Patent ID: 8923022
Filing Date: 2014-12-30
Classification: H01L,H02M,H03K

Abstract:
1. A method comprising, in a gate drive unit of a power converter during operation of the power converter: obtaining a first value indicative of a junction temperature of a power switch within the power converter; obtaining a second value indicative of the junction temperature of the power switch; selecting a gate drive voltage time function for the power switch from a plurality of pre-determined gate drive voltage time functions, based on at least the first and second values indicative of the junction temperature of the power switch; and reducing thermal cycling of the power switch, relative to the thermal cycling that would be present during operation at a constant gate voltage, by providing gate drive voltage to a gate of the power switch, according to the selected gate drive voltage time function wherein reducing thermal cycling includes providing the gate voltage according to the selected gate drive voltage time function by which switching losses are increased above the losses that would be present during operation at the constant gate voltage.