Driving chip and electronic device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a driving chip and an electronic device. The driving chip comprises a digital control module and a voltage stabilizing module, an output end of the digital control module is coupled to an input end of the voltage stabilizing module, the voltage stabilizing module comprises a feedback loop, a first end of the feedback loop is coupled to an output end of the voltage stabilizing module; wherein the digital control module is configured to receive a voltage setting parameter, and output first voltage gear information to the voltage stabilizing module, the first voltage gear information corresponds to the voltage setting parameter; the voltage stabilizing module is configured to control a voltage value of the output end of the voltage stabilizing module based on the first voltage gear information. The driving chip of the present application realizes closed-loop stable control of discharging of the voltage stabilizing module, and reduces high-frequency oscillation and response delay of a control electrode voltage externally connected to the output end of the voltage stabilizing module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of this application relate to a driver chip and an electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Bus capacitors are critical components of the drive system in new energy vehicles. Their core function is to stabilize bus voltage, buffer current fluctuations, and ensure the normal operation of power switching devices such as Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs). However, bus capacitors have the characteristic of storing charge. When the system is powered off, the capacitor will continue to store high-voltage charge for a long time. If it is not discharged in time, it will pose a risk of electric shock to maintenance personnel and may even cause secondary accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly reduce the voltage on the bus capacitor to below a safe voltage value after the system is powered off.

[0003] Shot-through discharge is an active discharge strategy. Its principle is to simultaneously turn on the upper and lower power switching elements of the same bridge arm, forming a discharge circuit for the bus capacitor, thereby releasing the charge stored in the capacitor. Compared to resistive discharge, shot-through discharge does not require additional high-voltage discharge resistors and heat dissipation design, resulting in lower system cost. Shot-through discharge, however, requires high precision in the gate voltage control of the power switching elements.

[0004] However, current direct discharge schemes typically employ a comparator structure to control the gate voltage of the power switching element. This scheme compares the sampled gate voltage with a preset threshold, stopping charging once the gate voltage reaches the threshold. Since the comparator output only has two states, "on" and "off," the gate voltage inevitably oscillates at high frequency near the threshold, making it impossible to accurately stabilize at the target voltage value. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Firstly, this application provides a driver chip, which includes a digital control module and a voltage regulator module. The output terminal of the digital control module is coupled to the input terminal of the voltage regulator module. The voltage regulator module includes a feedback loop, the first end of which is coupled to the output terminal of the voltage regulator module. The digital control module receives voltage setting parameters and outputs first voltage level information to the voltage regulator module, the first voltage level information corresponding to the voltage setting parameters. The voltage regulator module controls the voltage value at its output terminal based on the first voltage level information. This application, through the closed-loop adjustment structure of the feedback loop, can stabilize the output voltage of the voltage regulator module near the target value corresponding to the first voltage level information, effectively suppressing voltage oscillations and improving the stability and reliability of the control.

[0006] Based on the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the voltage regulator module further includes a decoder coupled to the output of the digital control module, used to decode the received first voltage level information to obtain the corresponding reference voltage control signal; the feedback loop includes an error amplifier and a charging branch, the first input of the error amplifier is coupled to the output of the decoder, the second input of the error amplifier is connected to the second end of the feedback loop, and the output of the error amplifier is coupled to the charging branch; the error amplifier is used to adjust the output voltage of the voltage regulator module based on the reference voltage and the feedback voltage fed back from the feedback loop.

[0007] Based on the first aspect, one possible implementation is that the feedback loop includes a first feedback resistor and a second feedback resistor connected in series, and the second end of the feedback loop includes an intermediate node between the first feedback resistor and the second feedback resistor.

[0008] Based on the first aspect, one possible implementation is that the charging branch includes a first transistor, a first power transistor, and a mirror power transistor connected in mirror to the first power transistor. The control terminal of the first transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the error amplifier. The first terminal of the first transistor is grounded and the second terminal is coupled to the first terminal of the mirror power transistor. The second terminals of the first power transistor and the mirror power transistor are coupled to the first voltage source. The first terminal of the first power transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the voltage regulator module.

[0009] Based on the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the voltage regulator module further includes a first load element connected in parallel with the first feedback resistor and the second feedback resistor, the first load element being used to pull down the voltage value at the output terminal of the voltage regulator module.

[0010] Based on the first aspect, one possible implementation is that the charging branch further includes a clamping transistor used to control the voltage at the second terminal of the first transistor to be less than or equal to a voltage safety threshold.

[0011] Based on the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the voltage regulator module further includes a protection branch for controlling the current of the first power transistor to be less than or equal to a current safety threshold.

[0012] Based on the first aspect, one possible implementation is that the protection branch includes a second transistor, a third transistor, and a fourth transistor connected in mirror to the third transistor; the control electrode of the second transistor is coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, the first electrode of the second transistor is grounded, and the second electrode is coupled to the first electrode of the third transistor; the second electrodes of the third transistor and the second electrodes of the fourth transistor are both coupled to a second voltage source, and the first electrode of the fourth transistor is coupled to the third input terminal of the error amplifier; overcurrent protection for the first power transistor can be achieved through this protection branch.

[0013] Based on the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the voltage regulator module further includes a zero-point compensation branch connected in parallel with the output of the error amplifier. The zero-point compensation branch includes a first compensation resistor and a first compensation capacitor connected in series. The first end of the first compensation resistor is coupled to the output of the error amplifier, and the second end of the first compensation resistor is coupled to the second end of the first compensation capacitor. The first end of the first compensation capacitor is grounded. Through this zero-point compensation branch, the output pole of the error amplifier can be compensated to reduce self-oscillation.

[0014] Based on the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the aforementioned driver chip further includes: a selector, the input terminal of which is coupled to the output terminal of the digital control module, and the output terminal of which is connected to the fourth input terminal of the error amplifier. The selector is used to generate a high-level discharge enable signal and send it to the fourth input terminal of the error amplifier, wherein the discharge enable signal includes an external discharge pulse control signal or an internal discharge pulse control signal.

[0015] Based on the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the aforementioned driver chip further includes: a driver control module and a fifth transistor, wherein the input terminal of the driver control module is coupled to the output terminal of the selector, and the output terminal of the driver control module is coupled to the control electrode of the fifth transistor; the first electrode of the fifth transistor is grounded, and the second electrode is coupled to the control electrode of the power switching element; the driver control module is used to: in response to receiving a low-level discharge enable signal, turn on the fifth transistor to pull down the voltage at the output terminal of the voltage regulator module.

[0016] Based on the first aspect, in one possible implementation, the aforementioned driver chip further includes: a desaturation module, which is connected in series between the first electrode of the power switching element and the digital control module. The desaturation module is used to send a discharge stop signal to the digital control module to control the voltage regulator module to stop discharging in response to the feedback voltage sampled at the first electrode of the power switching element being lower than a first threshold.

[0017] Based on the first aspect, one possible implementation is that the voltage setting parameters include second voltage level information and voltage level compensation information; the digital control module is further configured to: in response to the voltage setting parameters including second voltage level information and voltage level compensation information, output first voltage level information to the voltage regulator module, wherein the first voltage level information is equal to the sum of the second voltage level information and the voltage level compensation information.

[0018] Based on the first aspect, one possible implementation is that the digital control module is also used to adjust the voltage setting parameters in real time.

[0019] Secondly, this application also provides an electronic device, including a driver chip of the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof, and a first component coupled to the driver chip, wherein the first component includes a power switching element and a bus capacitor coupled to the power switching element.

[0020] Thirdly, this application also provides a driver chip, which includes a digital control module and a voltage regulator module. The output terminal of the digital control module is coupled to the input terminal of the voltage regulator module. The digital control module is used to receive voltage setting parameters or current setting parameters, and to output first voltage level information or first current level information to the voltage regulator module. The first voltage level information corresponds to the voltage setting parameters, and the first current level information corresponds to the current setting parameters. The voltage regulator module is used to control the voltage value of the control electrode based on the first voltage level information or the first current level information.

