Patent US2818540A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5227941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Protective circuit for diode switching device
Assignee: Systel Development and Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1990-11-16
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Granted: 1993-07-13
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Expires: 2010-11-16
Abstract
Abstract An electrical circuit supplying a load from a voltage source includes a switching device and a diode, and is to be protected from recovery current caused by momentary reversal of the diode current during the operation of the switching device. The electrical circuit further includes a transformer having an excitation winding sensing the reverse recovery current through the diode immediately after operation of the switching device, and a sink winding inductively coupled to the excitation winding for inducing in the sink winding a current proportional to the current in the excitation winding. A unidirectional conducting device directs the current induced in the sink winding to the diode to cause reverse recovery of the diode.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Rubin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:47
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/32; H02M1/34; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/08; H03K17/081; H03K17/0814; H03K17/08142; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/687; H03K17/6871; H02M1/346; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An electrical circuit supplying a load from a voltage source, and including a switching device and a diode, which circuit is to be protected from reverse recovery current caused by momentary reversal of the diode current during the operation of the switching device, characterized in that said electrical circuit comprises: a transformer having an excitation winding sensing the reverse recovery current through the diode immediately after operation of the switching device, and a sink winding inductively coupled to said excitation winding for inducing in the sink winding a current proportional to the current in the excitation winding; and a unidirectional conducting device connected to direct the current induced in the sink winding to the diode to cause reverse recovery of the diode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An electrical circuit supplying a load from a voltage source, and including a switching device and a diode, which circuit is to be protected from reverse recovery current caused by momentary reversal of the diode current during the operation of the switching device, characterized in that said electrical circuit comprises: a transformer having an excitation winding sensing the reverse recovery current through the diode immediately after operation of the switching device, and a sink winding inductively coupled to said excitation winding for inducing in the sink winding a current proportional to the current in the excitation winding; and a unidirectional conducting device connected to direct the current induced in the sink winding to the diode to cause reverse recovery of the diode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said unidirectional conducting device has a voltage drop larger than that of the protected diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said unidirectional conducting device is an electronic switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said unidirectional conducting device is a diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said unidirectional conducting device includes a plurality of diodes in series.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said protected diode is in a semiconductor switching device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said transformer has a high turns ratio.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, further including an inductance in series with said excitation winding and switching device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, further including an inductance in series with said sink winding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, further including a capacitor connected across said protected diode to limit the rate of voltage rise thereacross.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, further including a clamping diode connected across said excitation winding and switching device to protect the protected diode from voltage transients.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, further including a zener diode across said switching device to protect the protected diode from voltage transients.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said transformer includes a second sink winding coupled to a second unidirectional conducting device for aiding in recovering back to the voltage source energy stored in the transformer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said transformer includes a second sink winding coupled to said excitation winding, and a second unidirectional conducting device connected to direct at least a portion of the reverse current from said second sink winding back to the voltage source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, where the sink winding is connected to direct at least a portion of the reverse current from the protected diode back to the voltage source via the excitation winding.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit includes a plurality of protected diodes, and said transformer includes a sink winding and unidirectional conducting device for each protected diode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit includes a MOSFET having said protected diode, and another MOSFET serving as said switching device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 16, wherein there are four MOSFET's arranged in a bridge configuration, two having the protected diodes, and the remaining two serving as switching devices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein the transformer is split into two transformer sections, one feeding the other, in order to obtain a higher turns ratio.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical circuit according to claim 1, wherein there are two input circuits, each including a diode and an excitation coil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4623998A
Cited
US5036450A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-12 | 1997-01-11 | 1997-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-12 | 2001-01-11 | 2001-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-12 | 2005-01-11 | 2005-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |