Methods and systems for operating hybrid power devices using multiple current-dependent switching patterns

摘要

An integrated circuit includes a hybrid switch having first and second switching devices of different type therein. A control circuit is provided, which is configured to drive the first and second devices with respective first and second control signals having first and second unequal duty cycles, respectively, when the first and second devices are supporting a forward current in a first current range. The control circuit is further configured to drive the first and second devices with respective third and fourth control signals having third and fourth unequal duty cycles, respectively, when the first and second devices are supporting a forward current in a second current range outside the first current range. The first duty cycle may be greater than the second duty cycle and the third duty cycle may be less than the fourth duty cycle.

主权项

1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
a hybrid switch comprising first and second switching devices of different type, which are electrically coupled together to support parallel currents therein in response to respective control signals received at respective first and second control terminals of the first and second switching devices, said first switching device comprising a three or more terminal switching device selected from a group consisting of junction field effect transistors (JFETs), insulated-gate field effect transistors (IGFETs), integrated gate-commutated thyristors (IGCT) and high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and said second switching device comprising at least one insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT); and a control circuit configured to drive the first and second control terminals with respective first and second periodic control signals having first and second unequal duty cycles, respectively, when the first and second switching devices are disposed to collectively support a forward current in a first current range, and further configured to drive the first and second control terminals with respective third and fourth periodic control signals having third and fourth unequal duty cycles, respectively, when the first and second switching devices are disposed to collectively support a forward current in a second current range outside the first current range, said first duty cycle greater than said second duty cycle and said third duty cycle less than said fourth duty cycle; wherein active phases of the second periodic control signal occur exclusively within active phases of the first periodic control signal and active phases of the third periodic control signal occur exclusively within active phases of the fourth periodic control signal.