US4688157A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switching circuit using a fast diode and provided with means for damping oscillations on opening
Assignee: Thales SA
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Filing: 1986-01-07
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Granted: 1987-08-18
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Expires: 2006-01-07
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to switching circuits using fast rectifier diodes. To damp the oscillations liable to occur at the time when the fast diode passes from a conducting state into a blocked state, a supplementary diode with a lower blocking speed and a smaller current passage cross-section than the fast diode is positioned in parallel on the latter and with the same polarity. Application to cut off power supplies, undulators, converters, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaus Rischmueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:14
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H9/00; H02H9/005; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/325; H02M3/335; H02M3/33538; H02M7/00; H02M7/02; H02M7/04; H02M7/06; H02M7/062; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/16; H10; H10D; H10D84/00; H10D84/201; H10D84/204; H10D84/221
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
In a circuit which includes an inductive load in series with a relatively fast main rectifying diode and a source of alternating voltage designed to switch off and on to switch the diode between a conducting and a blocking state and which tends to oscillate when the diode is switched from the conducting to the blocking state because of parasitic inductances and capacitances in the circuit the improvement for damping the oscillation which comprises a supplementary diode similarly poled in parallel with the main diode and characterized by a recovery time which is substantially longer than that of the main diode and by a current handling capacity smaller than that of the main diode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a circuit which includes an inductive load in series with a relatively fast main rectifying diode and a source of alternating voltage designed to switch off and on to switch the diode between a conducting and a blocking state and which tends to oscillate when the diode is switched from the conducting to the blocking state because of parasitic inductances and capacitances in the circuit the improvement for damping the oscillation which comprises a supplementary diode similarly poled in parallel with the main diode and characterized by a recovery time which is substantially longer than that of the main diode and by a current handling capacity smaller than that of the main diode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A switching circuit according to claim 1, wherein the main diode is relative highly doped with recombination centers (gold, platinum, etc.) and the supplementary diode is relatively little doped with recombination centers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
A switching circuit according to claim 1, wherein the main diode and the supplementary diode are in a common semiconductor chip, the chip comprising in turn a first surface layer of one conductivity type, an overlying intermediate layer of the opposite conductivity type, and an overlying second surface layer of the opposite conductivity type but higher resistivity material than the intermediate layer, the intermediate layer having a central zone of thickness less than its peripheral zone, and separate ohmic connections to the two surface zones, the central zone defining the main diode and the peripheral zone defining the supplementary diode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA734084A
Cited
US2895100A
Cited
US3418587A
Cited
FR2405576A1
Cited
DE2915837A1
Cited
US4356541A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-17 | 1991-02-16 | 1991-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-17 | 1995-02-16 | 1995-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-17 | 1999-02-16 | 1999-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |