Pulsed transformer base drives for high-efficiency high-current low-voltage switches

An overview of the literature on base drives is followed by a description of a novel transformer-coupled base drive circuit that is particularly suitable for high-current transistor switches. It has the advantages of very low component count and cost, small size and high efficiency with no driver transistors being rated at full base current. The operation of the main transistor in deep saturation results in low conduction losses, and the dynamic characteristics of the switch are shown to be suitable for inverter applications. A simple mathematical model is proposed and experimental results on a drive for 350 A 100 V switch are given. >

[1]  Patrick R. Palmer,et al.  Drive and snubber techniques for GTO's and power transistors - particularly for inverter bridges , 1984 .

[2]  B. W. Williams.  High-voltage high-frequency power-switching transistor module with switching-aid-circuit energy recovery , 1984 .

[3]  F. Turnbull.  A carrier frequency gating circuit for static inverters, converters, and cycloconverters , 1966 .

[4]  Poh Hsu.  A new, high speed, unique switch , 1982, 1982 IEEE Power Electronics Specialists conference.

[5]  Richard L. Bonkowski.  A Technique for Increasing Power Transistor Switching Frequency , 1986, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[6]  J. D. van Wyk,et al.  On the steady-state and dynamic characteristics of bipolar transistor power switches in low-loss technology , 1985 .

[7]  Kaneo Mohri,et al.  PWM Inverter Using High-Gain Pulse-Triggered Power Transistors and a New PWM Control Method , 1986, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[8]  Richard Hoft,et al.  30-kVA Transistor Inverter Auxiliary Power Supply for People Mover, Part I-Power Circuit , 1983, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[9]  D.J. Shortt,et al.  A Proportional Drive for Discontinuous Mode DC-to-DC Converters , 1984, INTELEC '84 - International Telecommunications Energy Conference.

[10]  James Joyce,et al.  Power transistor switching with a controlled regenerative current mode transformer , 1977, 1977 IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference.

[11]  J. van Wyk.  On carrier-frequency gating systems for static switching circuits , 1969 .

[12]  William Burns,et al.  A framework for evaluating the performance of bipolar power transistor drive circuits , 1983, 1983 IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference.

[13]  Klaus Rischmuller.  A new base drive method for ultra fast, high voltage switching with darlingtons , 1984, 1984 IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference.

[14]  D.J. Shortt,et al.  Analysis of magnetic proportional drive circuits for bipolar junction transistors , 1985, 1985 IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference.