Drive and protection unit for solid-state circuit breaker and solid-state circuit breaker device

Abstract

The invention provides a driving and protecting unit for a solid-state circuit breaker and a solid-state circuit breaking device. The driving and protecting unit comprises a driving module which is configured to be used for driving the solid-state circuit breaker to be switched on and switched off; the temperature sensor is configured to sense the working temperature of the solid-state circuit breaker and output a first voltage indicating the working temperature, and a threshold value of the first voltage corresponds to an over-temperature protection threshold value of the solid-state circuit breaker; the voltage conversion circuit is configured to convert the first voltage into a second voltage and enable a threshold value of the second voltage to be equal to an overcurrent protection threshold value of the solid-state circuit breaker; and a comparison module configured to compare the second voltage and a third voltage indicating a current of a current loop to be protected by the solid state circuit breaker with a threshold value of the third voltage, and provide a comparison result to the driving module; wherein the threshold value of the third voltage corresponds to the over-current protection threshold value, and the driving module drives the solid-state circuit breaker to be switched off based on the comparison result.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of solid-state circuit breaker technology, and particularly relates to a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker and a solid-state circuit breaker device. Background Technology

[0002] The statements in this section are merely to provide background information in relation to the present invention to aid in understanding the invention, and such background information does not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] A circuit breaker is a switching device capable of closing (also known as conducting), carrying, and disconnecting (also known as shutting off) current under normal circuit conditions, and capable of closing, carrying, and disconnecting current under abnormal circuit conditions within a specified time. Abnormal circuit conditions include, for example, short circuits, overloads, or other emergency situations.

[0004] Solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs) are a type of intelligent circuit breaker that can replace traditional mechanical circuit breakers for circuit protection. Unlike traditional circuit breakers, SSCBs are contactless switching devices; their switching is achieved by controlling the charge carriers and their pathways within the power semiconductor switching device. As a core device for circuit switching and safety protection in power systems, SSCBs still have some areas for improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker and a solid-state circuit breaker device.

[0006] According to one aspect of the embodiments of this application, a driving and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker is provided, the driving and protection unit comprising:

[0007] A drive module configured to drive the solid-state circuit breaker to turn on and off;

[0008] A temperature sensor is configured to sense the operating temperature of the solid-state circuit breaker and output a first voltage indicating the operating temperature, wherein the threshold of the first voltage corresponds to the over-temperature protection threshold of the solid-state circuit breaker.

[0009] A voltage conversion circuit configured to convert a first voltage into a second voltage, such that a threshold value of the second voltage is equal to the overcurrent protection threshold value of the solid-state circuit breaker; and

[0010] A comparison module is configured to compare the second voltage and a third voltage indicating the current of the current loop to be protected by the solid-state circuit breaker with a threshold value of the third voltage, and provide the comparison result to the drive module;

[0011] The threshold of the third voltage corresponds to the overcurrent protection threshold, and the drive module drives the solid-state circuit breaker to disconnect based on the comparison result.

[0012] According to the driving and protection unit of the present invention, the driving module includes:

[0013] A driver, the output of which is configured to be electrically connected to the controlled terminal of the solid-state circuit breaker; and

[0014] An auxiliary power module is configured to supply power to the drive module and the temperature sensor.

[0015] According to the drive and protection unit of the present invention, the drive module further includes a short-circuit protection module configured to enable the driver to drive the solid-state circuit breaker to disconnect when a short circuit is detected in the current loop.

[0016] According to the driving and protection unit of the present invention, the temperature sensor is a thermistor, and the voltage conversion circuit includes: a first resistor connected in series with the thermistor; and an output port electrically connected to the node between the first resistor and the thermistor and used to output the second voltage.

[0017] The drive and protection unit according to the present invention further includes a threshold setting circuit configured to output a threshold value of the third voltage to the comparison module.

[0018] The driving and protection unit according to the present invention further includes a sampling module, which is configured to receive the second voltage and the third voltage, and output the larger of the second voltage and the third voltage as a first sampling result to the comparison module. The comparison module is configured to compare the first sampling result with a threshold value of the third voltage and provide the comparison result to the driving module.

