A METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR DETECTING AND HANDLING SHORT-CIRCUIT PHENOMENA FOR POWER SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES OF TURN-OFF TYPE CONNECTED IN SERIES

摘要

A method and apparatus for detecting and handling a short circuit in a circuit having a plurality of power semiconductors connected in series. The method comprising the steps of dividing the voltage across the electrodes of each power semiconductor and measuring the magnitude of a small proportion of the voltage. The magnitude of the voltage is compared to a reference voltage at least from when the power semiconductor is turned on. The reference voltage is higher than the maximum voltage across the power semiconductor during normal operation. A short circuit is detected when the magnitude of the measured voltage exceeds the reference voltage.