to-DC converter is a boost converter.
7. The driver system of claim 5 , further comprising a controller configured to generate the control signal based on the electrical data signal.
8. An integrated circuit chip comprising the driver system of claim 1 .
9. The driver system of claim 1 , wherein the transistor comprises at least one field effect transistor (FET).
10. The driver system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one FET comprises one of a metal-oxide-semiconductor FET (MOSFET) and an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).
11. The driver system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one FET comprises a metal-oxide-semiconductor FET (MOSFET), the MOSFET corresponding to a Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFET.
12. The driver system of claim 1 , wherein each of the optical power signal and the optical data signal has a given wavelength, the given wavelength corresponding to one of a 915 millimeters (mm), 940 mm and 975 mm.
13. The driver system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical receivers correspond to YCH-0.5-6V optical receivers.
14. The driver system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical receivers and the plurality of optical transmitters are separated by a given distance.
15. The driver system of claim 14 , wherein the given distance is greater than or equal to 1 meter (m).
16. The driver system of claim 1 , further comprising a direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter configured to receive the electrical power signal and generate a gate power signal, wherein the driving circuit is configured to apply the gate power signal to the input of transistor device to drive the transistor device at the given drive strength according to the control signal.
17. The driver system of claim 16 , wherein second optical receiver is configured to convert the optical data signal to an electrical data signal.
18. The driver system of claim 17 , further comprising a controller configured to generate the control signal based on the electrical data signal.
19. The driver system of claim 18 , wherein the electrical data signal comprises timing information characterizing the on-time and the off-time for the driving circuit over the given time interval.
20. The driver system of claim 1 , further comprising the plurality of optical transmitters.