DESAT Protection Circuit with Adaptive Threshold and Blanking Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing DESAT protective circuits for power devices like IGBTs in inverter circuits require frequent adjustments of external resistors and capacitors for various devices, making evaluation and testing time-consuming and labor-intensive, as they need to be disassembled and reassembled each time to adjust the circuit configuration.

Innovation Solution

An electronic circuitry with a detection circuit, comparator circuit, filter circuits, and a control circuit that automatically adjusts the threshold voltage and blanking period to prevent erroneous overcurrent detection, allowing for software-controlled adjustments of the blanking time, threshold voltage, and noise reduction range, thereby eliminating the need for physical adjustments during evaluation tests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If external resistors and capacitors are exchanged to adjust the DESAT protective circuit configuration, then the circuit can be adapted to various power devices and substrates, but the evaluation process requires repeated disassembly and assembly which consumes time and labor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit adaptabilityVSAvoidevaluation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements software-based parameter adjustment mechanisms that allow the DESAT protective circuit configuration to be modified through code rather than physical component exchange. The control unit can load different configuration parameters (such as threshold voltages, blanking times, and current limits) from storage, enabling the same hardware circuit to adapt to various power devices and substrates without requiring disassembly or component replacement. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining circuit adaptability while eliminating the time-consuming physical adjustment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If external resistors and capacitors are exchanged to adjust the DESAT protective circuit configuration, then the circuit can be adapted to various power devices and substrates, but the process requires manual disassembly and assembly operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit adaptabilityVSAvoidadjustment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of physically exchanging resistors and capacitors with an electronic/software-based configuration system. The control unit communicates with the DESAT protective circuit through electrical signals, allowing configuration changes to be made via software commands rather than manual component handling. This substitution dramatically improves ease of operation while maintaining the ability to adapt the circuit to different power devices and substrates through parameter modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the DESAT protective circuit uses fixed configuration, then the circuit structure is simple, but it cannot be appropriately adjusted for various power devices and substrates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit structureVSAvoidcircuit adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal control unit that can manage multiple DESAT protective circuits with different configuration requirements. The control unit includes a storage module that can hold various configuration sets for different power devices and substrates, and a parameter adjustment module that can switch between these configurations as needed. This allows a single circuit design to serve multiple functions and adapt to various applications without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each device type, thereby maintaining structural simplicity while achieving broad adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11888466B2Electronic circuitry, method, electronic system and non-transitory computer readable medium
Publication Date: 2024.01.30 KK TOSHIBA
  • US11888466B2 patent drawing
  • US11888466B2 patent drawing
  • US11888466B2 patent drawing

AI summary

According to one embodiment, electronic circuitry includes: a detection circuit including a diode, a cathode side of the diode being connected to one end of a semiconductor switching element and an anode side of the diode being connected to a first node; a comparator circuit configured to compare a voltage of the first node and a threshold voltage and generate a first signal; a first filter connected between the first node and another end of the semiconductor switching element and configured to suppress the voltage of the first node in a first period based on a control signal indicating turn-on of the semiconductor switching element; and a control circuit configured to determine at least one of the threshold voltage and the first period based on the first signal.