[0019] According to the driving and protection unit of the present invention, the sampling module includes:

[0020] A first input terminal is configured to receive the second voltage;

[0021] The second input terminal is configured to receive the third voltage;

[0022] The output terminal is configured to be electrically connected to the negative input terminal of the comparison module;

[0023] A first diode, its cathode configured to be electrically connected to the output terminal, and its anode configured to be electrically connected to the first input terminal; and

[0024] The second diode has its cathode configured to be electrically connected to the output terminal and its anode configured to be electrically connected to the second input terminal.

[0025] According to the driving and protection unit of the present invention, the driving module further includes a signal isolation conditioning circuit, wherein the second voltage and / or the third voltage are received by the sampling module after being processed by the signal isolation conditioning circuit.

[0026] According to the driving and protection unit of the present invention, the driving module is an IC chip.

[0027] According to another aspect of the embodiments of this application, a solid-state circuit breaker device is also provided, the solid-state circuit breaker device including a solid-state circuit breaker and a drive and protection unit according to the embodiments of this application.

[0028] This invention provides a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker, and a solid-state circuit breaker incorporating the same. The unit converts a first voltage indicating temperature output from a temperature sensor into a second voltage via a voltage conversion circuit. The threshold value of this second voltage is made equal to the threshold value of a third voltage indicating the current in the current loop to be protected by the solid-state circuit breaker. This third voltage threshold value corresponds to the overcurrent protection threshold of the solid-state circuit breaker. Therefore, only the larger of the second and third voltage values ​​needs to be obtained through a sampling module, and then compared with the third voltage threshold value through a comparison module to determine whether an overcurrent or overtemperature condition has occurred. Furthermore, this invention optimizes the circuit structure of the drive and protection unit. For example, by using a sampling module including a first diode and a second diode, the larger of the second and third voltage values ​​can be obtained quickly and easily. Compared to the traditional discrete protection architecture of solid-state circuit breakers, the circuit structure of the drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker and the solid-state circuit breaker incorporating the same according to embodiments of this invention is simpler and requires fewer components. This not only effectively saves on equipment size and hardware cost but also significantly improves the response speed and protection reliability of the solid-state circuit breaker. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0030] Figure 1 The waveforms of the current in the current loop of the solid-state circuit breaker under various abnormal conditions are shown.

[0031] Figure 2 A circuit structure block diagram of a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0032] Figure 3 A circuit topology diagram for a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0033] Figure 4 A circuit topology diagram for a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the circuit topology for a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, further illustrates this application. It should be understood that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0036] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details are provided in the following description to give a thorough understanding of embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions of this application can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, apparatuses, steps, etc., can be employed. In other instances, well-known methods, apparatuses, implementations, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of this application.

[0037] Typically, solid-state circuit breakers (SSDs) consist mainly of power semiconductor switching devices, energy absorption modules, and drivers. To achieve reliable circuit protection, SSDs also integrate multiple protection modules, such as short-circuit protection modules, overload protection modules, overcurrent protection modules, and over-temperature protection modules. Among these, the short-circuit protection module, overcurrent protection module, and over-temperature protection module are key components ensuring that the SSD responds promptly and disconnects the circuit under abnormal operating conditions.

[0038] Figure 1 The waveforms of the current in the current loop of the solid-state circuit breaker under various abnormal conditions are shown. For example... Figure 1As shown, curve X represents the current waveform of the current loop when an overcurrent occurs, curve Y represents the current waveform of the current loop when a short circuit occurs, and curve Z represents the current waveform of the current loop when an overtemperature occurs. The figures show that there are significant differences in the occurrence and development speed of abnormal conditions such as short circuits, overcurrents, and overtemperatures. Typically, a short circuit occurs in microseconds, an overcurrent in milliseconds, and an overtemperature in seconds or even minutes. Furthermore, as... Figure 1 As shown, the short-circuit protection threshold, overcurrent protection threshold, and overtemperature protection threshold are all different.

[0039] The aforementioned characteristics of short circuits, overcurrents, and overtemperatures occurring in the current loop lead to the widespread use of multiple discrete protection modules in current solid-state circuit breakers to implement various protection functions. Taking overcurrent protection modules and overtemperature protection modules as examples, the overcurrent protection module samples the current in the current loop using a current sensor (e.g., a Hall effect sensor), and the overtemperature protection module samples the operating temperature of the solid-state circuit breaker using a temperature sensor (e.g., a thermistor). Both the overcurrent and overtemperature protection modules include signal processing circuits, threshold comparison circuits, and latching circuits. These circuits process the sampled signals, compare the processed signals with their respective preset thresholds, and latch the comparison results. When the current sampled signal exceeds the overcurrent protection threshold or the temperature sampled signal exceeds the overtemperature protection threshold, the corresponding protection module in the overcurrent or overtemperature protection module enables the driver, causing it to turn off the power semiconductor switching device, thereby disconnecting the current loop.

[0040] The discrete protection architecture of solid-state circuit breakers has many drawbacks. Specifically, at the hardware level, the discrete protection modules in solid-state circuit breakers result in complex structures and large sizes, making them difficult to adapt to the installation requirements of miniaturized power equipment and leading to high procurement and assembly costs for discrete components. At the performance level, the time constants of each discrete protection module differ, and the discrete protection architecture lacks a unified coordination mechanism, which can easily lead to protection delays or malfunctions in solid-state circuit breakers. Furthermore, during the execution of their protection functions, the transmission delay of the corresponding sampling signals between different protection modules can severely affect the response speed of solid-state circuit breakers, making it impossible for them to effectively and promptly ensure the safety of the current loop.

[0041] The present invention provides a drive and protection unit for solid-state circuit breakers to overcome the above-mentioned defects.

[0042] Figure 2 A circuit structure block diagram of a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2As shown, the solid-state circuit breaker 10 includes a power semiconductor switching device 101 disposed in the current loop to conduct or disconnect current, a current sensor 102 connected in series with the power semiconductor switching device 101, and an energy absorption unit 103 connected in parallel with the power semiconductor switching device 101. The drive and protection unit 20 includes a drive module 201, a temperature sensor 202, a voltage conversion circuit 205, and a comparison module 204.

[0043] The output of the drive module 201 is electrically connected to the control terminal of the power semiconductor switching device 101, and the drive module 201 is configured to drive the power semiconductor switching device 101 to turn on and off. The temperature sensor 202 is configured to sense the operating temperature Tc of the solid-state circuit breaker 10 and output a first voltage U1 indicating the operating temperature Tc. The threshold value Uth1 of the first voltage corresponds to the over-temperature protection threshold of the solid-state circuit breaker 10. The current sensor 102 is configured to sense the current in the current loop and output a third voltage U3 indicating the current. The threshold value Uth3 of the third voltage U3 corresponds to the over-current protection threshold of the solid-state circuit breaker 10. The output of the temperature sensor 202 is electrically connected to the voltage conversion circuit 205. The first voltage U1 is converted into a second voltage U2 by the voltage conversion circuit 205, such that the threshold value Uth2 of the second voltage U2 is equal to the threshold value Uth3 of the third voltage U3. The comparison module 204 is configured to compare the second voltage U2 and the third voltage U3 with the threshold value Uth3 of the third voltage, respectively, and provide the comparison result to the drive module 201. The drive module 201 controls the solid-state circuit breaker 10 to open based on the comparison result. Specifically, the comparison module 204 is configured to compare the second voltage U2 with a threshold value Uth3 of the third voltage and to compare the third voltage U3 with the threshold value Uth3 of the third voltage. When the comparison result indicates that the second voltage U2 and / or the third voltage U3 is greater than or equal to the threshold value Uth3 of the third voltage, the drive module 201 controls the solid-state circuit breaker 10 to open.

[0044] During the operation of a solid-state circuit breaker, if the first voltage U1 indicating the operating temperature Tc is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage Uth1, it indicates that the solid-state circuit breaker has over-temperature, triggering over-temperature protection. If the third voltage U3 indicating the current in the current loop is greater than the threshold voltage Uth3, it indicates that the current loop has overcurrent, triggering overcurrent protection. In existing solid-state circuit breakers, it is necessary to compare the first voltage U1 with its threshold voltage Uth1 and the third voltage U3 with its threshold voltage Uth3 to determine whether overcurrent or over-temperature has occurred. This invention overcomes the problem of existing solid-state circuit breakers requiring different protection thresholds for over-temperature and overcurrent protection by incorporating a voltage conversion circuit in the drive and protection units to transform the first voltage U1 indicating the operating temperature Tc.

