Gate drive circuit and power conversion device

Abstract

To provide a gate drive circuit capable of suppressing a resonance generated in the gate drive circuit when commutating a current flowing through an inductor for gate driving to a reflux circuit and a power conversion device including the gate drive circuit.SOLUTION: In a step-down power supply circuit 100a, a gate drive circuit 1a comprises a bridge circuit 110 and an attenuation circuit section 120a. The bridge circuit comprises: an inductor Lg; a first switch SW1 connected between a high potential power line 111 and a first terminal 113 of the inductor Lg; a second switch SW2 connected between a low potential power line 112 whose potential is lower than the high potential power line 111 and the first terminal 113; a third switch SW3 connected between the high potential power line 111 and a second terminal 114 of the inductor Lg; and a fourth switch SW4 connected between the low potential power line 112 and the second terminal 114. The attenuation circuit section can control a resistance value connected between the second terminal 114 of the inductor Lg and a semiconductor switching element Qa to be driven.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gate drive circuit for a semiconductor switching element and a power conversion device including the gate drive circuit. [Background technology]

[0002] In power conversion devices, a gate drive circuit that charges and discharges the gate capacitance of a semiconductor switching element through a gate drive resistor is widely used. In this type of gate drive circuit, if Qg is the gate charge, Vg is the gate drive voltage, and fsw is the switching frequency, the loss generated in the gate drive resistor is Qg x Vg x fsw. Therefore, the larger the gate charge Qg of the semiconductor switching element becomes, or the higher the switching operation frequency fsw becomes, the greater the loss generated in the gate drive resistor becomes. In order to cover this loss, it is necessary to enlarge the power supply circuit that generates the gate drive voltage Vg. In addition, the heat generated by this loss needs to be dissipated, which hinders the miniaturization of the device.

[0003] As a means for solving such problems, a gate drive circuit 1 shown in FIG. 7 is known. This type of gate drive circuit is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. In FIG. 7, a semiconductor switching element Qa is a drive target of the gate drive circuit 1. The gate drive circuit 1 has DC power sources VP and VN, a first switch SW1 consisting of a semiconductor switching element Q1 and a diode D1 connected in reverse parallel to the semiconductor switching element Q1, a first switch SW2 consisting of a semiconductor switching element Q2 and a diode D2 connected in reverse parallel to the semiconductor switching element Q2, a third switch SW3 consisting of a semiconductor switching element Q3 and a diode D3 connected in reverse parallel to the semiconductor switching element Q3, a fourth switch SW4 consisting of a semiconductor switching element Q4 and a diode D4 connected in reverse parallel to the semiconductor switching element Q4, and an inductor Lg.

[0004] FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing the operation of the gate drive circuit 1. When a turn-on instruction signal SON, which is generated by an instruction from a higher-level device (not shown), is turned on, only the semiconductor switching element Q1 is turned on, and the gate of the semiconductor switching element Qa is charged through the inductor Lg. After charging, when the gate voltage Vgs of the semiconductor switching element Qa reaches a required value, the semiconductor switching element Q1 is turned off, and the semiconductor switching elements Q2 and Q3 are turned on, and the energy stored in the inductor Lg during charging is recovered to the DC power supplies VP and VN. Also, when the turn-on instruction signal SON is turned off, only the semiconductor switching element Q2 is turned on, and the gate of the semiconductor switching element Qa is discharged through the inductor Lg. After discharging, when the gate voltage Vgs of the semiconductor switching element Qa reaches a required value, the semiconductor switching element Q2 is turned off, and the semiconductor switching elements Q1 and Q4 are turned on, and the energy stored in the inductor Lg during discharging is recovered to the DC power supplies VP and VN.

[0005] In this way, according to the gate drive circuit disclosed in Patent Document 1, the loss that conventionally occurs in the gate drive resistor is regenerated as a current in the inductor Lg to the DC power supplies VP and VN, thereby reducing the loss in the gate drive circuit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-54954 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In the above-mentioned gate drive circuit 1, inductors Lpcb and Lin are interposed between the inductor Lg and the gate of the semiconductor switching element Qa to be driven, as shown in FIG. 7. Here, the inductor Lpcb is a parasitic inductance of the wiring on the printed circuit board on which the gate drive circuit 1 is mounted. Also, the inductor Lin is a parasitic inductance of the gate signal wiring in the power module that houses the semiconductor switching element Qa. The semiconductor switching element Qa has an input capacitance Ciss. This input capacitance Ciss is a combined capacitance of the gate-to-source capacitance Cgs and the drain-to-gate capacitance Cdg. In this gate drive circuit 1, the following problem occurs.

[0008] When the turn-on instruction signal SON is turned on and only the semiconductor switching element Q1 is turned on, the gate drive circuit 1 is in the state shown in Fig. 9A. In this state, a charging current flows through a charging circuit 301, which is DC power supply VP → semiconductor switching element Q1 → inductor Lg → inductors Lpcb and Lin → input capacitance Ciss → DC power supply VP.

[0009] When the gate voltage Vgs of the semiconductor switching element Qa reaches a predetermined voltage due to charging, the semiconductor switching element Q1 turns OFF and the semiconductor switching elements Q2 and Q3 turn ON. As a result, the gate drive circuit 1 enters the state shown in FIG. 9B.

[0010] In this state, a return current flows through the return circuit 302, which is in the order of inductor Lg → semiconductor switching element Q3 → DC power supplies VP and VN → semiconductor switching element Q2 → inductor Lg. However, when the current flowing through the inductor Lg is instantaneously commutated to the return circuit 302 in this manner, the inductors Lpcb and Lin try to maintain the current that had been flowing through them up until that point, and therefore resonance occurs in the closed-loop resonant circuit 303 including the inductors Lpcb and Lin, the input capacitance Ciss, and the gate drive circuit 1. Since there is no damping element such as a resistor in this resonant circuit 303, the gate voltage Vgs of the semiconductor switching element Qa oscillates, which may cause erroneous firing of the semiconductor switching element Qa to be driven, or the gate voltage Vgs may exceed the gate input allowable voltage, resulting in damage to the semiconductor switching element Qa.

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and has an object to provide a technical means for suppressing resonance that occurs in a gate drive circuit when a current flowing through a gate drive inductor is commutated to a freewheel circuit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] A gate drive circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a gate current control circuit including an inductor, a first switch connected between a high potential power line and a first terminal of the inductor, a second switch connected between a low potential power line having a lower potential than the high potential power line and the first terminal of the inductor, a third switch connected between the high potential power line and the second terminal of the inductor, and a fourth switch connected between the low potential power line and the second terminal of the inductor, and an attenuation circuit connected between the second terminal of the inductor and a gate of a semiconductor switching element to be driven, the attenuation circuit being a circuit connected between the second terminal of the inductor and the gate of a semiconductor switching element to be driven, the attenuation circuit having a controllable resistance value.

[0013] A power conversion device according to one aspect of the present invention includes the gate drive circuit, and supplies power to a load via a semiconductor switching element whose gate is driven by the gate drive circuit. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to this invention, an attenuation circuit section whose resistance value can be controlled is connected between the second terminal of the inductor and the gate of the semiconductor switching element. Therefore, when the current flowing through the inductor is diverted to the freewheeling circuit, the resistance value of the attenuation circuit section can be controlled to suppress resonance occurring in the gate drive circuit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a power conversion device including a gate drive circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the operation of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 3A] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of mode 1 of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 3B] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of mode 2 of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 3C] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of mode 3 of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 3D] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of mode 4 of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 3E] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of mode 5 of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 3F] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of mode 6 of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 3G] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing mode 7 operation of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 3H] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing mode 8 operation of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a power conversion device including a gate drive circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5]FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the operation of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the gate voltage and the ON resistance of a semiconductor switching element. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a gate drive circuit disclosed in Patent Document 1. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the operation of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 9A] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of mode 1 of the gate drive circuit. [Figure 9B] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the operation of mode 2 of the gate drive circuit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] First Embodiment 1 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a step-down power supply circuit 100a including a gate drive circuit 1a according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The step-down power supply circuit 100a includes the gate drive circuit 1a according to the present embodiment, a conversion unit 2, and an isolation amplifier 3.

[0018] The conversion unit 2 includes a semiconductor switching element Qa whose gate is driven by the gate drive circuit 1a. This semiconductor switching element Qa and the semiconductor switching elements Q1 to Q4, Q51 and Q52 in the gate drive circuit 1a are n-channel MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors).

