Texas Instruments Incorporated
Gate driver controller and associated discharge method

Abstract:

A gate driver controller, inverter circuit apparatus, and associated discharge method for electric vehicles are disclosed. An example gate driver controller includes a mode determiner to set a mode of operation of the gate driver. The example device includes a gate driver control to control the gate driver to set the gate driver to: a) on, b) off, or c) generate a pulse width modulation signal. When in a first operating mode and set to on, stored energy is to be transferred from a capacitor to a motor winding inductor via a power transistor activated by the gate driver to dissipate a first portion of the stored energy. When in a second operating mode, a second portion of the stored energy is to be transferred from the motor winding inductor to the power transistor to dissipate the second portion of the stored energy.