[0021] The driver chip provided in at least one embodiment of this application includes a digital control module that outputs corresponding first voltage level information in response to input voltage setting parameters. A voltage regulation module samples the control electrode voltage of the power switching element in real time through a feedback loop and compares it with the first voltage level information (i.e., the target value). Based on the comparison result, the control electrode voltage is continuously adjusted to form a closed-loop negative feedback control. This closed-loop control method enables the control electrode voltage to be precisely stabilized near the first voltage level information, effectively suppressing voltage fluctuations and oscillations, and improving the stability and reliability of the control. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below only relate to some embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit this application.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a bus capacitor discharging through a direct current.

[0024] Figure 2 This application provides a schematic diagram of the structure of a driver chip;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the circuit structure of a voltage regulator module provided in this application;

[0026] Figure 4 An example of a driver chip provided in this application;

[0027] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating the discharge process of a driver chip provided in this application;

[0028] Figure 6 This application provides a timing diagram of a driver chip.

[0029] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of another driver chip provided in this application;

[0030] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of another driver chip provided in this application;

[0031] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of an electronic device provided in this application; and

[0032] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of another electronic device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this application shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this application do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a bus capacitor discharging through a direct current.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the controller actively controls the two IGBTs in the same bridge arm (such as the upper bridge arm IGBT1 and the lower bridge arm IGBT2) to conduct simultaneously, forming a low-impedance short-circuit loop from the upper plate (positive terminal) of the bus capacitor C → upper IGBT1 (collector to emitter) → lower IGBT2 (collector to emitter) → lower plate (negative terminal) of the bus capacitor C, wherein the emitter of the lower IGBT2 is grounded.

[0037] During the voltage relief process of the bus capacitor C, under the action of the gate voltage Vg2, the lower IGBT2 is in the conducting state (i.e., fully open state), which means that the on-resistance of IGBT2 is low at this time and can be equivalent to a non-ideal wire.

[0038] The gate voltage Vg1 of the upper IGBT1 determines the different discharge effects of the bus capacitor C. Improper control of the gate voltage Vg1 can lead to two types of risks:

[0039] When the voltage Vg1 is lower than the conduction threshold, IGBT1 operates in the linear region (amplification region). At this time, the device is not fully turned on and has a large internal resistance. If IGBT1 is subjected to a short-circuit current of several hundred amperes, it will burn out IGBT1 directly.

[0040] If the voltage Vg1 exceeds its maximum permissible gate voltage threshold, the short-circuit current may exceed the safe operating area of ​​the IGBT1. In addition, prolonged exposure of the gate oxide layer to excessive voltage stress will accelerate aging and even lead to breakdown.

[0041] Therefore, for direct discharge, precise control of the gate voltage Vg1 has become a key technical consideration in the industry.

[0042] Existing technologies primarily employ a comparator structure to control the gate voltage Vg1 of the IGBT1. This approach compares the sampled gate voltage Vg1 with a preset threshold. When the gate voltage is below the threshold, the comparator outputs a valid signal to open the charging path and charge the gate capacitor. When the gate voltage reaches the threshold, the comparator flips to close the charging path, stopping the charging of the gate capacitor. When the gate voltage drops below the threshold due to a load pull-down, the comparator flips again to reopen the charging path. This process repeats, with the comparator continuously switching the switching transistor between on and off states to control the gate voltage. However, since the comparator is essentially a hysteresis control structure, its output only has two states: "on" and "off," inevitably causing high-frequency oscillations in the gate voltage Vg1 near the threshold. Although a filter circuit can be added to the comparator output to suppress oscillations, the filter time constant is often difficult to balance precisely: if the filter time is too short, the oscillations cannot be effectively eliminated, resulting in an uneven gate voltage Vg1 waveform; if the filter time is too long, the control response will be slowed down, and the gate voltage Vg1 is prone to overshoot or failure to stabilize precisely at the target value. Such voltage fluctuations not only reduce the stability and controllability of the discharge process, but may also cause IGBT1 to switch frequently near the operating point, increasing the thermal stress and failure risk of the power transistor.

[0043] Therefore, it is currently difficult to achieve high-precision and high-stability control of the gate voltage Vg1 in the direct discharge circuit, which is a significant shortcoming in active discharge applications where voltage accuracy and system reliability are critical.

[0044] Therefore, this application provides a driver chip to solve the above problems.

[0045] The driver chip provided in at least one embodiment of this application includes a digital control module that outputs corresponding first voltage level information in response to input voltage setting parameters. A voltage regulation module samples the control electrode voltage of the power switching element in real time through a feedback loop and compares it with the first voltage level information (i.e., the target value). Based on the comparison result, the control electrode voltage is continuously adjusted to form a closed-loop negative feedback control. This closed-loop control method enables the control electrode voltage to be precisely stabilized near the first voltage level information, effectively suppressing voltage fluctuations and oscillations, and improving the stability and reliability of the control.

[0046] The driver chip provided in this application will be described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0047] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a driver chip provided in this application.

[0048] like Figure 2 As shown, the driver chip 100 includes a digital control module 110 and a voltage regulator module 120. The output terminal of the digital control module 110 is coupled to the input terminal of the voltage regulator module 120.

[0049] The digital control module 110 is configured to receive input voltage setting parameters and, in response to the voltage setting parameters, output first voltage level information to the voltage regulator module 120, the first voltage level information corresponding to the voltage setting parameters.

[0050] The voltage regulator module 120 includes a feedback loop 120-1, the first end of which is coupled to the output end of the voltage regulator module 120 (for example, the two can be the same endpoint). The voltage regulator module 120 is configured to control the voltage value of the output end of the voltage regulator module 120 based on the first voltage level information.

[0051] Specifically, the digital control module 110 generates corresponding first voltage level information based on the input voltage setting parameters. This first voltage level information is used to set the target voltage value output by the voltage regulator module 120. The voltage regulator module 120 samples the voltage of the control electrode (also called the gate or gate of a power switching element, such as an IGBT) in real time through a feedback loop (e.g., obtaining the feedback voltage through a feedback resistor), compares the feedback voltage with the target voltage value, and charges and / or discharges the control electrode according to the comparison result, thereby precisely controlling the voltage value of the control electrode to be near the target value.

[0052] The following explanation uses Vref0 as an example, corresponding to the target voltage value of the first voltage level.

[0053] When the feedback voltage is less than Vref0, the voltage regulator module 120 charges the control electrode to raise the feedback voltage to equal Vref0. When the control electrode is charged to a point where the feedback voltage is greater than Vref0, the voltage regulator module 120 discharges the control electrode to lower the feedback voltage to equal Vref0. It should be noted that the charging process when the feedback voltage is less than Vref0 also involves a discharging process, but the charging rate is much higher than the discharging rate, so the control electrode still appears to be charged. Similarly, the discharging process when the feedback voltage is charged to a point greater than Vref0 also involves a charging process, but the charging rate is much lower than the discharging rate, so the control electrode appears to be discharged.

[0054] In this way, the driver chip 100 realizes the configurability of the output voltage of the voltage regulator module 120 through the digital control module 110, and realizes closed-loop control of, for example, the external control electrode voltage through the feedback loop in the voltage regulator module 120, thereby enabling precise and stable control of, for example, the control electrode voltage of power switching elements.

[0055] In one possible implementation, the voltage regulator module 120 further includes a decoder (not shown in the figure). The input of the decoder is coupled to the output of the digital control module 110, and is used to receive the first voltage level information and decode it into a corresponding reference voltage control signal. Then, based on the reference voltage control signal, the switch corresponding to the target reference voltage level among the multiple reference voltage levels indicated by the first voltage level information can be closed to output the target reference voltage.

[0056] It should be noted that the decoder's location is not limited to inside the voltage regulator module 120. In other possible implementations, the decoder can also be integrated into the digital control module 110, whereby the digital control module 110 directly converts the first voltage level information into an analog reference voltage control signal and outputs the converted reference voltage control signal to the voltage regulator module 120. Regardless of whether the decoder is located inside the voltage regulator module 120 or the digital control module 110, its core function is to convert the first voltage level information in the digital domain into a reference voltage control signal in the analog domain, which serves as an adjustment reference for the feedback loop. Therefore, those skilled in the art should understand that the specific location of the decoder can be flexibly selected according to the actual chip design layout without affecting the implementation of the technical solution of this application.

