METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING HYBRID POWER DEVICES USING DRIVER CIRCUITS THAT PERFORM INDIRECT INSTANTANEOUS LOAD CURRENT SENSING

摘要

An integrated circuit is provided with an MCU 124, which is configured to generate a PWM control signal that is free of switching pattern information therein. A current-estimating gate driver 122 is provided, which is responsive to the PWM signal. This gate driver is configured to drive first and second gate terminals of first and second parallel switching devices (within a hybrid switch 60c) with gate signals that establish a second switching pattern within the hybrid switch. These gate driving operations are performed in response to measuring a first voltage associated with a terminal of the hybrid switch when being driven by gate signals that establish a first switching pattern within the hybrid switch that is different from the second switching pattern. The duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the second switching pattern are unequal and the duty cycles of the gate signals associated with the first switching pattern are unequal.