Patent ID: 8040162

Claim:
A drive circuit for a power element, said power element controlling a main current flowing between first and second main electrodes according to a signal provided to a control electrode, comprising: a power supply connected between first and second nodes; a switch matrix circuit configured to connect said control electrode selectively to one of said first and second nodes, and to connect said second main electrode selectively to one of said first and second nodes; and a control unit for controlling said switch matrix circuit according to an input signal provided for switching said power element between on and off states, wherein, when said input signal changes to switch said power element from the on state to the off state, said control unit switches the state of said switch matrix circuit from a first state for connecting said control electrode to said first node and connecting said second main electrode to said second node to a second state for connecting said control electrode to said second node and connecting said second main electrode to said first node, when said input signal changes to switch said power element from the off state to the on state, said control unit switches the state of said switch matrix circuit from said second state to said first state, said control unit switches the state of said switch matrix circuit to a third or fourth state at least one of during switching the state of said switch matrix circuit from said first state to said second state and during switching the state of said switch matrix circuit from said second state to said first state, in said third state, a conductive state is established between said first node and said control electrode and between said first node and said second main electrode, and a non-conductive state is established between said second node and said control electrode and between said second node and said second main electrode, and in said fourth state, a conductive state is established between said second node and said control electrode and between said second node and said second main electrode, and a non-conductive state is established between said first node and said control electrode and between said first node and said second main electrode.