Gate drive circuits for high efficiency power converters

摘要

Several novel gate drive circuits are revealed that accomplish optimal gate drive timing for zero voltage switches, both for the case in which there is sufficient drive energy to complete a turn on transition to zero volts and for the case for which there is insufficient drive energy available to complete a zero voltage turn on transition. Other related circuits are revealed which provide clamping to eliminate ringing and overshoot for secondary side placed ZVS drive chokes using a novel circuit and a winding of the ZVS drive choke used for gate drive for a synchronous rectifier. A boot strap gate drive energy circuit is revealed that provides gate drive energy for high side switches with reference terminals that swing both above and below ground. Gate drive circuits that rely on timing information from an auxiliary choke used for ZVS drive energy are also revealed.