Patent ID: 8890496
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: H01L,H02M

Abstract:
1. A drive controller for driving an inductive load connected to a node between a first switching device and a second switching device that are connected in series with a direct current voltage source, the drive controller comprising: a first diode connected in antiparallel with the first switching device, the first diode configured as a parasitic diode of the first switching device; a series circuit including a second diode and an inductor, the series circuit connected in parallel with the first diode; and a control circuit in communication with both the first switching device and the second switching device and configured to selectively apply a first ON-voltage to the second switching device, a second ON-voltage to the first switching device, and a control voltage to the first switching device, the control circuit being further configured to drive the inductive load by applying the first ON-voltage to a control terminal of the second switching device after applying the control voltage to a control terminal of the first switching device, wherein the first ON-voltage turns ON the second switching device, the control voltage is greater than zero and less than the second ON-voltage by a first value, the second ON-voltage turns ON the first switching device, and the control voltage causes the first switching device to operate in weak inversion, wherein the control circuit is further configured to apply the control voltage to the control terminal of the first switching device before it applies the first ON-voltage to the second switching device, and then continues to apply the control voltage to the control terminal of the first switching device and the first ON-voltage to the second switching device for an overlapping period of time.