SWITCHING CONTROL SYSTEMS

摘要

We describe a system for controlling very large numbers of power semiconductor switching devices (132) to switch in synchronisation. The devices are high power devices, for example carrying hundreds of amps and/or voltages of the order of kilovolts. In outline the system comprises a coordinating control system (110, 120), which communicates with a plurality of switching device controllers (130) to control the devices into a plurality of states including a fully-off state, a saturated-on state, and at least one intermediate state between the fully-off and saturated-on states, synchronising the devices in the at least one intermediate state during switching.

主权项

1. A power semiconductor switching device control system for controlling a plurality of power semiconductor switching devices to switch in synchronisation, the system comprising:
a coordinating control system; and a plurality of switching device controllers each coupled to said coordinating control system; wherein each said switching device controller is configured to control one or more respective said power semiconductor switching devices into a plurality of states including a fully-off state, a saturated-on state, and at least one intermediate state between said fully-off state and said saturated-on state; wherein said coordinating control system is configured to control said switching devices to switch in synchronism by controlling said switching device controllers; and wherein said coordinating control system is further configured to: control said switching device controllers to control said power semiconductor switching devices from an initial state comprising one of said fully-off state and said saturated-on state into said intermediate state; maintain said power semiconductor switching devices in said intermediate state to synchronise switching of said devices; and then control said switching device controllers to control said power semiconductor switching devices from said intermediate state into a final state comprising the other of said fully-off state and said saturated-on state.