[0045] Specifically, since the second voltage U2 is obtained by converting the first voltage U1 through the voltage conversion circuit 205, if the first voltage U1, which indicates the operating temperature Tc, is greater than or equal to the threshold value Uth1 of the first voltage, then the second voltage U2 will also be greater than or equal to the threshold value Uth2 of the second voltage U2. By designing the voltage conversion circuit 205, the threshold value Uth2 of the second voltage U2 can be made to have the same value as the threshold value Uth3 of the third voltage U3, which corresponds to the overcurrent protection threshold. Therefore, it is only necessary to compare the second voltage U2 and the third voltage U3 with the same threshold value—the threshold value Uth3 of the third voltage U3—to determine whether an overcurrent or overtemperature has occurred. This solution is simple, reliable, and easy to implement in engineering.

[0046] In some embodiments of the present invention, the current sensor 102 may also be disposed in the drive and protection unit 20.

[0047] like Figure 2 As shown, the drive and protection unit 20 also includes a sampling module 203. The sampling module 203 is configured to receive a second voltage U2 and a third voltage U3 indicating the current in the current loop, and output the larger of the second voltage U2 and the third voltage U3 as a first sampling result. The comparison module 204 is configured to receive the first sampling result, compare the first sampling result with a threshold Uth3 of the third voltage U3, and output the comparison result to the drive module 201. Specifically, when the comparison result is that the first sampling result is greater than the threshold Uth3 of the third voltage U3, the drive module 201 drives the power semiconductor switching device 101 to disconnect. In other words, this invention obtains the larger of the second voltage U2 and the third voltage U3 through the sampling module 203, compares it with the threshold Uth3 of the third voltage U3, and then triggers the solid-state circuit breaker to disconnect the current loop for fault protection when the comparison result meets a set condition. Therefore, compared to the traditional discrete protection architecture of solid-state circuit breakers, the circuit structure used to achieve the above protection in this invention can be simpler, and the number of components used can be less. This not only effectively saves on equipment size and hardware costs, but also significantly improves the response speed and protection reliability of solid-state circuit breakers.

[0048] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 2As shown, the drive module 201 also includes a driver 2011 and an auxiliary power supply module 2012. The output terminal of the driver 2011 is configured to be electrically connected to the control terminal 101G of the power semiconductor switching device 101 to drive the semiconductor switching device 101 to turn on or off via the control terminal 101G. The auxiliary power supply module 2012 can provide voltages and currents of different specifications for power supply. The auxiliary power supply module 2012 is configured to power the drive module 201, the temperature sensor 202, and other power-consuming units in the drive and protection unit 20. The auxiliary power supply module 2012 can also be configured to power the current sensor 102. In other words, the power-consuming units in the drive and protection unit 20 and the current sensor 102 are all powered by the auxiliary power supply module 2012. Therefore, the present invention does not require a separate power supply for implementing overcurrent protection and overtemperature protection functions for the solid-state circuit breaker, thereby saving the size of the device and hardware costs.

[0049] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 2 As shown, the drive module 201 also includes a short-circuit protection module 2013, which is configured to enable the driver 2011 to drive the solid-state circuit breaker 10 to disconnect when a short circuit is detected in the current loop.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present invention, the drive module 201 in the drive and protection unit 20 can be an integrated circuit (IC) chip. Users can purchase isolated gate driver chips on the market as drive modules. These chips typically integrate auxiliary power modules, drivers, and short-circuit protection modules, which can not only provide stable drive signals for power semiconductor switching devices, but also achieve high and low voltage isolation. By using mature commercially available isolated gate driver chips, the design complexity of the drive and protection unit can be simplified, the development cycle can be shortened, and costs can be optimized.

[0051] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the circuit topology for a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 3As shown, the drive and protection unit 20 includes a drive module 201, a temperature sensor 202, a sampling module 203, a comparison module 204, and a voltage conversion circuit 205. The drive module 201 includes a driver 2011 and an auxiliary power supply module 2012. Both the driver 2011 and the auxiliary power supply module 2012 have isolated high-voltage and low-voltage sides to achieve electrical isolation between the high-voltage power circuit and the low-voltage control circuit, effectively blocking interference signal transmission between high and low voltages and ensuring stable operation of the low-voltage control circuit. The auxiliary power supply module 2012 has a power input terminal Vcc2 and a ground terminal GND2 on its low-voltage side, and a first output terminal Vdd2, a second output terminal Vee2, and a common terminal Com2 on its high-voltage side. The driver 2011 has a first power input terminal Vcc, an enable terminal Rest, and a ground terminal GND on its low-voltage side, and a drive terminal Gate on its high-voltage side.

