Single-Supply Gate Drive Logic for Shoot-Through Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shoot through protection (STP) features in gate drivers are specific to the architecture for which they were designed, making it difficult to ensure their effectiveness across different architectures, and there is a need for improved systems and methods to prevent simultaneous turn-on of power switches in motor controls.

Innovation Solution

A system with four gate drivers, each with integrated shoot through protection, connected to separate or integrated circuits, and a logic component to manage gate control signals, ensuring that both switches remain open simultaneously, using bipolar gate voltages and complementary logic to prevent shoot through conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional shoot through protection features are used in gate drivers, then protection is provided for the specific architecture, but the protection cannot be ensured across different gate driver architectures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoot through protection effectivenessVSAvoidarchitecture compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal shoot-through protection mechanism that functions across different gate driver architectures (single supply, dual supply, isolated, non-isolated). The protection logic is designed to be architecture-agnostic, using universal detection of shoot-through conditions and universal response mechanisms that work regardless of the specific power supply configuration or gate driver type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If separate voltage sources are used for each gate driver, then independent control is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent gate controlVSAvoidvoltage source configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the gate driver system into independent controllable units, where each gate driver can be independently controlled through its own voltage source. This segmentation allows each gate driver to operate autonomously while maintaining overall system coordination through the controller, enabling independent turn-on/turn-off of individual switches without affecting others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple voltage sources and gate drivers. The controller manages the complex interactions by generating appropriate control signals that harmonize the operations of separate voltage sources, simplifying the overall system management while maintaining independent control capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12451883B2Shoot through protection in motor drives with single supply gate drives

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP

AI summary

A switch control system includes a first voltage source configured to output a first source voltage on a first voltage line. The system includes a first gate driver, a second gate driver, a third gate driver, and a fourth gate driver. Each of the gate drivers includes shoot through protection (STP) configured to prevent a first switch and a second switch of the system from ever both being closed at once thereby preventing shoot voltages from a DC bus to ground through the first and second switches.