Patent ID: 6459380
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: H02M,H03K

Abstract:
A semiconductor apparatus comprising:at least one semiconductor switching device for electric power conversion; at least one driver circuit electrically connected to said at least one semiconductor switching device, said at least one driver circuit switching on and off said at least one semiconductor switching device in response to an ON/OFF command inputted from an outside; at least one anomaly protection means electrically connected to the at least one semiconductor switching device for monitoring the same, said at least one anomaly protection means ordering said at least one driver circuit to turn off the at least one semiconductor switching device when the at least one anomaly protection means detects an anomaly in the at least one semiconductor switching device; and at least one anomaly predicting means electrically connected to the at least one semiconductor switching device, said at least one anomaly predicting means outputting a preliminary alarm signal when said at least one anomaly predicting means detects a sign of the anomaly in the at least one semiconductor switching device, and an alarm signal outwardly when the at least one anomaly protection means judges that the anomaly occurs in the at least one semiconductor switching device, said preliminary alarm signal and said alarm signal being digital signals outputted from a common output terminal, pulse widths thereof being different from each other.