[0052] In this circuit breaker 10, the power semiconductor switching device 101 is electrically connected to the current loop to be protected via its first controlled terminal 101A and second controlled terminal 101B. The control terminal 101G of the power semiconductor switching device 101 is electrically connected to the drive terminal Gate of the driver 2011. A temperature sensor 202 is disposed inside the solid-state circuit breaker 10 to sense its operating temperature. One end of the temperature sensor 202 is electrically connected to the first port 205A of the voltage conversion circuit 205, and the other end is electrically connected to the power input terminal Vcc2 of the auxiliary power supply module 2012. The second port (also referred to as the "output port" in this invention) 205B of the voltage conversion circuit 205 is electrically connected to the first input terminal 203A of the sampling module 203, and its third port 205C is electrically connected to the ground terminal GND2 of the auxiliary power supply module 2012.

[0053] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 3As shown, the voltage conversion circuit 205 includes a first resistor R1. The temperature sensor 202 is a thermistor with a negative temperature coefficient. The first terminal of the thermistor is electrically connected to the power input terminal Vcc2, the second terminal of the thermistor is electrically connected to the first terminal of the first resistor R1, and the second terminal of the first resistor R1 is electrically connected to the ground terminal GND2. The thermistor and the first resistor R1 are connected in series between the power input terminal Vcc2 and the ground terminal GND2, forming a voltage divider structure. The output port 205B of the voltage conversion circuit 205 is electrically connected to the node between the temperature sensor 202 and the first resistor R1 and is used to output a second voltage U2. The voltage across the thermistor is the first voltage U1. The second voltage U2 is equal to (U1*R1 / Rc). The threshold value Uth1 of the first voltage U1 corresponds to the over-temperature protection threshold of the solid-state circuit breaker. When the resistance value Rc of the thermistor is not greater than Rcmin, over-temperature protection will be triggered. Therefore, the threshold value Uth2 of the second voltage U2 is equal to (Uth1*R1 / Rcmin). By selecting the value of the first resistor R1, the threshold value Uth2 of the second voltage U2 can be made equal to the threshold value Uth3 of the third voltage U3.

[0054] In some embodiments of the present invention, the temperature sensor 202 is a thermistor with a positive temperature coefficient. The first terminal of the thermistor is electrically connected to the ground terminal GND2, the second terminal of the thermistor is electrically connected to the first terminal of the first resistor R1, and the second terminal of the first resistor R1 is electrically connected to the power input terminal Vcc2. The thermistor and the first resistor R1 are connected in series between the ground terminal GND2 and the power input terminal Vcc2, forming a voltage divider structure. The output port 205B of the voltage conversion circuit 205 is electrically connected to the node between the temperature sensor 202 and the first resistor R1 and is used to output the second voltage U2.

[0055] In this design, the current sensor 102 is connected in series with the power semiconductor switching device 101. The power input terminal Vcc1 of the current sensor 102 is electrically connected to the power input terminal Vcc2 of the auxiliary power supply module 2012, the ground terminal GND1 is electrically connected to the ground terminal GND2 of the auxiliary power supply module 2012, and the signal output terminal Vout1 is electrically connected to the second input terminal 203B of the sampling module 203. The output terminal 203C of the sampling module 203 is electrically connected to the negative input terminal of the comparison module 204. The cathode of the first diode D1 of the sampling module 203 is electrically connected to the output terminal 203C of the sampling module 203, and the anode is electrically connected to the first input terminal 203A of the sampling module 203. The cathode of the second diode D2 of the sampling module 203 is electrically connected to the output terminal 203C of the sampling module 203, and the anode is electrically connected to the second input terminal 203B of the sampling module 203.

