Patent ID: 8350601

Claim:
A drive device for driving a switching element of a voltage controlled type, comprising: a first path comprised of a passive element and a first opening/closing means and capable of connecting and disconnecting a conductive control terminal of a switching element to a high voltage supply means; a second path comprised of a passive element and a second opening/closing means and capable of connecting the conductive control terminal of the switching element to a low voltage supply means; and a switching means for switching a first state to a second state of the first opening/closing means and the second opening/closing means in order to switch a switching state of the switching element, where the first state indicates that both the first opening/closing means and the second opening/closing means are simultaneously turned on, and the second state indicates that one of the first opening/closing means and the second opening/closing means is turned on and the other opening/closing means is turned off, wherein one of the first opening/closing means and the second opening/closing means is capable of connecting one of the high voltage supply means and the second voltage power source to the conductive control terminal of the switching element in order to supply a voltage to the conductive control terminal of the switching element so that the switching element enters the switching state indicated by the switching means; and wherein a converged voltage at the conductive control terminal of the switching element when both the first opening/closing means and the second opening/closing means enter the turned-on state is shifted toward a voltage supplied from one of the high voltage supply means and the low voltage supply means rather than a mirror voltage of the switching element during a mirror time period of the switching element so that the switching element enters the switching state indicated by the switching mean.