Patent ID: 7649401
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. An emitter-switching device, comprising: collector, source and gate terminals; an emitter-switching configuration of transistors having a bipolar transistor and first and second control terminals; and a driving circuit coupled to the emitter-switching configuration and including a driving block, coupled between the collector terminal and the source terminal and coupled to said first control terminal of said emitter-switching configuration, wherein said driving block comprises: an IGBT driving device coupled between said collector terminal and said first control terminal of said emitter-switching configuration and having, in turn, a third control terminal; and a driving bipolar transistor coupled between said collector terminal and said first control terminal of said emitter-switching configuration, configured to control a saturation condition of said bipolar transistor of said emitter-switching configuration by maintaining a base-collector junction of the bipolar transistor of said emitter-switching configuration at substantially zero volts, and having a fourth control terminal.