[0056] In some embodiments of the present invention, the drive and protection unit 20 further includes a threshold setting circuit 207. The threshold setting circuit 207 is configured to output a preset overcurrent protection threshold Uth3 to the comparison module 204. Figure 3 As shown, the first and second terminals of the threshold setting circuit 207 are configured to be electrically connected to the power input terminal Vcc2 and the ground terminal GND2 of the auxiliary power supply module 2012, respectively, and the output terminal is configured to be electrically connected to the positive input terminal of the comparator module 204. The threshold setting circuit 207 includes at least two resistors R2 and R3. The threshold setting circuit 207 is configured to set its output by selecting the resistance values ​​of at least two resistors R2 and R3.

[0057] In some embodiments of the present invention, the output terminal 203C of the sampling module 203 can be configured to be electrically connected to the positive input terminal of the comparison module 204, and the output terminal of the threshold setting circuit 207 can be configured to be electrically connected to the negative input terminal of the comparison module 204.

[0058] In some embodiments of the present invention, the drive and protection unit 20 further includes a latch module 206. The output terminal of the comparison module 204 is electrically connected to the input terminal In of the latch module 206. The output terminal Out of the latch module 206 is electrically connected to the enable terminal Rest of the driver 2011.

[0059] Temperature sensor 202 senses the operating temperature Tc of solid-state circuit breaker 10 and outputs a first voltage U1 indicating the operating temperature Tc. The first voltage U1 is converted into a second voltage U2 by voltage conversion circuit 205. Current sensor 102 senses the current in the current loop and outputs a third voltage U3 indicating the current. Sampling module 203 receives the second voltage U2 through first input terminal 203A and the third voltage U3 through second input terminal 203B. The second voltage U2 is applied to the anode of first diode D1, and the third voltage U3 is applied to the anode of second diode D2. The cathodes of both diodes D1 and D2 are electrically connected to the output terminal 203C of sampling module 203. Therefore, the larger of the second voltage U2 and the third voltage U3 will be output as the first sampling result through the output terminal 203C of sampling module 203 to the negative input terminal of comparison module 204. The sampling module 203 can obtain the larger of the second voltage U2 and the third voltage U3 using only the first diode D1 and the second diode D2, without the need for an additional comparator, significantly simplifying the hardware structure and layout complexity of the drive and protection units. Furthermore, the diodes' conduction response speed can reach the nanosecond level, effectively improving the response speed of the drive and protection units.

[0060] The comparison module 204 compares the first sampling result with the threshold Uth3 of the third voltage U3 corresponding to the overcurrent protection threshold, and outputs the comparison result to the latch module 206. The latch module 206 can latch the comparison result output by the comparison module 204, thereby avoiding malfunctions caused by interference or signal jitter. The latch module 206 outputs the comparison result to the driver 2011. When the comparison result is that the first sampling result is greater than the threshold Uth3 of the third voltage U3, the driver module 201 drives the power semiconductor switching device 101 to disconnect.

[0061] like Figure 3 As shown, the driver 2011 also has a reset terminal Reset on its low-voltage side. The reset terminal Reset is coupled to the reset terminal Reset6 of the latch module 206. The user can input a reset command through the reset terminal Reset of the driver 2011 to reset the drive and protection unit 20. The driver 2011 also has a second power input terminal Vdd and a third power input terminal Vee on its high-voltage side. The power input terminal Vcc2 of the auxiliary power module 2012 is electrically connected to the first power input terminal Vcc of the driver 2011, the first output terminal Vdd2 of the auxiliary power module 2012 is electrically connected to the second power input terminal Vdd of the driver 2011, and the second output terminal Vee2 of the auxiliary power module 2012 is electrically connected to the third power input terminal Vee of the driver 2011 to supply power to the driver 2011. The driver 2011 also has a ground terminal GND on its low-voltage side and a common terminal Com on its high-voltage side. The ground terminal GND and the common terminal Com of the driver 2011 are electrically connected to the ground terminal GND2 and the common terminal Com2 of the auxiliary power module 2012, respectively.

