Gate Driver Output Protection Using Edge-Delay Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gate driver integrated circuits are susceptible to damage from short circuits and heavy capacitive loads due to slow temperature measurement, making them ineffective in protecting the system from sudden short circuits, and current sensing techniques are difficult to implement in high current environments.
Innovation Solution
A method and integrated circuit that drive an output signal based on a driver input signal and an error signal, where the error signal is generated by measuring the delay between the input signal edge and the output signal edge at the terminal, allowing for quick detection of short circuits and configuration into a safer operational state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature sensing is used to detect short circuits, then some protection from marginally larger capacitive loads is provided, but the response is too slow to react to sudden short circuits and prevent damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach by measuring output signal delay as a proxy indicator of short circuit conditions. Instead of directly measuring temperature (which is slow), the system uses delay measurement between input and output signals as an intermediate parameter that responds quickly to short circuits. When a short circuit occurs, the output signal becomes delayed or stuck, and this delay is detected to trigger protection actions.
2Speed
If current sensing techniques are used to detect short circuits, then quick detection is possible, but implementation is difficult in high current environments due to difficulties in implementing adequate current mirrors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical current sensing approach with a temporal measurement approach. Instead of using current mirrors and direct electrical measurements in high current environments, the system substitutes measurement of signal propagation delay time. This temporal measurement can be implemented using simple timing circuits and counters that are much less complex than high-current sensing circuits, while still providing quick detection of short circuit conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for protecting a system including a driver integrated circuit includes receiving a driver input signal. The method includes driving an output signal externally to the driver integrated circuit. The output signal is driven based on the driver input signal and an indication of a delay between receipt of an edge of the driver input signal and arrival of a corresponding edge of the output signal at an output node coupled to a terminal of the driver integrated circuit.