[0019] In the conversion unit 2, the source of the semiconductor switching element Qa is connected to one end of an inductor 21. The other end of the inductor 21 is connected to one end of a load 25. The drain of the semiconductor switching element Qa is connected to the positive electrode of a DC power supply V1, and the negative electrode of the DC power supply V1 is connected to the other end of the load 25. The cathode of the diode 22 is connected to the source of the semiconductor switching element Qa, and the anode of the diode 22 is connected to the negative electrode of the DC power supply V1. A capacitance 23 is connected in parallel to the load 25.

[0020] In this conversion unit 2, the semiconductor switching element Qa is switched in a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) pulse shape by the gate drive circuit 1a. While the semiconductor switching element Qa is ON, a current from a DC power source V1 is supplied to a load 25 via the semiconductor switching element Qa and an inductor 21. When the semiconductor switching element Qa is turned OFF, the inductor 21 releases the energy accumulated up to that point, and supplies a current to the load 25 via a diode 22. The voltage across the load 25 is smoothed by a capacitor 23.

[0021] In this manner, the step-down power supply circuit 100a is a power conversion device that drives the load 25 via the semiconductor switching element Qa whose gate is driven by the gate drive circuit 1a.

[0022] The gate drive circuit 1a includes a control circuit 101, a bridge circuit 110, an attenuation circuit section 120a, and a voltage detector .

[0023] The control circuit 101 detects the output voltage to the load 25 via the isolation amplifier 3, and determines the ON duty of the semiconductor switching element Qa, i.e., the ON duty of the turn-ON instruction signal SON, so that the output voltage becomes a target voltage. The control circuit 101 also generates various control signals for driving the semiconductor switching elements Q1-Q4, Q51, and Q52 constituting the gate drive circuit 1a on and off in accordance with the turn-ON instruction signal SON. Note that the details of the ON / OFF driving of these semiconductor switching elements will be explained in the operation explanation of this embodiment to avoid duplication of explanation.

[0024] The bridge circuit 110 is a gate current control circuit that controls the gate current supplied to the semiconductor switching element Qa. In this bridge circuit 110, the negative electrode of the DC power supply VP is connected to the source of the semiconductor switching element Qa, and the positive electrode is connected to a high potential power supply line 111. The positive electrode of the DC power supply VN is connected to the source of the semiconductor switching element Qa, and the negative electrode is connected to a low potential power supply line 112. Therefore, the low potential power supply line 112 is a power supply line with a lower potential than the high potential power supply line 111.

[0025] In the bridge circuit 110, the first switch SW1 is composed of a semiconductor switching element Q1 and a diode D1 connected in reverse parallel thereto. Here, the semiconductor switching element Q1 has a drain connected to the high potential power supply line 111 and a source connected to the first terminal 113 of the inductor Lg. The second switch SW2 is composed of a semiconductor switching element Q2 and a diode D2 connected in reverse parallel thereto. Here, the semiconductor switching element Q2 has a source connected to the low potential power supply line 112 and a drain connected to the first terminal 113 of the inductor Lg. The third switch SW3 is composed of a semiconductor switching element Q3 and a diode D3 connected in reverse parallel thereto. Here, the semiconductor switching element Q3 has a drain connected to the high potential power supply line 111 and a source connected to the second terminal 114 of the inductor Lg. The fourth switch SW4 is composed of a semiconductor switching element Q4 and a diode D4 connected in reverse parallel thereto. Here, the semiconductor switching element Q4 has a source connected to the low potential power supply line 112 and a drain connected to the second terminal 114 of the inductor Lg.

[0026] The attenuation circuit section 120a is a circuit capable of controlling the resistance value, and is connected between the bridge circuit 110, which is a gate current control circuit section, and the gate of the semiconductor switching element Qa to be driven. More specifically, one end 121 of the attenuation circuit section 120a is connected to the second terminal 114 of the inductor Lg, and the other end 122 is connected to the gate of the semiconductor switching element Qa via inductors Lpcb and Lin.

[0027] The attenuation circuit section 120a is composed of a resistor Rdump connected between terminals 121 and 122, and a bidirectional switch SW5 connected in parallel therewith.

[0028] In bidirectional switch SW5, the drain of semiconductor switching element Q51 and the cathode of diode D51 are commonly connected to one end 121 of attenuation circuit section 120a. In addition, the drain of semiconductor switching element Q52 and the cathode of diode D52 are commonly connected to the other end 122 of attenuation circuit section 120a. The source of semiconductor switching element Q51, the anode of diode D51, the source of semiconductor switching element Q52, and the anode of diode D52 are commonly connected.

[0029] In this configuration, when both semiconductor switching elements Q51 and Q52 are ON, current can flow from terminal 121 to terminal 122 via semiconductor switching element Q1 and diode D52, and current can flow from terminal 122 to terminal 121 via semiconductor switching element Q2 and diode D51.

[0030] The voltage detector 130 detects the voltage between the terminal to which the gate of the semiconductor switching element Qa is connected and the terminal to which the source is connected in a power module accommodating the semiconductor switching element Qa, and supplies the voltage to the control circuit 101 as a gate voltage detection value Vgsdet.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing the operation of the gate drive circuit 1a. The control circuit 101 monitors the voltages of the sources S1 to S4 of the semiconductor switching elements Q1 to Q4 and the common source S5 of the semiconductor switching elements Q51 and Q52, and controls the gate voltages applied to the gates G1 to G4, G51 and G52 of the semiconductor switching elements Q1 to Q4, Q51 and Q52 based on these source voltages, thereby switching ON / OFF of each semiconductor switching element. The control circuit 101 switches ON / OFF of each semiconductor switching element in response to the ON / OFF switching of the turn-ON instruction signal SON, thereby changing the operation mode of the gate drive circuit 1a from mode 1 to mode 8. T1 to T8 in FIG. 2 are the durations of modes 1 to 8, respectively. Also, FIGS. 3A to 3H show the operation states of the gate drive circuit 1a in modes 1 to 8, respectively. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to these figures.

[0032] In mode 1 (period T1), as shown in Fig. 3A, the control circuit 101 turns on the semiconductor switching element Q1. As a result, a closed-loop charging circuit 301a is formed from the DC power supply VP, the semiconductor switching element Q1, the inductor Lg, the attenuation circuit section 120a, the inductors Lpcb and Lin, the input capacitance Ciss of the semiconductor switching element Qa, and the DC power supply VP. A charging current flows through the charging circuit 301a, and the gate voltage of the semiconductor switching element Qa increases. When the gate voltage detection value Vgsdet obtained by the voltage detector 130 reaches a predetermined value, the control circuit 101 shifts the gate drive circuit 1a to mode 2.

[0033] Here, the current flowing through inductor Lg when transitioning to mode 2 will be described. In mode 1, it is assumed that a series circuit (charging circuit 301) is formed with a DC power supply VP, inductors Lg, Lpcb, and Lin, and an input capacitance Ciss with an initial voltage value of -VN. In this case, the current flowing through inductor Lg when transitioning to mode 2, that is, the current iLg (t=T1) of inductor Lg when mode 1 ends, is expressed by the following equation (1). iLg(t=T1) =(VP+VN)·ω·Ciss·sin(ω·T1) ……(1) However, ω=√(1 / ((Lg+Lpcb+Lin)·Ciss))

[0034] Mode 2 is a mode in which the energy stored in inductor Lg is recovered to DC power supplies VP and VN, and the resonant current caused by the resonant circuit formed by inductors Lpcb, Lin, and input capacitance Ciss is damped.

[0035] In mode 2, the control circuit 101 turns off the semiconductor switching element Q1 and turns on the semiconductor switching elements Q2 and Q3. As a result, the charging circuit 301a described above is opened, and as shown in FIG. 3B, a free-wheeling circuit 302 is formed from the inductor Lg to the semiconductor switching element Q3 to the DC power supplies VP and VN to the semiconductor switching element Q2 to the inductor Lg. As a result, the current that had been flowing from the inductor Lg to the input capacitance Ciss of the semiconductor switching element Qa is commutated to the free-wheeling circuit 302, and the energy stored in the inductor Lg is recovered to the DC power supplies VP and VN. In addition, the inductors Lpcb and Lin try to maintain the current that had been flowing up until then, so a resonant circuit 303a including the inductors Lpcb and Lin, the input capacitance Ciss, and the gate drive circuit 1a is formed, and a resonant current flows in the resonant circuit 303. This resonant circuit 303a is composed of a first loop of DC power supply VN → diode D4 → attenuation circuit section 120a → inductors Lpcb and Lin → input capacitance Ciss → DC power supply VN, and a second loop of DC power supply VP → input capacitance Ciss → inductors Lin and Lpcb → attenuation circuit section 120a → semiconductor switching element Q3 → DC power supply VP. A resonant current path is formed by these first and second loops, and a resonant current flows through the resonant circuit 303a.

[0036] However, in this embodiment, the control circuit 101 turns off the bidirectional switch SW5 when the third switch SW3 or the fourth switch SW4 is turned on, and keeps it off for a predetermined time. Specifically, in mode 2, the control circuit 101 turns off the semiconductor switching element Q1, turns on the semiconductor switching elements Q2 and Q3, and simultaneously turns off the bidirectional switch SW5 of the attenuation circuit section 120a, and maintains this state in mode 3 following mode 2. As a result, in modes 2 and 3, a resistor Rdump is inserted in the resonant circuit 303a. Therefore, in modes 2 and 3, the resonant circuit 303a is formed by a series circuit of a DC power supply VP, an inductor Lg, a resistor Rdump, and an input capacitance Ciss.

[0037] It is generally known that in series resonance with an inductor L, a capacitance C, and a resistance R, the resonant current peak value and decay time depend on the resistance value. In particular, when R>√(4L / C) is satisfied, the circuit becomes non-oscillatory and the peak voltage value of the capacitance C drops. Therefore, the above-mentioned problem can be avoided by selecting a resistance value Rdump that is large enough to satisfy Rdump>√(4Lg / Ciss).

[0038] When recovery of the energy stored in the inductor Lg to the DC power supplies VP and VN is completed, that is, when the current in the inductor Lg becomes zero, the control circuit 101 transitions the gate drive circuit 1a to mode 3.

[0039] At the start of mode 2, the current iLg (t=T1) given by the above formula (1) flows through the inductor Lg. Therefore, the time when the current of the inductor Lg becomes zero, that is, the period T2 of mode 2, is given by the following formula (2). T2 =(Lg / VP)·iLG(t=T1) ……(2)

[0040] Mode 3 is a mode for dumping the resonant current continuing from mode 2. In mode 3, as shown in Fig. 3C, the control circuit 101 turns off the semiconductor switching element Q2 to open the freewheeling circuit 302, while keeping the semiconductor switching element Q3 on to maintain the resonant circuit 303a, and keeps the bidirectional switch SW5 off to sufficiently damp the resonant current flowing through the inductors Lpcb and Lin by the resistor Rdump. The relationship between the resonant current and the time required for mode 3 will be described below.

[0041] As explained in mode 2, the resonant circuit 303 through which the resonant current flows is a series circuit composed of the inductor Lg, the input capacitance Ciss, the resistor Rdump, and the DC power supplies VP and VN. Therefore, the resonant current ires (t=T1+T2+T3) at the end of mode 3 is given by the following equation (3). However, the initial conditions of the current ires and gate voltage Vgs flowing through the inductors Lpcb and Lin are the current iLG (t=T1) and voltage VP at the end of mode 1, respectively. ires(t=T1+T2+T3) =iLG(t=T1)·exp(-α(T2+T3)) ·(-(α / β)·sinh(β·(T2+T3)) +cosh(β·(T2+T3))) ……(3) however, α =Rdump / (2 (Lpcb+Lin)) β =(√(Rdump2-4·(Lpcb+Lin) / Ciss)) / (2 (Lpcb+Lin))

[0042] Mode 4 is a mode in which the gate voltage Vgs is held at a low impedance. In mode 4, the control circuit 101 turns on the bidirectional switch SW5 as shown in Fig. 3D. The control circuit 101 maintains mode 4 until the turn-on command SON for the semiconductor switching element Qa turns off.

[0043] In mode 4, since the resistor Rdump is shorted by the bidirectional switch SW5, the resonant current is not damped as in modes 2 and 3. Therefore, the period T3 of mode 3 must be set so that the current ires (t=T1+T2+T3) of equation (3) is damped to a level that does not exceed the set gate voltage even if it flows continuously into the input capacitance Ciss during the period of mode 4.

[0044] Mode 5 is a mode in which the semiconductor switching element Qa is turned OFF. When the turn-ON instruction signal SON is turned OFF, the control circuit 101 turns the semiconductor switching element Q3 OFF and turns the semiconductor switching element Q2 ON, as shown in FIG. 3E. As a result, a closed-loop discharge circuit 304a is formed from the DC power supply VN→input capacitance Ciss→inductors Lin and Lpcb→attenuation circuit section 120a→inductor Lg→semiconductor switching element Q2→DC power supply VN, and a discharge current flows through this discharge circuit 304a, thereby decreasing the gate voltage of the semiconductor switching element Qa. When the gate voltage detection value Vgsdet obtained by the voltage detector 130 reaches a predetermined value, the control circuit 101 shifts the gate drive circuit 1a to mode 6.

[0045] Mode 6 is a mode in which the energy stored in inductor Lg is recovered to DC power supplies VP and VN, and the resonant current caused by the resonant circuit formed by inductors Lpcb, Lin, and input capacitance Ciss is damped.

[0046] In mode 6, the control circuit 101 turns off the semiconductor switching element Q2 and turns on the semiconductor switching elements Q1 and Q4. As a result, the above-mentioned discharge circuit 304a is opened, and as shown in FIG. 3F, a closed loop free-wheel circuit 305 is formed from the inductor Lg, the semiconductor switching element Q1, the DC power supplies VP and VN, the semiconductor switching element Q4, and the inductor Lg. As a result, the current flowing through the inductor Lg is commutated to the free-wheel circuit 305, and the energy stored in the inductor Lg is recovered to the DC power supplies VP and VN. In addition, since the inductors Lpcb and Lin try to maintain the current flowing until then, a resonant circuit 306a including the inductors Lpcb and Lin, the input capacitance Ciss, and the gate drive circuit 1a is formed, and a resonant current flows through the resonant circuit 306a. The resonant circuit 306a is the same as the resonant circuit 303a formed in mode 2.

[0047] However, in this embodiment, the control circuit 101 turns off the directional switch SW5 at the timing when the third switch SW3 or the fourth switch SW5 is turned on, and keeps it off for a predetermined time. Specifically, in mode 6, the control circuit 101 turns off the semiconductor switching element Q2, turns on the semiconductor switching elements Q1 and Q4, and turns off the bidirectional switch SW5 of the attenuation circuit unit 120a at the same time, and further maintains this state in mode 7 following mode 6. As a result, in modes 6 and 7, a resistor Rdump is inserted in the resonant circuit 306a. Therefore, in modes 6 and 7, the resonant circuit 303a is formed by a series circuit of the DC power supply VP, the inductor Lg, the resistor Rdump, and the input capacitance Ciss. As a result, the resonant current flowing through the resonant circuit 303a is attenuated, similar to mode 2.

[0048] Mode 7 is a mode for damping the resonant current continuing from mode 6. In mode 7, as shown in Fig. 3G, the control circuit 101 turns off the semiconductor switching element Q1 to open the freewheeling circuit 305, while maintaining the semiconductor switching element Q4 on to maintain the resonant circuit 306a, and turns off the bidirectional switch SW5 of the attenuation circuit section 120a to sufficiently damp the resonant current flowing through the inductors Lpcb and Lin by the resistor Rdump.

[0049] Mode 8 is a mode in which the gate voltage Vgs is held at a low impedance. In mode 8, the control circuit 101 turns on the bidirectional switch SW5 as shown in Fig. 3H. The control circuit 101 maintains mode 8 until a turn-on command SON for the semiconductor switching element Qa is turned on.

[0050] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the current flowing through the inductor Lg is commutated to the free-wheel circuit 302 or 305 and the resonant circuit 303a or 306a is formed, the resistor Rdump is inserted into the resonant circuit 303a or 306a, and the resonant current flowing through the resonant circuit 303a or 306a is attenuated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous firing of the semiconductor switching element Qa, which is the driving target of the gate drive circuit 1a, and to prevent malfunction of the power conversion device. In addition, since the gate peak voltage of the semiconductor switching element Qa, which is the driving target, can be suppressed, the failure rate of the semiconductor switching element Qa can be reduced, and the long-term reliability of the power conversion device can be improved.

[0051] In FIG. 16 of Patent Document 1, a damping resistor is arranged in a closed-loop resonant circuit including a gate drive circuit and a semiconductor switching element to be driven by the gate drive circuit. In this configuration, a current flows through the damping resistor even during periods other than the period during which resonance occurs in the resonant circuit, increasing circuit loss. However, in this embodiment, the resistor Rdump is inserted in the resonant circuit only during the period during which resonance occurs in the resonant circuit 303a or 306a. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress resonance without increasing circuit loss.

[0052] <Second embodiment> FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a step-down power supply circuit 100b including a gate drive circuit 1b according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing the operation of the gate drive circuit 1b. In this step-down power supply circuit 100b, the gate drive circuit 1a in the first embodiment is replaced with the gate drive circuit 1b. In the gate drive circuit 1b, the attenuation circuit section 120a in the first embodiment is replaced with an attenuation circuit section 120b without a resistor Rdump. The gate voltage VGS and ON resistance RDS of the MOSFET constituting the bidirectional switch SW5 have the relationship shown in FIG. 6. That is, the MOSFET functions as a variable resistor whose ON resistance RDS changes by controlling the gate voltage VGS. By utilizing this characteristic, the ON resistance of the bidirectional switch SW5 is increased in modes 2, 3, 6, and 7 as shown in FIG. 5, and the resonant current is damped. That is, in modes 2, 3, 6, and 7, the gate voltages of the semiconductor switching elements Q51 and Q52 constituting the bidirectional switch SW5 are lowered, and the bidirectional switch SW5 acts as a resistor to damp the resonant current.

[0053] This embodiment also provides the same effects as those of the first embodiment. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the resistor Rdump for damping the resonance current is not required, so that the device can be made smaller and the costs can be reduced.

[0054] <Other embodiments> Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, other embodiments of the present invention are also possible. For example, the following embodiments are possible.

[0055] (1) The gate drive circuit according to the present invention can be applied to power conversion devices other than step-down power supply circuits, such as inverters. When a power conversion device includes multiple semiconductor switching elements that supply power to a load, the gate drive circuit according to the present invention may be provided for each of the semiconductor switching elements.

[0056] (2) The element to be driven by the gate drive circuit may be a semiconductor switching element other than a MOSFET, such as an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor). [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 100a, 100b...step-down power supply circuit, 1a, 1b, 1...gate drive circuit, 110...bridge circuit, 111...high potential power supply line, 112...low potential power supply line, VP.VN, V1...DC power supply, SW1...first switch, SW2...second switch, SW3...third switch, SW4...fourth switch, Q1 to Q4, Q51, Q52, Qa...semiconductor switching elements, D1 to D4, D51, D52, Da, 22...diodes, Lg, Lpcb.Lin, 21...inductor, Cgs, Cdg, Cds, 23...capacitor, 2...conversion section, 25...load, 3...isolation amplifier, 101...control circuit, 120a, 120b...attenuation circuit section, SW5...bidirectional switch, 130...voltage detector.

Claims

1. a gate current control circuit section including an inductor, a first switch connected between a high potential power supply line and a first terminal of the inductor, a second switch connected between a low potential power supply line having a potential lower than that of the high potential power supply line and the first terminal of the inductor, a third switch connected between the high potential power supply line and the second terminal of the inductor, and a fourth switch connected between the low potential power supply line and the second terminal of the inductor; a attenuation circuit section that is connected between the second terminal of the inductor and a gate of a semiconductor switching element to be driven and has a controllable resistance value; the attenuation circuit unit includes a resistor and a bidirectional switch connected in parallel to the resistor, 2. A gate drive circuit comprising: a bidirectional switch that is turned off when the third switch or the fourth switch is turned on; and that is maintained in the OFF state for a predetermined period of time.

2. A gate current control circuit unit including an inductor, a first switch connected between a high potential power line and a first terminal of the inductor, a second switch connected between a low potential power line having a lower potential than the high potential power line and the first terminal of the inductor, a third switch connected between the high potential power line and the second terminal of the inductor, and a fourth switch connected between the low potential power line and the second terminal of the inductor; a attenuation circuit section that is connected between the second terminal of the inductor and a gate of a semiconductor switching element to be driven and has a controllable resistance value; the attenuation circuit unit includes a bidirectional switch whose ON resistance can be controlled by a gate voltage, a first gate voltage is applied to the bidirectional switch of the attenuation circuit section at a timing when the third switch or the fourth switch is turned on to turn it on, and a second gate voltage higher than the first gate voltage is applied after a predetermined time to maintain the on state.

3. A gate drive circuit according to claim 1 or 2, A power conversion device that supplies power to a load via a semiconductor switching element whose gate is driven by the gate drive circuit.

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