Patent ID: 7285876

Claim:
A regenerative gate drive circuit comprising: a positive power source coupled to a first switching device; a negative power source coupled to a second switching device; a first inductor network comprises a first winding and a second winding on each side of a center tap, said center tap being coupled to a gate input of a power MOSFET; a second inductor network comprises a first winding in series with a first blocking capacitor and a second winding in series with a second blocking capacitor on each side of a center tap, said center tap being coupled to said gate input of a power MOSFET and to said center tap of said first inductor network; said first switching device, coupled between said positive power source and said first winding of said first inductor network in parallel with said first blocking capacitor in series with said first winding of said second inductor network, for providing a path for a first current to flow through said first switching device and said first winding of said first inductor network in parallel with said first winding of said second inductor which is in series with said first blocking capacitor; said second switching device, coupled between said negative power source and said second winding of said first inductor network in parallel with said second winding of said second inductor network, said second winding being in series with a second blocking capacitor, for providing a path for resonant discharging of said power MOSFET; a first input signal coupled to a gate of said first switching device for controlling said first switching device; a second input signal coupled to a gate of said second switching device for controlling said second switching device; means coupled to said first switching device and said second switching device for limiting the voltage provided at the gate of said power MOSFET and for conducting inductive current; and means coupled between said positive power source and said second switching device and between said negative power source and said first switching device for limiting the voltage at the gate of said power MOSFET and for conducting inductive current.