Patent ID: 8937823
Filing Date: 2015-01-20
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A circuit for protecting a controllable power switch connected between a first terminal and a second terminal of the circuit from over-voltage applicable between the first terminal and the second terminal, the circuit comprising: a controllable power switch comprising a first power switch terminal connected to a first terminal, a second power switch terminal connected to a second terminal, and a power switch control terminal, wherein a conducting state between the first power switch terminal and the second power switch terminal is based on a voltage applied between the power switch control terminal and the second power switch terminal; a diode comprising a first diode terminal and a second diode terminal, the diode allowing electric current flow between the first diode terminal and the second diode terminal in a forward direction and allowing electric current flow in a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction, when a voltage applied between the second diode terminal and the first diode terminal is above a diode threshold voltage, the second diode terminal being connected to the first terminal; a controllable control switch comprising a first control switch terminal connected to the first diode terminal, a second control switch terminal, and a control switch control terminal, wherein a conducting state between the first control switch terminal and the second control switch terminal is based on a voltage applied between the control switch control terminal and the second control switch terminal, wherein a signal applied to the power switch control terminal is based on a signal at the second control switch terminal; the circuit according further comprising: a gate driver circuit comprising wherein a signal generated at the gate driver output terminal is based on a signal applied to the gate driver input terminal; and a control switch driver circuit comprising wherein the control switch driver circuit is adapted to generate a signal at the control switch driver output terminal based on a signal received at the control switch driver input terminal.