Method, power unit, and power system having gate voltage limiting circuit
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H02H-003/22
H02H-003/20
H02H-009/04
출원번호
US-0331682
(2011-12-20)
등록번호
US-8767369
(2014-07-01)
발명자
/ 주소
Kuttenkuler, Jason Daniel
Curbelo, Alvaro Jorge Mari
Menzel, Matthias
Wolff, Jeffrey
Young, Henry
Zoels, Thomas
출원인 / 주소
General Electric Company
대리인 / 주소
GE Global Patent Operation
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
1
초록▼
A power unit (e.g., inverter module) includes a housing and a switch attached to the housing. The switch may be configured to be electrically coupled to a remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more wire leads. The power unit also includes a clamping circuit electrically coupled to terminals
A power unit (e.g., inverter module) includes a housing and a switch attached to the housing. The switch may be configured to be electrically coupled to a remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more wire leads. The power unit also includes a clamping circuit electrically coupled to terminals of the switch and in parallel with the switch. The clamping circuit may be disposed inside the housing or on an outer surface of the housing, and is configured to limit a voltage across the switch.
대표청구항▼
1. A power unit comprising: a housing;a first switch attached to the housing and configured to be electrically coupled to a first remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more first wire leads; anda first clamping circuit electrically coupled to terminals of the first switch and in parallel wit
1. A power unit comprising: a housing;a first switch attached to the housing and configured to be electrically coupled to a first remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more first wire leads; anda first clamping circuit electrically coupled to terminals of the first switch and in parallel with the first switch, wherein the first clamping circuit is disposed inside the housing or on an outer surface of the housing and is configured to limit a voltage across the first switch. 2. The power unit of claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises a transistor and the terminals comprise gate and emitter terminals connected to a gate and an emitter of the transistor, respectively. 3. The power unit of claim 1, further comprising a second switch in the housing and configured to be electrically coupled to a second remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more second wire leads, and a second clamping circuit electrically coupled to terminals of the second switch and in parallel with the second switch, wherein the second clamping circuit is disposed inside the housing or on an outer surface of the housing and is configured to limit a voltage across the second switch, wherein the first and second switches are connected in series. 4. The power unit of claim 1, further comprising a second switch in a second housing and configured to be electrically coupled to a second remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more second wire leads, and a second clamping circuit electrically coupled to terminals of the second switch and in parallel with the second switch, wherein the second clamping circuit is disposed inside the second housing or on an outer surface of the second housing and is configured to limit a voltage across the second switch, wherein the first and second switches are connected in series. 5. The power unit of claim 1, wherein each switch comprises a respective transistor and the terminals of each switch comprise gate and emitter terminals connected to a gate and an emitter of the respective transistor. 6. The power unit of claim 1, wherein the clamping circuit comprises a first set of diodes disposed in series with a second set of diodes, the first set of diodes comprising Zener diodes. 7. The power unit of claim 6, wherein the second set of diodes comprises Schottky diodes. 8. The power unit of claim 6, wherein the first set of diodes comprises four Zener diodes disposed in parallel with each other, and the second set of diodes comprises four Schottky diodes disposed in parallel with each other. 9. The power unit of claim 6, wherein the clamping circuit comprises a capacitor disposed in parallel with the first set of diodes and the second set of diodes. 10. The power unit of claim 6, wherein the first set of diodes comprises a plurality of Zener diodes disposed in parallel with each other, and the second set of diodes comprises a plurality of diodes disposed in series with each other. 11. The power unit of claim 1, wherein the clamping circuit comprises a first set of diodes electrically coupled to the gate terminal, the first set of diodes disposed in series with a set of capacitors electrically coupled to the emitter terminal. 12. The power unit of claim 11, wherein a third wire lead couples a third terminal of the drive circuit to the clamping circuit, wherein the third wire lead is configured to provide a return path for current through the capacitors. 13. A system comprising: the power unit of claim 1; andthe drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit is remotely-mounted outside and away from the housing, wherein the terminals are external terminals, and the drive circuit is electrically connected to the wire leads and the wire leads are electrically and mechanically connected to the external terminals. 14. A power unit, comprising: a solid-state switch having a control terminal and first and second power terminals;a drive circuit remotely connected to the control terminal for controllably activating the switch; anda clamping circuit electrically coupled between the control terminal and one of the first or second power terminals, wherein the clamping circuit is configured to limit a voltage across the control terminal and said one of the first or second power terminals to a voltage level that is above a turn-on voltage of the switch and below a maximum voltage of the switch. 15. The power unit of claim 14, wherein the switch is disposed in a housing and the clamping circuit is disposed inside the housing or on an outer surface of the housing. 16. The power unit of claim 14, wherein the drive circuit is remotely connected to the control terminal by a wire. 17. The power unit of claim 14, wherein the drive circuit is remotely connected to the clamping circuit. 