[0062] In some embodiments of the present invention, the driver 2011 also has a detection terminal Desat on its high-voltage side. The detection terminal Desat of the driver 2011 is electrically connected to the first controlled terminal 101A of the power semiconductor switching device 101 through a third diode D3. The common terminal Com of the driver 2011 is electrically connected to the second controlled terminal 101B of the power semiconductor switching device 101. The driver 2011 also includes a short-circuit protection module (…). Figure 3 (Not shown). The short-circuit protection module detects whether a short circuit has occurred in the current loop through the detection terminal Desat. When a short circuit is detected in the current loop, the driver 2011 is enabled, causing it to drive the power semiconductor switching device 101 to disconnect.

[0063] In some embodiments of the present invention, the driving module 201 further includes a signal isolation conditioning circuit (not shown), and the second voltage signal U2 and / or the third voltage signal U3 are received by the sampling module 203 after being processed by the signal isolation conditioning circuit.

[0064] Figure 4A schematic diagram of the circuit topology for a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 4 The drive and protection units shown are as follows Figure 3 The difference between the drive and protection units shown is that the driver 2011 has a first signal input terminal Ain1 on its high-voltage side and a first signal output terminal Aout1 on its low-voltage side; one end of the temperature sensor 202 is electrically connected to the first port 205A of the voltage conversion circuit 205, and the other end is electrically connected to the second power input terminal Vdd of the driver 2011; the second port 205B of the voltage conversion circuit 205 is electrically connected to the first signal input terminal Ain1 of the driver 2011, and the third port 205C is electrically connected to the common terminal Com2 of the auxiliary power module 2012; the temperature sensor 202 is configured to sense the operating temperature Tc of the solid-state circuit breaker 10 and output a first voltage U1 indicating the operating temperature Tc; the first voltage U1 is converted into a second voltage U2 by the voltage conversion circuit 205; the second voltage U2 is processed by the signal isolation conditioning circuit in the driver 2011 and output to the first input terminal 203A of the sampling module 203 through the first signal output terminal Aout1 of the driver 2011.

[0065] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the circuit topology for a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 5 The drive and protection units shown are as follows Figure 4 The difference between the drive and protection units shown is that the driver 2011 has a second signal input terminal Ain2 on its high-voltage side and a second signal output terminal Aout2 on its low-voltage side; the power input terminal Vdd1 of the current sensor 102 is electrically connected to the first output terminal Vdd2 of the auxiliary power module 2012, its common terminal Com1 is electrically connected to the common terminal Com2 of the auxiliary power module 2012, and its signal output terminal Vout1 is electrically connected to the second signal input terminal Ain2 of the driver 2011; the current sensor 102 is configured to sense the current in the current loop and output a third voltage U3 indicating the current; after the third voltage U3 is processed by the signal isolation conditioning circuit in the driver 2011, it is output to the second input terminal 203B of the sampling module 203 through the second signal output terminal Aout2 of the driver 2011.

[0066] The signal isolation and conditioning circuit in driver 2011 can amplify and convert the second voltage U2 and the third voltage U3 to improve the resolution of the voltage signal and enhance the detection capability of weak signals. At the same time, the signal isolation and conditioning circuit can also isolate the high-voltage side and the low-voltage side of driver 2011, thereby effectively reducing electromagnetic interference from the high-voltage side to the low-voltage side and improving the system's anti-interference capability and stability.

[0067] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the voltage conversion circuit 205 is not limited to the voltage divider structure shown in the figures. Other types of voltage conversion circuits are also within the protection scope of the present invention, as long as the voltage threshold corresponding to the over-temperature protection threshold can be adjusted to be equal to the voltage threshold corresponding to the over-current protection threshold.

[0068] The present invention also provides a solid-state circuit breaker, which includes a drive and protection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] According to embodiments of the present invention, a drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker and a solid-state circuit breaker including the same thereof transform a first voltage indicating temperature output from a temperature sensor into a second voltage via a voltage conversion circuit. The threshold value of the second voltage is made equal to the threshold value of a third voltage indicating the current in the current loop to be protected by the solid-state circuit breaker. The threshold value of the third voltage corresponds to the overcurrent protection threshold of the solid-state circuit breaker. Therefore, only the larger of the second and third voltage values ​​needs to be obtained through a sampling module, and then compared with the threshold value of the third voltage through a comparison module to determine whether an overcurrent or overtemperature condition has occurred. Furthermore, the present invention optimizes the circuit structure of the drive and protection unit. For example, by using a sampling module including a first diode and a second diode, the larger of the second and third voltage values ​​can be obtained simply and quickly. Compared to the traditional discrete protection architecture of solid-state circuit breakers, the circuit structure of the drive and protection unit for a solid-state circuit breaker and a solid-state circuit breaker including the same thereof according to embodiments of the present invention is simpler and requires fewer components. This not only effectively saves on equipment size and hardware costs but also significantly improves the response speed and protection reliability of the solid-state circuit breaker, while avoiding complex programming of digital controllers.