[0057] For example, the feedback loop in the voltage regulator module 120 may also include an error amplifier (EA). The output of the decoder is coupled to the first input of the error amplifier (e.g., the non-inverting input), and the second input of the error amplifier (e.g., the inverting input) is connected to the second end of the feedback loop (i.e., the feedback voltage sampling point).

[0058] An error amplifier is a high-gain differential amplifier whose core function is to amplify the voltage difference between its two input terminals and output a corresponding level signal. In the embodiments of this application, the reference voltage output by the decoder is input to the first input terminal of the error amplifier, and the feedback voltage sampled by the feedback loop is input to the second input terminal of the error amplifier.

[0059] For example, the output level of an error amplifier is equal to the product of its open-loop gain and the difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage (reference voltage minus feedback voltage). When there is a deviation between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage, the error amplifier adjusts its output level accordingly. Error amplifiers are suitable for various scenarios requiring precise voltage regulation, such as linear regulators and switching power supplies.

[0060] For example, the feedback loop may also include a charging branch, with the output of the error amplifier coupled to the charging branch. The charging branch is used to charge or discharge the control electrode of the power switching element in response to the level signal output by the error amplifier, thereby adjusting the voltage of the control electrode.

[0061] For example, when the feedback voltage is less than the reference voltage (i.e., the difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage is positive), the level signal output by the error amplifier is pulled high. The charging branch responds to this pulled-high level signal, accelerating the charging speed to the control electrode (at this time, the charging speed is greater than the discharging speed), causing the control electrode voltage to rise. When the feedback voltage is greater than the reference voltage (i.e., the difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage is negative), the level signal output by the error amplifier is pulled low. The charging branch responds to this pulled-low level signal, slowing down the charging speed to the control electrode (at this time, the discharging speed is greater than the charging speed), causing the control electrode voltage to drop. This process repeats cyclically, and the feedback loop stabilizes the control electrode voltage at the target value corresponding to the reference voltage, achieving closed-loop regulation of the control electrode voltage and reducing its large oscillations.

[0062] Specifically, in combination Figure 2 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure of a voltage regulator module provided in this application.

[0063] Figure 3 The relevant terms (e.g., the definitions of signals and pins) are explained below.

[0064] (1) CFG_DCLDVTH[4:0]: Voltage range information, used to set the reference voltage input to the decoder. This voltage range information corresponds to the voltage setting parameter input by the user, and different binary values ​​are mapped to different reference voltage values;

[0065] (2) EN_DCLD_LDO: Enable signal, used to control whether the error amplifier actually performs the discharge action;

[0066] (3) Vref: reference voltage, that is, the reference voltage input to the first input terminal of the error amplifier;

[0067] (4) VFB: Feedback voltage, which is the voltage obtained by sampling the control electrode voltage of the power switching element through the feedback resistor;

[0068] (5) VDD: Low voltage power supply, the power supply voltage used to power low voltage domain circuits (such as error amplifier EA, transistor N1, etc.);

[0069] (6) VCC: High voltage power supply, the power supply voltage used to supply power to high voltage domain circuits (such as mirror power transistor P1, first power transistor P0, etc.);

[0070] (7)OUTH: Pull-up pin, i.e., the output pin of the driver chip, connected to the pull-up resistor ROH (see details). Figure 4 It is coupled to the control electrode of the power switching element to provide charging current to the control electrode;

[0071] (8) Idis: Discharge current, i.e., the discharge current generated by the load element connected to the control electrode of the power switching element.

[0072] For example, Figure 2 The feedback loop shown can be specifically as follows: Figure 3 As shown, in addition to the error amplifier 1201 and the charging branch 1202, it also includes a first feedback resistor R1 and a second feedback resistor R2 connected in series. For example, the first end of the first feedback resistor R1 is coupled to the output terminal (i.e., the pull-up pin OUTH) of the voltage regulator module, the second end of R1 is connected to the first end of R2, and the second end of R2 is grounded.

[0073] For example, the first terminal M of the feedback loop is coupled to the output terminal of the voltage regulator module 120 (that is, the output terminal of the voltage regulator module 120 is the first terminal M of the feedback loop), and the first terminal M is, for example, coupled to a power switching element ( Figure 3 The text is not shown here; please refer to it. Figure 4 The control electrode of the IGBT is coupled to the control electrode.

[0074] The intermediate node between the first feedback resistor R1 and the second feedback resistor R2 is coupled to the second input terminal (e.g., the inverting input terminal) of the error amplifier 1201, providing a feedback voltage VFB to the error amplifier 1201. This feedback voltage VFB is the voltage value obtained by voltage division and sampling of the control electrode voltage of the power switching element. Here, the second terminal N of the feedback loop is located at the intermediate node between the first feedback resistor R1 and the second feedback resistor R2.

[0075] Through the aforementioned connection, the first feedback resistor R1 and the second feedback resistor R2 form a feedback voltage divider network. This network samples the control electrode voltage of the power switching element and inputs the sampled feedback voltage VFB to the second input terminal of the error amplifier 1201 for comparison with the reference voltage Vref. This feedback voltage divider network enables the error amplifier 1201 to acquire real-time information about changes in the control electrode voltage, thereby achieving closed-loop regulation of the control electrode voltage.

[0076] like Figure 3 As shown, the charging branch 1202 includes a first transistor N1, a first power transistor P0, and a mirror power transistor P1 connected in parallel with the first power transistor P0. It should be noted that the first transistor N1, the mirror power transistor P1, and the first power transistor P0 are all transistors. For example, N1 can be an NMOS transistor, and P1 and P0 can be PMOS transistors, but the embodiments of this application are not limited to this.

[0077] The control electrode (gate) of the first transistor N1 is coupled to the output of the error amplifier 1201. The first electrode (source) of the first transistor N1 is grounded, and the second electrode (drain) is coupled to the first electrode (drain) of the mirror power transistor P1. The second electrodes (sources) of the first power transistor P0 and the second electrodes (sources) of the mirror power transistor P1 are both coupled to the first voltage source VCC. The first electrode (drain) of the first power transistor P0 is coupled to the output of the voltage regulator module (i.e., the pull-up pin OUTH) to provide charging current to the control electrode of the power switching element.

[0078] The mirror power transistor P1 and the first power transistor P0 form a current mirror structure, with their control electrodes (gates) connected to each other. The first transistor N1 responds to the level signal output by the error amplifier 1201, adjusting the current flowing through the mirror power transistor P1. The mirror power transistor P1 mirrors this current to the first power transistor P0. For example, if the dimensions of the first power transistor P0 and the mirror power transistor P1 are in a 1:n ratio (n is a positive integer greater than 1), then the first power transistor P0 can amplify the mirrored current by n times before outputting it to the output terminal of the voltage regulator module to charge the control electrode of the power switching element.

[0079] Through the aforementioned connections, the charging branch 1202 converts the level signal output by the error amplifier 1201 into a corresponding output current, thereby realizing the charging or discharging control of the control electrode of the power switching element. Those skilled in the art will understand that... Figure 3 The connection method of the first transistor N1, the mirror power transistor P1 and the first power transistor P0 shown is only an example, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0080] like Figure 3 As shown, the voltage regulator module 120 may further include a first load element. The first load element is connected in parallel with the series branch formed by the first feedback resistor R1 and the second feedback resistor R2, that is, the first end of the first load element is connected to the output terminal (i.e., the pull-up pin OUTH) of the voltage regulator module, and the second end of the first load element is grounded. Figure 3 The current source Idis is used to schematically represent the discharge current generated by the first load element.