18. The power unit of claim 14, wherein an inductance of an electrical connection between the clamping circuit and the control terminal is no more than 10 nH. 19. The power unit of claim 14, wherein: the switch is a transistor, the control terminal is a gate terminal of the transistor, and said one of the first or second power terminals is an emitter terminal of the transistor;the clamping circuit comprises a Zener diode connected in series with a Schottky diode; anda cathode of the Zener diode is electrically coupled to the gate terminal, an anode of the Zener diode is electrically coupled an anode of the Schottky diode, and a cathode of the Schottky diode is electrically coupled to the emitter terminal of the transistor. 20. The power unit of claim 14, wherein: the switch is a transistor, the control terminal is a gate terminal of the transistor, and said one of the first or second power terminals is an emitter terminal of the transistor;the clamping circuit comprises a Schottky diode connected in series with a capacitor; andan anode of the Schottky diode is electrically coupled to the gate terminal, a cathode of the Schottky diode is electrically coupled to a first terminal of the capacitor, and a second terminal of the capacitor is electrically coupled to the emitter terminal. 21. A power system, comprising: an inverter module controllable to generate an alternating-current output waveform for driving a motor, the inverter module comprising a clamping circuit and a transistor switch contained within a switch housing; anda drive circuit operatively coupled to the transistor switch through a first wire lead coupling a first terminal of the drive circuit to a gate terminal of the transistor switch and a second wire lead coupling a second terminal of the drive circuit to an emitter terminal of the transistor switch;wherein the clamping circuit is disposed in parallel with the transistor switch between the gate terminal and the emitter terminal for limiting a voltage across the gate and emitter terminals, and wherein the clamping circuit is disposed inside the switch housing or on an outer surface of the switch housing. 22. The power system of claim 21, wherein the clamping circuit comprises a first set of diodes disposed in series with a second set of diodes, the first set of diodes comprising Zener diodes. 23. The power system of claim 22, wherein the second set of diodes comprises Schottky diodes. 24. The power system of claim 22, wherein the first set of diodes comprises four Zener diodes disposed in parallel with each other, and the second set of diodes comprises four Schottky diodes disposed in parallel with each other. 25. The power unit of claim 22, wherein the clamping circuit comprises a capacitor disposed in parallel with the first set of diodes and the second set of diodes. 26. The power system of claim 22, wherein the first set of diodes comprises a plurality of Zener diodes disposed in parallel with each other, and the second set of diodes comprises a plurality of diodes disposed in series with each other. 27. The power system of claim 21, wherein the clamping circuit comprises a first set of diodes electrically coupled to the gate terminal, the first set of diodes disposed in series with a set of capacitors electrically coupled to the emitter terminal. 28. The power system of claim 27, wherein a third wire lead couples a third terminal of the drive circuit to the clamping circuit, wherein the third wire lead is configured to provide a return path for current from the set of capacitors. 29. The power system of claim 21, wherein the drive circuit is remotely mounted from the inverter module. 30. A mobile asset comprising the power system as defined in claim 21. 31. A power unit comprising: a transistor switch electrically coupleable to a remotely-mounted drive circuit through two or more first wire leads; anda clamping circuit electrically coupled to first and second terminals of the transistor switch and configured to limit a voltage across the first and second terminals of the transistor switch, wherein the clamping circuit comprises: a first set of parallel-connected diodes connected to one of the first terminal or the second terminal; and one of:at least one capacitor connected in series with the first set and connected to the other of the first terminal of the second terminal; ora second set of diodes connected in series with the first set and connected to the other of the first terminal or the second terminal. 32. A method comprising: applying a first voltage signal to a control terminal of a first transistor of an inverter module to generate an alternating-current output waveform;upon the first transistor transitioning from an on-state to an off-state, limiting a voltage between the control terminal and a power terminal of the first transistor to less than a voltage that would damage the first transistor, wherein the voltage between the control terminal and the power terminal of the first transistor is limited by a first clamping circuit electrically connected between the control terminal and the power terminal of the first transistor; andblocking current through the first clamping circuit when the first transistor is negatively biased between the control terminal and the power terminal above a first threshold,wherein the first voltage signal is applied by a drive circuit remotely connected to the control terminal and first clamping circuit. 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising: applying a second voltage signal to a control terminal of a second transistor of the inverter module to generate the alternating-current output waveform;upon the second transistor transitioning from an on-state to an off-state, limiting a voltage between the control terminal and a power terminal of the second transistor to less than a voltage that would damage the second transistor, wherein the voltage between the control terminal and the power terminal of the second transistor is limited by a second clamping circuit electrically connected between the control terminal and the power terminal of the second transistor; andblocking current through the second clamping circuit when the second transistor is negatively biased between the control terminal and the power terminal of the second transistor above a second threshold.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (1)
Mourick Paul,DEX ; Schreiber Dejan,DEX ; Anderlohr Erik,DEX, Short circuit protection for parallel connected devices.
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