Patent ID: 7636249
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: H02M,Y02B

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a transistor as a rectifier element, wherein the transistor can assume one of a forward biased or a reverse biased state, and wherein the transistor is controlled using a control signal that can assume a switch-on level and a switch-off level, the method comprising: generating a switch-on level of the control signal prior to the transistor entering the reverse biased state, or after the transistor has entered the reverse biased state; in the reverse biased state, measuring a reverse biasing voltage of the transistor to provide a first measurement signal, and comparing the reverse biasing voltage to a first reference value, and generating a switch-off level of the control signal after a delay period after the reverse biasing voltage has reached the first reference value; and after the reverse biasing voltage has reached the first reference value, generating the delay period for a next cycle of operation depending on values of the first measurement signal occurring after the switch-off level has been generated.