[0081] The first load element is used to pull down the output voltage of the voltage regulator module. When the feedback voltage VFB is greater than the reference voltage Vref, the level signal output by the error amplifier 1201 is pulled low, and the charging current provided by the first power transistor P0 decreases. At this time, the voltage of the control electrode discharges through the first load element, causing the voltage at the output of the voltage regulator module (i.e., the control electrode) to drop. When the discharge rate is greater than the charging rate of the first power transistor P0 to the control electrode, the voltage at the output of the voltage regulator module (i.e., the control electrode) decreases until the feedback voltage VFB falls back to near the reference voltage Vref, and the system reaches dynamic equilibrium.

[0082] By setting a first load element connected in parallel with the feedback voltage divider resistor, the voltage regulator module 120 can actively pull down the control electrode voltage when the control electrode voltage is too high, thereby achieving bidirectional regulation capability of the control electrode voltage (i.e., it can both charge and discharge), ensuring the integrity and response speed of the closed-loop feedback regulation. It should be noted that the aforementioned first load element can be implemented using a resistor, an active current source, or other components with voltage-pulling functionality. Figure 3 The current source Idis shown in the illustration is merely an example, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0083] like Figure 3 As shown, the charging branch 1202 may further include a clamping transistor N0, used to control the voltage at the second terminal of the first transistor P0 to be less than or equal to a voltage safety threshold. For example, the control terminal (gate) of the clamping transistor N0 is coupled to the second voltage source VDD, the first terminal (source) of the clamping transistor N0 is coupled to the second terminal (drain) of the first transistor N1, and the second terminal (drain) of the clamping transistor N0 is coupled to the first terminal (drain) of the mirror power transistor P1.

[0084] A clamping transistor N0 is connected in series between the first transistor N1 and the power mirror transistor P1. Its control electrode is connected to the second voltage source VDD, so N0 remains on during normal circuit operation. Since the first transistor N1 is a low-voltage device based on the second voltage source VDD (e.g., 5V), while the power mirror transistor P1 and the first power transistor P0 are high-voltage devices based on the first voltage source VCC (e.g., 15V-25V), the clamping transistor N0's function is to limit the voltage at the drain of the first transistor N1 within a safe range, reducing the possibility of high-voltage breakdown of the first transistor N1. In other words, the clamping transistor N0 achieves level isolation and voltage clamping between the low-voltage and high-voltage domains, ensuring the reliability of the low-voltage device under high-voltage conditions.

[0085] It should be noted that the specific implementation of the clamping tube N0 is not limited to... Figure 3 As shown, any transistor connection method capable of achieving voltage clamping function can be applied to the embodiments of this application.

[0086] like Figure 3 As shown, the voltage regulator module also includes a protection branch 1203 (e.g., an overcurrent protection branch) for controlling the current of the first power transistor P0 to be less than or equal to a current safety threshold. For example, the protection branch 1203 includes a second transistor N2, a third transistor P2, and a fourth transistor P3 connected in mirror to the third transistor P2.

[0087] The control gate of the second transistor N2 is coupled to the control gate of the first transistor N1, meaning that the gates of N2 and N1 are both connected to the output of the error amplifier 1201. The source of the second transistor N2 is grounded, and its drain is coupled to the source of the third transistor P2. The sources of both the third transistor P2 and the fourth transistor P3 are coupled to the second voltage source VDD, and the drain of the fourth transistor P3 is coupled to the third input (OC) terminal of the error amplifier 1201.

[0088] Since the gates of N2 and N1 are both connected to the output of error amplifier 1201 and are controlled by the same level signal, the current flowing through N2 is proportional to the current flowing through N1 (the ratio is determined by the ratio of their channel width to channel length). P2 and P3 form a current mirror structure, mirroring the current of N2 to P3. When the current exceeds a set threshold, P3 pulls down the output level of error amplifier 1201 or reduces the gain of error amplifier 1201 through its OC terminal, thereby reducing the current flowing through the first power transistor P0 and achieving overcurrent protection for the first power transistor P0.

[0089] It should be noted that the second transistor N2 can be an NMOS transistor, and the third transistor P2 and the fourth transistor P3 can be PMOS transistors, but the embodiments of this application are not limited to these. The intervention of the protection branch 1203 does not affect the normal regulation function of the voltage regulator module 120, and only triggers the protection action when an overcurrent occurs.

[0090] like Figure 3 As shown, the voltage regulator module also includes a zero-point compensation branch 1204 connected in parallel with the output of the error amplifier 1201. The zero-point compensation branch 1204 includes a first compensation resistor R0 and a first compensation capacitor C0 connected in series. The first end of the first compensation resistor R0 is coupled to the output of the error amplifier 1201, and the second end of the first compensation resistor R0 is coupled to the first end of the first compensation capacitor C0. The second end of the first compensation capacitor C0 is grounded. That is, R0 and C0 are connected in series between the output of the error amplifier 1201 and ground, forming a parallel connection with the output of the error amplifier 1201.

[0091] Zero-point compensation branch 1204 is used to compensate for the output pole of error amplifier 1201 to reduce the probability of self-oscillation. The output of error amplifier 1201 has a dominant pole formed by the output impedance and the gate parasitic capacitance of subsequent stages (e.g., first transistor N1, mirror power transistor P1, etc.). This pole introduces approximately -90° of phase lag. If superimposed with other poles, this may cause the total phase shift to exceed -180°, triggering positive feedback oscillation and leading to system instability. A resistor R0 and a capacitor C0 are connected in series and then in parallel between the output of error amplifier 1201 and ground. This introduces a zero in the transfer function. By appropriately selecting the values ​​of R0 and C0, the frequency of this zero can be made close to or slightly lower than the output pole frequency of error amplifier 1201. The +90° phase lead provided by the zero effectively compensates for the -90° phase lag caused by the pole, thereby restoring sufficient phase margin near the crossover frequency and ensuring the loop stability of voltage regulator module 120.

[0092] It should be noted that, Figure 3 The series connection position and grounding method of R0 and C0 shown are only examples. The embodiments of this application are not limited to these. Any RC network structure that can achieve zero-point compensation function can be applied.

[0093] Combination Figure 2 , Figure 4 An example of a driver chip provided in this application.

[0094] Figure 4 The relevant terms (e.g., the definitions of signals and pins) are explained below.

[0095] (1) Interface input: Voltage setting parameters;

[0096] (2) CFG_DCLDVTH[4:0]: Voltage range information, used to set the reference voltage input to the error amplifier. This voltage range information corresponds to the voltage setting parameter input by the user, and different binary values ​​are mapped to different reference voltage values;

[0097] (3) EN_DCLD_LDO: Discharge enable signal, used to control whether the voltage regulator module actually performs the discharge action;

[0098] (4) DCLDCH_SEL: Discharge pulse selection signal, used to select the source of the discharge pulse control signal;

[0099] (5) CTRL_DCLDPULSE: Internal discharge pulse control signal, i.e., a discharge pulse control signal with fixed frequency and fixed pulse width generated inside the driver chip;

[0100] (6) PWM: Pulse Width Modulation Signal, also known as External Discharge Pulse Control Signal.

[0101] (7) DCLD_DONE: Discharge stop signal;

[0102] (8) DCLD_IDLE: Idle state enable signal, active low level, indicating that the voltage regulator module enters the discharge enable state; it should be understood that in this application, low level means a voltage below a certain preset threshold, which can be represented by "0". The threshold depends on the setting in actual application and is not limited in this application.

[0103] (9)OUTH: Pull-up pin, i.e., the output pin of the driver chip, is coupled to the control electrode of the power switching element through the pull-up resistor ROH, and is used to provide charging current to the control electrode;

[0104] (10) OUTL: Pull-down pin, i.e., the output pin of the driver chip, is coupled to the control electrode of the power switching element through the pull-down resistor ROL, and is used to pull down the voltage of the control electrode during the discharge process;

[0105] (11) DESAT: Desaturation pin, the detection pin of the driver chip, is coupled to the collector of the power switching element through a PIN diode and a current-limiting resistor RD. It is used to sample the feedback voltage of the collector for detection by the desaturation module.

