Patent ID: 6441673
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A resonant gate driver circuit for providing drive signals to a power switching device having a gate capacitance, the gate driver circuit comprising:an on-state gate switching device coupled in series with an off-state gate switching device in a half-bridge configuration, the on-state and off-state gate switching devices each having a clamp diode coupled in anti-parallel therewith, the half-bridge configuration adapted for coupling to a voltage source; a resonant inductor coupled between a junction joining the on-state and off-state gate switching devices and a junction joining the clamp diodes; the gate of the power switching device being coupled to the resonant inductor and the on-state and off-state switching devices such that energy stored in the gate capacitance is transferred to the resonant inductor during each switching event of the power switching device, and the stored energy is subsequently recovered by the voltage source in the same switching event of the power switching device.