Power Integrations, Inc.
ACTIVE DISCHARGE OF AN ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM

Abstract:

Systems, devices, and methods for active discharge of an electric drive system for a vehicle includes an inverter having at least one phase leg, wherein a first of the phase legs includes a first power switch, a dc/dc converter configured to generate an internal supply voltage that is regulated with respect to a voltage on a rail , and a gate drive channel configured to drive the first power switch into conductance by applying a relatively high voltage difference during operation of the vehicle and to continue the driving of the first power switch with a relatively lower voltage difference after a signal indicating shut-down or fault. The dc/dc converter is configured to generate the internal supply voltage to have either a relatively high voltage difference with respect to the voltage on the rail or a relatively lower voltage difference with respect to the voltage on the rail.