[0106] (12) DESAT_CHA: DESAT pin charging control signal, used to control the charging state of the PIN diode, and to keep the DESAT pin charging current during discharge.

[0107] like Figure 4 As shown, the driver chip 100 may further include a selector 150. The input terminal of the selector 150 is coupled to the output terminal of the digital control module 110, and is used to receive external discharge pulse control signals or internal discharge pulse control signals generated by the digital control module 110; the output terminal of the selector 150 is connected to the fourth input terminal of the error amplifier (i.e., the discharge control input terminal, i.e., ...). Figure 3 The input terminal corresponding to the error amplifier signal "EN_DCLD_LDO" is coupled to generate a high-level discharge enable signal EN_DCLD_LDO and send it to the fourth input terminal of the error amplifier 1201. The high-level discharge enable signal EN_DCLD_LDO includes an external discharge pulse control signal or an internal discharge pulse control signal.

[0108] Similarly, it should be understood that in this application, the high level can be a voltage value higher than a preset threshold, which can be represented by "1". The specific threshold setting depends on the actual application and is not limited in this application.

[0109] Specifically, the system reads the value of register DCLDCH_SEL: if the bit is 0, selector 150 uses the internal discharge pulse signal CTRL_DCLDPULSE (a waveform with a fixed frequency and fixed pulse width generated internally by the driver chip) as the discharge pulse control signal, and generates a high-level discharge enable signal EN_DCLD_LDO including the internal discharge pulse signal CTRL_DCLDPULSE to output to the fourth input terminal of error amplifier 1201, thereby controlling voltage regulator module 120 to discharge according to the corresponding switching time and period; if the bit is 1, the externally input PWM signal (i.e., the external discharge pulse control signal) is selected as the discharge pulse control signal, and a high-level discharge enable signal EN_DCLD_LDO including the externally input PWM signal is generated to output to the fourth input terminal of error amplifier 1201, thereby controlling voltage regulator module 120 to discharge according to the corresponding switching time and period. The specific implementation can be customized to set the correspondence between the value stored in the register and the type of output signal (internal discharge pulse signal or external discharge pulse control signal) as required.

[0110] With the above configuration of selector 150, the driver chip can flexibly select the source of discharge timing according to application requirements—it can use the fixed discharge pulse preset inside the chip, or it can accept external PWM signals to achieve dynamically adjustable discharge control without changing the external circuitry.

[0111] like Figure 4 As shown, the driver chip 100 also includes a driver control module 140 and a fifth transistor NM0. The input terminal of the driver control module 140 is coupled to the output terminal of the selector 150, and the output terminal of the driver control module 140 is coupled to the control electrode (gate) of the fifth transistor NM0. The first electrode (source) of the fifth transistor NM0 is grounded to VEE, and the second electrode (drain) is coupled to the control electrode (gate) of a power switching element (e.g., an IGBT).

[0112] The drive control module 140 is used to turn on the fifth transistor NM0 in response to receiving a low-level discharge enable signal EN_DCLD_LDO, thereby pulling down the voltage at the output terminal of the voltage regulator module 120. The specific working principle is as follows:

[0113] When the discharge enable signal EN_DCLD_LDO is low, the drive control module 140 applies a high-level signal (e.g., ...) to the gate of the fifth transistor NM0. Figure 6 The LSON signal shown (i.e., the lower transistor turn-on signal of the driver chip) turns on NM0. After NM0 turns on, the control electrode of the power switching element is connected through the OUTL pin, the pull-down resistor ROL, and the second load element ( Figure 3(Not shown in the middle) forms a discharge circuit to discharge the charge on the control electrode to ground VEE.

[0114] It should be noted that when EN_DCLD_LDO is low, the discharge pulse control signal included in the discharge enable signal EN_DCLD_LDO output by selector 150 is invalid, and voltage regulator module 120 stops actively discharging the control electrode. At this time, drive control module 140 pulls the control electrode voltage down to a low level by turning on NM0, thereby realizing the rapid turn-off of the power switching element or ensuring that the control electrode voltage is in a safe state.

[0115] The drive control module 140 and the fifth transistor NM0 together form an active voltage pull-down path for the control electrode. When the discharge enable signal is low, it can quickly pull down the control electrode voltage, improving the safety and reliability of the circuit.

[0116] like Figure 4 As shown, the driver chip 100 also includes a desaturation module 160. The desaturation module 160 is connected in series between the first electrode (e.g., collector) of the power switching element (e.g., IGBT) and the digital control module 110.

[0117] Specifically, the desaturation module 160 is connected in series with the collector of the power switching element via the desaturation pin DESAT, PIN diodes D0 and D1, and current-limiting resistor RD to sample the feedback voltage of the collector (i.e., the voltage of the DESAT pin). The output terminal of the desaturation module 160 is coupled to the input terminal of the digital control module 110 and is used to send a discharge stop signal DCLD_DONE to the digital control module 110.

[0118] The desaturation module 160 is used to send a discharge stop signal DCLD_DONE (e.g., a high-level active signal) to the digital control module 110 in response to the sampled feedback voltage of the first electrode of the power switching element being lower than a first threshold, thereby controlling the voltage regulator module 120 to stop discharging. Its working principle is as follows: During discharge, for example, the voltage of the bus capacitor gradually decreases, and the voltage of the first electrode of the power switching element also decreases accordingly. The desaturation module 160 continuously samples the feedback voltage of the first electrode through the DESAT pin. When the sampled feedback voltage of the first electrode is lower than the first threshold, it indicates that the voltage of the bus capacitor has been pulled down to a safe range. The desaturation module 160 pulls DCLD_DONE high, and upon receiving this signal, the digital control module 110 controls the voltage regulator module 120 to stop discharging.

[0119] It should be noted that the specific positions and number of the current-limiting resistor RD and diodes D0 and D1 can be adjusted according to the actual application scenario. For example, in applications where high-voltage isolation is not required, diodes D0 and D1 can be omitted, and the desaturation pin DESAT is directly coupled to the first terminal of the power switching element through the current-limiting resistor RD. Alternatively, in applications where the current-limiting function is integrated within the chip, the current-limiting resistor RD can be omitted, and the desaturation pin DESAT is coupled to the first terminal of the power switching element through at least one diode. Furthermore, in low-voltage applications, the current-limiting resistor RD and diodes D0 and D1 can all be omitted, and the desaturation pin DESAT is directly coupled to the first terminal of the power switching element. Therefore, those skilled in the art should understand that the settings of the current-limiting resistor RD and diodes D0 and D1 can be flexibly selected according to actual needs without affecting the sampling function of the desaturation module 160 for the feedback voltage of the first terminal of the power switching element.

[0120] Furthermore, the DESAT_CHA signal represents the charging control signal for diodes D0 and D1 (or the sampling path coupled to the desaturation pin DESAT). During discharge, a charging current must be maintained on the DESAT pin to ensure the desaturation module 160 functions correctly. The first threshold can be set according to the actual application scenario and safety requirements; the embodiments of this application do not impose such limitations.

[0121] It should also be noted that although the voltage regulator module 120 has stopped discharging, it is still in the discharge enabled state. To exit the discharge enabled state, the external configuration register DCLD_STOP=1 is required, or a fault occurs (such as at least one of the faults of over-temperature, over-current, over-voltage, under-voltage, short circuit, etc.), or the driver chip is in the built-in self-test (BIST), power-on reset (POR), or reset state.

[0122] Through the aforementioned connections and operating logic, the desaturation module 160 achieves real-time detection of the discharge completion status and automatic termination of discharge without external intervention, thus improving system safety and automation. It should be noted that... Figure 4 The specific connection method of the desaturation module 160, current limiting resistor RD, diodes D0 and D1 shown is only an example, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0123] For example, in one possible implementation, the voltage setting parameters include second voltage level information and voltage level compensation information. The digital control module 110 is further configured to output first voltage level information to the voltage regulation module 120 in response to the voltage setting parameters including the second voltage level information and the voltage level compensation information, wherein the first voltage level information is equal to the sum of the second voltage level information and the voltage level compensation information.

