US5909108A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Current-sharing circuit for parallel-coupled switches and switch-mode power converter employing the same
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1998-02-23
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Granted: 1999-06-01
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Expires: 2018-02-23
Abstract
Abstract For use in a switch-mode power converter including parallel-coupled first and second switches, the first switch having a temperature-dependent resistance, a circuit for, and method of, distributing current between the first and second switches. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a device having a temperature-dependent characteristic, in thermal communication with the first switch and electrically coupled to a gate of the first switch, that senses a temperature of the first switch, modulates an amplitude of a drive waveform applied to the gate based on the temperature and thereby redistributes the current.
Inventors
- 👤 Jin He
- 👤 Mark E. Jacobs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:12
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/12; H03K17/127; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; H02M3/158; H02M3/1584; H03K17/08; H03K17/082; H03K17/0828; H03K17/122; H03K2017/0806; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
For use in a switch-mode power converter including parallel-coupled first and second switches, said first switch having a temperature-dependent resistance, a circuit for distributing current between said first and second switches, comprising: a device having a temperature-dependent characteristic, in thermal communication with said first switch and electrically coupled to a gate of said first switch, that senses a temperature of said first switch, modulates an amplitude of a drive waveform applied to said gate based on said temperature and thereby redistributes said current.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
For use in a switch-mode power converter including parallel-coupled first and second switches, said first switch having a temperature-dependent resistance, a circuit for distributing current between said first and second switches, comprising: a device having a temperature-dependent characteristic, in thermal communication with said first switch and electrically coupled to a gate of said first switch, that senses a temperature of said first switch, modulates an amplitude of a drive waveform applied to said gate based on said temperature and thereby redistributes said current.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said first switch is an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said device is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor and is further coupled to an output of a gate driver of said switch-mode power converter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said device is a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor and is further coupled to ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch-mode power converter further includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch-mode power converter further includes an adjustable output voltage regulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch-mode power converter further includes an output level adjustable step-down DC/DC converter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein said device is integrated with said first switch into a single component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
For use in a switch-mode power converter including parallel-coupled first and second switches, said first switch having a temperature-dependent resistance, a method of distributing current between said first and second switches, comprising the steps of: sensing a temperature of said first switch with a device having a temperature-dependent characteristic, in thermal communication with said first switch and electrically coupled to a gate of said first switch; and modulating an amplitude of a drive waveform applied to said gate based on said temperature thereby to redistribute said current.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
For use in a switch-mode power converter including parallel-coupled first and second switches, said first switch having a temperature-dependent resistance, a method of distributing current between said first and second switches, comprising the steps of: sensing a temperature of said first switch with a device having a temperature-dependent characteristic, in thermal communication with said first switch and electrically coupled to a gate of said first switch; and modulating an amplitude of a drive waveform applied to said gate based on said temperature thereby to redistribute said current.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said first switch is an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said device is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor and is further coupled to an output of a gate driver of said switch-mode power converter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said device is a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor and is further coupled to ground.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said drive waveform is a pulse width modulated (PWM) waveform.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said switch-mode power converter further includes an adjustable output voltage regulator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said switch-mode power converter further includes an output level adjustable step-down DC/DC converter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said device is integrated with said first switch into a single component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
A power supply, comprising: a rectifier, couplable to a source of AC power, that provides rectified DC voltage; a switch-mode power converter, coupled to said rectifier and including parallel-coupled first and second switches, said first switch having a temperature-dependent resistance and a circuit for distributing current between said first and second switches, including: a device having a temperature-dependent characteristic, in thermal communication with said first switch and electrically coupled to a gate of said first switch, that senses a temperature of said first switch, modulates an amplitude of a drive waveform applied to said gate based on said temperature and thereby redistributes said current.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
A power supply, comprising: a rectifier, couplable to a source of AC power, that provides rectified DC voltage; a switch-mode power converter, coupled to said rectifier and including parallel-coupled first and second switches, said first switch having a temperature-dependent resistance and a circuit for distributing current between said first and second switches, including: a device having a temperature-dependent characteristic, in thermal communication with said first switch and electrically coupled to a gate of said first switch, that senses a temperature of said first switch, modulates an amplitude of a drive waveform applied to said gate based on said temperature and thereby redistributes said current.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 wherein said first switch is an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 wherein said device is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor and is further coupled to an output of a gate driver of said switch-mode power converter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 wherein said device is a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor and is further coupled to ground.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 wherein said switch-mode power converter further includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 wherein said switch-mode power converter further includes an adjustable output voltage regulator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 wherein said switch-mode power converter further includes an output level adjustable step-down DC/DC converter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 further comprising an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter coupled between said source of AC power and said rectifier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 wherein said rectifier is a three-phase rectifier.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 wherein said device is integrated with said first switch into a single component.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-31 | 2002-11-30 | 2003-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | 2007-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-31 | 2010-11-30 | 2011-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |