General Electric Company
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING JUNCTION TEMPERATURE OF A SEMICONDUCTOR SWITCH

Abstract:

A system for monitoring a junction temperature of a semiconductor device includes a sensing resistor electrically coupled to a source terminal of the semiconductor device in a gate loop of the semiconductor device. The system includes a detection circuit electrically coupled to the gate loop of the semiconductor device and configured to measure a voltage difference across the sensing resistor. The system also includes an electronic control unit electrically coupled to the gate loop and the detection circuit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine a first gate current peak during a switching process of the semiconductor device, wherein the first gate current peak is determined based on the voltage detected by the detection circuit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine the junction temperature based on the first gate current peak.