[0124] Specifically, the second voltage level information (e.g.) Figure 3 , Figure 4 The CFG_DCLDVTH[4:0] shown is the basic range configuration in the voltage setting parameters, used to set the main target voltage value of the control electrode voltage of the power switching element. The voltage range compensation information is an additional configuration voltage value that is finely adjusted based on the basic range, used to finely adjust the control electrode voltage.

[0125] The combination of the two is as follows: After receiving the externally input second voltage level information and voltage level compensation information, the digital control module 110 adds the corresponding voltage values ​​and outputs the result as the first voltage level information to the voltage regulator module 120. The voltage regulator module 120 generates a corresponding reference voltage based on the first voltage level information, and then controls the control electrode voltage of the power switching element.

[0126] In practical applications, the threshold voltage of power switching elements may vary due to factors such as device type, operating temperature, and batch differences. Taking IGBTs as an example, their threshold voltage is typically around 6V, and relying solely on the base voltage setting may not guarantee reliable conduction under all operating conditions. By setting voltage range compensation information, a compensation voltage value can be superimposed on the base voltage setting (e.g., adding 0.5V to 6V), ensuring that the final control electrode voltage can fully enable the power switching element to conduct, thereby improving system compatibility and reliability.

[0127] For example, the voltage values ​​corresponding to the second voltage level information and the voltage level compensation information can be obtained by mapping them using binary numbers. For instance, 5-bit binary numbers from "00000" to "11111" can be used to correspond to different voltage values, such as... Figure 3 As shown, 16 voltage levels can be set between "00000" and "11111" to represent 16 voltage values ​​between 3V and 8V as reference voltages. Among them, "11111" corresponds to the highest voltage level (e.g., 8V), and "00000" corresponds to the lowest voltage level (e.g., 3V).

[0128] Based on this, the user can further configure voltage level compensation information to adjust the voltage value corresponding to the basic level. After receiving the second voltage level information and the voltage level compensation information, the digital control module 110 calculates the voltage values ​​corresponding to both and outputs the calculation result as the first voltage level information to the voltage regulator module 120. For example, the voltage value corresponding to the first voltage level information = the voltage value corresponding to the second voltage level information + the voltage value corresponding to the voltage level compensation information.

[0129] For example, when the power switching element is an IGBT, its turn-on threshold voltage is usually about 6V. At this time, the user can configure the second voltage level information to the corresponding binary value of 6V and configure the voltage level compensation information to the corresponding binary value of +0.5V. Then the voltage value corresponding to the first voltage level information is 6.5V, thereby ensuring that the IGBT can be reliably turned on when the control electrode voltage is stable.

[0130] For example, in applications requiring a reduction in the control electrode voltage, users can configure the voltage level compensation information to a binary value corresponding to -0.3V. If the voltage value corresponding to the second voltage level is 8V, then after compensation, the voltage value corresponding to the first voltage level is 7.7V, achieving a downward fine-tuning of the control electrode voltage.

[0131] For example, when the power switching element is made of silicon carbide (SiC) material, its turn-on threshold voltage is usually about 4V. Users can configure the second voltage level information to the corresponding binary value of 4V, and configure a positive compensation value (e.g., +0.5V, corresponding to a reference voltage of 4.5V) according to actual needs.

[0132] It should be noted that the specific value of the voltage level compensation information can be configured according to actual needs, and can be configured as a positive compensation value or a negative compensation value. The embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0133] For example, in one possible implementation, the digital control module is also configured to adjust the voltage level information in real time. That is, during the operation of the driver chip 100 (including during discharge), the user can modify the voltage setting parameters input to the digital control module 110 at any time through an external interface. The digital control module 110 responds to the modification by updating the first voltage level information output to the voltage regulator module 120 in real time, and the voltage regulator module 120 adjusts the control electrode voltage of the power switching element accordingly.

[0134] For example, in order to provide good flexibility and operability in the process of adjusting the gate voltage of IGBT, the digital control module in the driver chip of at least one embodiment of this application can also support the user to adjust the voltage setting parameters in real time during operation to change the value of the reference voltage corresponding to the first voltage level information, thereby realizing real-time control of the gate voltage.

[0135] It should be noted that, for clarity and brevity, the embodiments of this application do not show all the constituent units of the driver chip 100 described above. To achieve the necessary functions of the driver chip 100, those skilled in the art can provide and set other constituent units (not shown) according to specific needs, and the embodiments of this application do not impose any limitations on this.

[0136] Figure 5This is a flowchart illustrating the discharge process of a driver chip provided in this application. The following is in conjunction with… Figure 5 right Figure 4 The discharge process of the driver chip shown will be explained.

[0137] like Figure 5 As shown, after the discharge process begins, step S11 is executed first: the user configures the voltage setting parameters through an external interface (e.g., ...). Figure 3 , Figure 4 The CFG_DCLDVTH[4:0] shown is used to set the voltage level information corresponding to the desired control electrode voltage.

[0138] Subsequently, step S16 is executed: the system determines the value of the selection signal DCLDCH_SEL.

[0139] If DCLDCH_SEL=1, then execute step S18: control the conduction time and period of the discharge switch according to the external discharge pulse control signal (i.e., the external PWM signal), and generate a discharge enable signal EN_DCLD_LDO with a level of "1" including the external PWM signal to send to the voltage regulator module 120 for discharge;

[0140] If DCLDCH_SEL=0, then execute step S17: control the discharge according to the internal discharge pulse control signal CTRL_DCLDPULSE (a waveform with fixed frequency and fixed pulse width generated inside the chip), and generate a discharge enable signal EN_DCLD_LDO with the level of the internal discharge pulse control signal CTRL_DCLDPULSE being "1" to send to the voltage regulator module 120 for discharge.

[0141] The discharge process may also include the following steps S12-S15:

[0142] Step S12: The system further determines whether the voltage setting parameters can be changed in real time.

[0143] If real-time adjustment is supported, then proceed to step S13: The user can dynamically adjust the voltage setting parameters during the discharge process (i.e., below). Figure 6 As shown, during the discharge process, the gear changes from code1 to code2 to code3. The system responds in real time and updates the reference voltage output to the control electrode. If real-time changes are not supported, the voltage setting parameters configured before the start of discharge remain unchanged.

[0144] Then, step S14 is executed: the system determines whether voltage level compensation information is configured.

[0145] If compensation information is configured, then step S15 is executed: the first voltage level information is equal to the sum of the second voltage level information corresponding to the voltage setting parameter and the voltage level compensation information, and this sum is used as the final control target voltage; if compensation information is not configured, then the second voltage level information corresponding to the voltage setting parameter is directly output as the first voltage level information.

[0146] After step S17 or S18, step S19 is executed: the system continuously monitors whether the discharge stop signal DCLD_DONE is high level "1".

[0147] If DCLD_DONE=1 (i.e., the desaturation module 160 detects that the bus capacitor voltage has been pulled down to a safe range), then step S20 is executed: the voltage regulator module 120 stops discharging, but remains in the discharge enabled state at this time.

[0148] If it is necessary to exit the discharge enable state, then execute step S21 or step S22: configure register DCLD_STOP=1, or the driver chip malfunctions (e.g., at least one of the following malfunctions: over-temperature, over-current, over-voltage, under-voltage, short circuit, etc.), or the driver chip is in the built-in self-test BIST, power-on reset POR, or reset RESET state, and the process ends.

[0149] If DCLD_DONE is not 1, continue discharging and maintain real-time monitoring of the DCLD_DONE signal.

[0150] It should be noted that the operations corresponding to steps S16-S18 can also be performed after the operations corresponding to steps S12-S15 are completed, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0151] Through the above process, the driver chip realizes a complete discharge control logic from voltage setting, pulse source selection, real-time adjustment, compensation configuration to discharge completion detection, ensuring the flexibility, accuracy and safety of the discharge process. Figure 6 This application provides a timing diagram of the operation of a driver chip.