[0070] In this invention, unless otherwise stated, the terms "coupling" or "connection" refer to electrical coupling, including direct electrical connection or indirect electrical connection achieved through intermediate elements such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, and switches. As long as the connection does not substantially change the core function of this invention, it falls within the protection scope of this invention.

[0071] References to "various embodiments," "some embodiments," "one embodiment," or "embodiment," etc., in this specification refer to a specific feature, structure, or property described in connection with the said embodiment, included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, the appearance of the phrases "in various embodiments," "in some embodiments," "in one embodiment," or "in an embodiment," etc., throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, specific features, structures, or properties can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Therefore, a specific feature, structure, or property shown or described in connection with one embodiment can be combined, in whole or in part, with features, structures, or properties of one or more other embodiments without limitation, provided that the combination is not illogical or inoperable.

[0072] The terms "comprising," "having," and similar expressions used in this specification are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses. Furthermore, the elements in the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn to scale.

[0073] While the present invention has been described through preferred embodiments, it is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and various changes and modifications are made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A driving and protection unit for a solid state circuit breaker, comprising: a driving module configured to drive on and off of the solid state circuit breaker; a temperature sensor configured to sense an operating temperature of the solid state circuit breaker and output a first voltage indicative of the operating temperature, a threshold of the first voltage corresponding to an over-temperature protection threshold of the solid state circuit breaker; a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the first voltage to a second voltage and make a threshold of the second voltage equal to an over-current protection threshold of the solid state circuit breaker; and a comparison module configured to compare the second voltage and a third voltage indicative of a current of a current loop to be protected by the solid state circuit breaker with a threshold of the third voltage respectively, and provide a comparison result to the driving module; wherein the threshold of the third voltage corresponds to the over-current protection threshold, and the driving module drives off of the solid state circuit breaker based on the comparison result. The driving module comprises:

2. The drive and protection unit of claim 1, wherein, a driver, an output of the driver configured to be electrically connected to a controlled terminal of the solid state circuit breaker; and an auxiliary power module configured to supply power to the driving module and the temperature sensor. The driving module further comprises a short-circuit protection module configured to enable the driver to drive off of the solid state circuit breaker when a short-circuit in the current loop is detected.

3. The drive and protection unit of claim 2, wherein, The temperature sensor is a thermistor, and the voltage conversion circuit comprises: a first resistor in series with the thermistor; and an output port electrically connected to a node between the first resistor and the thermistor and configured to output the second voltage.

4. The drive and protection unit of claim 1, wherein, 5.The driving and protection unit of claim 1, further comprising a threshold setting circuit configured to output the threshold of the third voltage to the comparison module. 6.The driving and protection unit of claim 1, further comprising a sampling module configured to receive the second voltage and the third voltage, and output a larger one of the second voltage and the third voltage as a first sampling result to the comparison module, the comparison module configured to compare the first sampling result with the threshold of the third voltage and provide a comparison result to the driving module. The sampling module comprises:

7. The drive and protection unit of claim 6, wherein, a first input configured to receive the second voltage; a second input configured to receive the third voltage; an output configured to be electrically connected to a negative input of the comparison module; a first diode, a cathode of the first diode configured to be electrically connected to the output, and an anode of the first diode configured to be electrically connected to the first input; and a second diode, a cathode of the second diode configured to be electrically connected to the output, and an anode of the second diode configured to be electrically connected to the second input. The driving module further comprises a signal isolation conditioning circuit, and the second voltage and / or the third voltage is received by the sampling module after being processed by the signal isolation conditioning circuit.

8. The drive and protection unit of claim 6, wherein, ​ 9. The drive and protection unit according to any of claims 1-8, wherein, The driving module is an IC chip.

10. A solid state circuit breaking device comprising a solid state circuit breaker and a driving and protection unit according to any of claims 1-9.

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