Insulated Voltage Sensor for Rectifier Circuit Overvoltage Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rectifier circuits face high forward losses due to residual voltage during state transitions in field effect transistors, requiring timely switching and voltage measurement techniques that are complex and costly, especially when dealing with high voltage peaks and rapid voltage/current changes.
Innovation Solution
A rectifier circuit with a field effect transistor and a driver cooperating with a voltage sensor, where the voltage sensor is insulated and forms a non-linear capacitive voltage divider with a separate sensor electrode, allowing for effective voltage measurement and protection against overvoltage without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a diode is used to cut the high voltage part at the drain of the field effect transistor, then the integrated measuring circuit is protected from overvoltage peaks, but additional components are required and the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage sensor is extracted as a separate, electrically insulated measuring circuit from the high-voltage switching circuit. This allows the sensor to be protected from overvoltage peaks without requiring additional protective components like diodes, as the insulation itself provides the protection.
Solution Approach 2:
An electrically insulated voltage sensor acts as an intermediary between the high-voltage switching circuit and the integrated measuring circuit. This intermediary provides galvanic isolation, protecting the measuring circuit from voltage peaks while maintaining measurement capability.
2Device complexity
If the voltage sensor is integrated with the field effect transistor, then the circuit complexity is reduced, but the sensor must withstand high voltage peaks and rapid voltage changes which requires high electrical strength
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage sensor is segmented into a separate, electrically insulated measuring circuit. This segmentation allows the sensor to be designed with appropriate insulation to withstand high voltage peaks without requiring the entire integrated circuit to have high electrical strength, thus reducing overall complexity while maintaining robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrically insulated voltage sensor serves as an intermediary that bridges the high-voltage environment and the low-voltage integrated measuring circuit. The insulation acts as a barrier that protects the integrated circuit from voltage stress while enabling measurement functionality.
3Reliability
If additional protective components like diodes are added, then the integrated circuit is protected from voltage peaks, but the cost increases and the lift of the wanted signal for the voltage sensor is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage sensor is extracted as a separate, electrically insulated component that inherently protects against voltage peaks without requiring additional protective components. This eliminates the need for extra diodes or protection circuits, reducing cost while maintaining protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrically insulated voltage sensor provides self-protection against overvoltage peaks through its insulation design. The sensor structure itself serves as the protective element, eliminating the need for separate protective components and reducing overall system cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables timely and cost-effective switching of field effect transistors, reducing forward losses and protecting against voltage peaks, while maintaining signal quality and reducing component complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor capacitance of the voltage sensor forms a non-linear voltage divider with a reference capacitance
Data Source
AI summary
A rectifier circuit with a semiconductor element is disclosed. The semiconductor element includes at least one field effect transistor with a control electrode, and at least one driver. The driver cooperates with a voltage sensor, and controls the field effect transistor to a conducting state. The semiconductor element includes the voltage sensor insulated from the at least one field effect transistor. The voltage sensor includes a separate sensor electrode, and a sensor capacitance of the voltage sensor forms a non-linear voltage divider with a reference capacitance.