[0152] In the Figure 6 Before proceeding with the introduction, let's first... Figure 6 The relevant signals will be explained in a unified manner.

[0153] (1) CFG_DCLDVTH[4:0]: Voltage range information, used to set the reference voltage input to the error amplifier. This voltage range information corresponds to the voltage setting parameter input by the user, and different binary values ​​are mapped to different reference voltage values;

[0154] (2) OUT: Control electrode output voltage, i.e., the actual voltage value of the control electrode of the power switching element;

[0155] (3) LSON: The signal for turning on the lower transistor of the driver chip, used to control the fifth transistor NM0 (i.e., the pull-down transistor) to be turned on or off;

[0156] (4) EN_DCLD_LDO: Discharge enable signal, used to control whether the voltage regulator module actually performs the discharge action;

[0157] (5) DCLD_DONE: Discharge stop signal, a high-level active signal generated by the desaturation module, indicating that the discharge is complete.

[0158] Combination Figure 5 , Figure 6 The specific timing process is shown below:

[0159] Initially, CFG_DCLDVTH[4:0] is at its default maximum value "11111". First, the voltage level is adjusted from the default value to code1 (corresponding to the target voltage value V1). At this time, EN_DCLD_LDO is low, LSON is high, and OUT is low (pulled down to ground VEE by pull-down transistor NM0).

[0160] When EN_DCLD_LDO is pulled high (e.g., logic "1"), the voltage regulator module 120 starts working, charging the control electrode of the power switching element. The OUT voltage gradually rises and eventually stabilizes at the voltage value V1 corresponding to code1. At this time, LSON is low, the pull-down transistor NM0 is turned off, and it does not affect the establishment of the control electrode voltage.

[0161] During the discharge process, if it is necessary to change the control electrode voltage, the user can reconfigure CFG_DCLDVTH[4:0] via an external interface. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the voltage level is adjusted sequentially from code1 to code2, and then to code3. After each adjustment, the OUT voltage changes accordingly and stabilizes at the new target values ​​V2 and V3.

[0162] When EN_DCLD_LDO is pulled low (e.g., logic "0"), the voltage regulator module 120 stops discharging, LSON is pulled high, the pull-down transistor NM0 is turned on, and the control voltage is quickly pulled down to a low level.

[0163] When the driver chip samples that the voltage of the bus capacitor has been pulled down to a safe range (i.e., the desaturation module 160 detects that, for example, the feedback voltage of the IGBT collector is lower than the first threshold), the DCLD_DONE signal is pulled high, indicating that the discharge is complete. At this time, EN_DCLD_LDO goes low, the voltage regulator module 120 stops discharging, and the OUT voltage returns to low.

[0164] At least one embodiment of this application provides a driver chip in which the digital control module outputs corresponding first voltage level information in response to the input voltage setting parameters. The voltage regulation module samples the control electrode voltage of, for example, a power switching element in real time through a feedback loop and compares it with the first voltage level information (i.e., the target value). Based on the comparison result, the control electrode voltage is continuously adjusted to form a closed-loop negative feedback control. This closed-loop control method enables the control electrode voltage to be accurately stabilized near the first voltage level information, effectively suppressing voltage fluctuations and oscillations, and improving the stability and reliability of the control.

[0165] This application also provides another type of driver chip, which includes a digital control module and a voltage regulator module. The output terminal of the digital control module is coupled to the input terminal of the voltage regulator module. The digital control module is used to receive voltage setting parameters or current setting parameters, and to output first voltage level information or first current level information to the voltage regulator module. The first voltage level information corresponds to the voltage setting parameters, and the first current level information corresponds to the current setting parameters. The voltage regulator module is used to control the voltage value of the control electrode based on the first voltage level information or the first current level information.

[0166] For example, the driver chip also includes a drive control module and a desaturation module. The basic functions and pin definitions of the digital control module, drive control module, and desaturation module can be found by referring to... Figure 4 The description in the text.

[0167] It should be noted that, relative to Figure 4 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 Since it does not include a selector, the selection signal DCLD_SEL (i.e., ...) in the pins involved is... Figure 4 The “DCLDCH_SEL” signal is generated by the digital control module 110 and sent directly to the drive control module 140 to select external or internal pulse control signals; and the discharge enable signal EN_DCLD (i.e., the one involved in the signal) is located in the pin. Figure 4 The “EN_DCLD_LDO” in the code is also generated by the digital control module 110 and sent directly to the drive control module 140 to achieve control. Figure 7 The power supply in the middle is 170 or Figure 8 The discharge control of the current control module 180 in the middle.

[0168] Specifically, Figure 7 , Figure 8 The diagram shows the structure of two other driver chips provided in this application.

[0169] like Figure 7As shown, the voltage regulator module 120 includes a power supply 170 and a switch PM0. The output terminal of the digital control module 110 is coupled to the control terminal of the power supply 170, and is used to output the first voltage level information to the power supply 170. The output terminal of the power supply 170 is coupled to the control electrode of the power switching element via the switch PM0, and is used to provide a power supply voltage to the control electrode when the switch PM0 is turned on. The output terminal of the drive control module 140 is coupled to the control electrode of the switch PM0, and is used to control the on and off of the switch PM0.

[0170] The digital control module 110 receives voltage setting parameters and generates corresponding first voltage level information based on these parameters, outputting it to the power supply 170. In response to this first voltage level information, the power supply 170 outputs a corresponding voltage value to the first terminal of the switch PM0. The drive control module 140 applies the voltage output by the power supply 170 to the control electrode of the power switching element by controlling the on and off states of the switch PM0. When the switch PM0 is on, the power supply 170 supplies power to the control electrode, causing the control electrode voltage to rise; when the switch PM0 is off, the power supply 170 stops supplying power to the control electrode. By controlling the on-time of the switch PM0, the voltage at the control electrode of the power switching element can be adjusted.

[0171] Based on the above connections and working logic. Figure 7 The driver chip shown uses power supply 170 and switch PM0 to regulate the control electrode voltage of the power switching element.

[0172] like Figure 8 As shown, the voltage regulator module 120 includes a current control module 180 and a switch PM0. The output terminal of the digital control module 110 is coupled to the control terminal of the current control module 180, and is used to output the first current level information to the current control module 180. The output terminal of the current control module 180 is coupled to the control electrode of the power switching element via the switch PM0, and is used to provide charging current to the control electrode when the switch PM0 is turned on. The output terminal of the drive control module 140 is coupled to the control electrode of the switch PM0, and is used to control the on and off of the switch PM0.

[0173] The digital control module 110 receives current setting parameters and generates corresponding first current level information based on these parameters, which is then output to the current control module 180. In response to this first current level information, the current control module 180 outputs a corresponding charging current to the first terminal of the switch PM0. The drive control module 140, by controlling the on / off state of the switch PM0, applies the charging current output by the current control module 180 to the control electrode of the power switching element, charging the control electrode. By configuring the charging current level and controlling the charging time, the voltage of the control electrode of the power switching element can be adjusted.

[0174] Based on the above connections and working logic. Figure 8 The driver chip shown uses the current control module 180 in conjunction with the switch PM0 to regulate the control electrode voltage of the power switching element.

[0175] This application also provides an electronic device, such as a power drive device.

[0176] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of an electronic device provided in this application.

[0177] like Figure 9 As shown, the electronic device 200 includes a driver chip 210 as described in any of the above embodiments and a first component 220 coupled to the driver chip. The first component 220 includes a driven power switching element 2201 and a bus capacitor 2202 coupled to the power switching element 2201. For example, the electronic device 200 may be a motor controller, frequency converter, servo driver, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0178] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, the driver chip 100 is coupled to a power switching element IGBT, which in turn is coupled to, for example, the bus capacitor of a new energy vehicle. The driver chip 100 precisely controls the gate voltage of the IGBT to pull down the voltage of the bus capacitor through a negative feedback-based regulation method. It should be noted that the driver chip of at least one embodiment of this application can be applied to any application scenario that requires control of the gate voltage of a power element, and is not limited to pulling down the voltage of the bus capacitor of a new energy vehicle.

[0179] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of another electronic device provided in this application. Figure 10 The electronic device 300 shown is merely an example and should not impose any limitation on the functionality and scope of use of the embodiments of this application.

[0180] like Figure 10 As shown, in some examples, the electronic device 300, in addition to the driver chip for power driving, further includes a processing unit (e.g., a central processing unit, a graphics processor, etc.) 301, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in read-only memory (ROM) 302 or a program loaded from storage device 308 into random access memory (RAM) 303. The RAM 303 also stores various programs and data required for the operation of the computer system. The processing unit 301, ROM 302, and RAM 303 are connected via bus 204. An input / output (I / O) interface 305 is also connected to bus 304.

[0181] For example, the following components can be connected to I / O interface 305: input devices 306 including, for example, touchscreens, touchpads, keyboards, mice, cameras, microphones, accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.; output devices 307 including, for example, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), speakers, vibrators, etc.; storage devices 308 including, for example, magnetic tapes, hard disks, etc.; and communication devices 309, such as network interface cards like LAN cards and modems, etc. Communication device 309 allows electronic device 300 to communicate wirelessly or wiredly with other devices to exchange data and perform communication processing via networks such as the Internet. Drive 310 is also connected to I / O interface 305 as needed. Removable media 311, such as disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memories, etc., are installed on drive 310 as needed so that computer programs read from them can be installed into storage device 308 as needed.

[0182] Although Figure 10 An electronic device 300 including various devices is shown; however, it should be understood that implementation or inclusion of all shown devices is not required. More or fewer devices may be implemented or included alternatively.

[0183] For example, the electronic device 300 may further include a peripheral interface (not shown in the figure). This peripheral interface can be various types of interfaces, such as a USB interface, a Lightning interface, etc. The communication device 309 can communicate wirelessly with a network and other devices, such as the Internet, an intranet, and / or a wireless network such as a cellular telephone network, a Local Area Network (LAN), and / or a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). Wireless communication can use any of a variety of communication standards, protocols, and technologies, including but not limited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (e.g., based on IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and / or IEEE 802.11n standards), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, protocols for email, instant messaging, and / or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol.

[0184] For example, the electronic device 300 may also include any device such as an inverter, motor controller, frequency converter, servo drive, electrical appliance (e.g., home appliance), server power supply, electric vehicle, etc., or any combination of hardware. The embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0185] Although this application has been described in detail above with general descriptions and specific embodiments, some modifications or improvements can be made to it based on the embodiments of this application, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, all such modifications or improvements made without departing from the spirit of this application fall within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0186] The following points should be noted regarding this application:

[0187] (1) The accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this application only involve the structures involved in the embodiments of this application. Other structures can be referred to the general design.

[0188] (2) For clarity, the thickness of layers or regions in the drawings used to describe embodiments of this application is enlarged or reduced, i.e., these drawings are not drawn to actual scale.

[0189] (3) Where there is no conflict, the embodiments of this application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other to obtain new embodiments.

[0190] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. The scope of protection of this application shall be determined by the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A driver chip, characterized in that, It includes a digital control module and a voltage regulator module. The output terminal of the digital control module is coupled to the input terminal of the voltage regulator module. The voltage regulator module includes a feedback loop, and the first terminal of the feedback loop is coupled to the output terminal of the voltage regulator module. The digital control module is used to receive voltage setting parameters and to output first voltage level information to the voltage regulator module, wherein the first voltage level information corresponds to the voltage setting parameters; The voltage regulator module is used to control the voltage value at the output terminal of the voltage regulator module based on the first voltage level information.

2. The driver chip according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage regulator module also includes a decoder, which is coupled to the output of the digital control module and is used to decode the received first voltage level information to obtain the corresponding reference voltage control signal. The feedback loop includes an error amplifier and a charging branch. The first input terminal of the error amplifier is coupled to the output terminal of the decoder, the second input terminal of the error amplifier is connected to the second terminal of the feedback loop, and the output terminal of the error amplifier is coupled to the charging branch. The error amplifier is used to adjust the output voltage of the voltage regulator module based on the reference voltage and the feedback voltage fed back by the feedback loop.

3. The driver chip according to claim 2, characterized in that, The feedback loop further includes a first feedback resistor and a second feedback resistor connected in series, and the second end of the feedback loop includes an intermediate node between the first feedback resistor and the second feedback resistor.

4. The driver chip according to claim 2, characterized in that, The charging branch includes a first transistor, a first power transistor, and a mirror power transistor connected in mirror to the first power transistor. The control terminal of the first transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the error amplifier. The first terminal of the first transistor is grounded, and the second terminal is coupled to the first terminal of the power mirror transistor. The second terminal of the first power transistor and the second terminal of the mirror power transistor are both coupled to the first voltage source, and the first terminal of the first power transistor is coupled to the output terminal of the voltage regulator module.

5. The driver chip according to claim 3, characterized in that, The voltage regulator module further includes a first load element connected in parallel with the first feedback resistor and the second feedback resistor. The first load element is used to pull down the voltage value at the output terminal of the voltage regulator module.

6. The driver chip according to claim 4, characterized in that, The charging branch also includes a clamping transistor, which is used to control the voltage at the second terminal of the first transistor to be less than or equal to a voltage safety threshold.

7. The driver chip according to claim 4, characterized in that, The voltage regulator module also includes a protection branch, which is used to control the current of the first power transistor to be less than or equal to the current safety threshold.

8. The driver chip according to claim 7, characterized in that, The protection branch includes a second transistor, a third transistor, and a fourth transistor connected in mirror connection to the third transistor. The control electrode of the second transistor is coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, the first electrode of the second transistor is grounded, and the second electrode is coupled to the first electrode of the third transistor. The second terminals of the third transistor and the fourth transistor are both coupled to the second voltage source, and the first terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to the third input terminal of the error amplifier.

9. The driver chip according to claim 2, characterized in that, The voltage regulator module also includes a zero-point compensation branch connected in parallel with the output of the error amplifier. The zero-point compensation branch includes a first compensation resistor and a first compensation capacitor connected in series. The first end of the first compensation resistor is coupled to the output of the error amplifier, and the second end of the first compensation resistor is coupled to the second end of the first compensation capacitor. The first terminal of the first compensation capacitor is grounded.

10. The driver chip according to claim 8, further comprising: A selector, the input of which is coupled to the output of the digital control module, and the output of which is connected to the fourth input of the error amplifier. The selector is used to generate a high-level discharge enable signal and send it to the fourth input terminal of the error amplifier, wherein the discharge enable signal includes an external discharge pulse control signal or an internal discharge pulse control signal.

11. The driver chip according to claim 10, further comprising: The drive control module and the fifth transistor are characterized in that, The input terminal of the drive control module is coupled to the output terminal of the selector, and the output terminal of the drive control module is coupled to the control electrode of the fifth transistor. The first terminal of the fifth transistor is grounded, and the second terminal is coupled to the control terminal of the power switching element. The drive control module is used for: In response to receiving a low-level discharge enable signal, the fifth transistor is turned on to pull down the voltage at the output terminal of the voltage regulator module.

12. The driver chip according to any one of claims 1-11, further comprising: The desaturation module is connected in series between the first electrode of the power switching element and the digital control module. The desaturation module is used to send a discharge stop signal to the digital control module in response to the feedback voltage sampled at the first pole of the power switching element being lower than a first threshold.

13. The driver chip according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein, The voltage setting parameters include second voltage level information and voltage level compensation information. The digital control module is further used for: In response to the voltage setting parameters including the second voltage level information and the voltage level compensation information, the first voltage level information is output to the voltage regulation module, wherein the first voltage level information is equal to the sum of the second voltage level information and the voltage level compensation information.

14. The driver chip according to claims 1-11, wherein, The digital control module is also used to adjust the voltage level information in real time.

15. An electronic device, characterized in that, Includes a driver chip according to any one of claims 1-14 and a first component coupled to the driver chip. The first component includes a power switching element and a bus capacitor coupled to the power switching element.

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