Drive circuit for switching element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9059706-B2
Application number	US-201213406948-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2012
Priority date	Feb 28, 2011
Publication date	Jun 16, 2015
Grant date	Jun 16, 2015

Abstract

A drive circuit is used for driving a switching element. The drive circuit includes a detection unit and an integrated circuit. The detection unit detects a state of a controlled switching element and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a detection result of the state. The integrated circuit receives the voltage signal via an input terminal for the detection result and controls the switching element based on the received voltage signal. The input terminal includes at least two input terminals that are connected to each other so as to receive the same voltage signal from the detection unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive circuit for driving a switching element, comprising:
a detection unit that detects a state of a switching element targeted for being driven and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a detection result of the state; and
an integrated circuit that receives the voltage signal via an input terminal for the detection result and performs drive control of the switching element based on the received voltage signal, the input terminal including at least two input terminals that are connected to each other so as to receive the same voltage signal from the detection unit, wherein:
the integrated circuit includes:
a judgment unit that judges whether or not an abnormality of driving of the switching element occurs based on the same voltage single inputted via the at least two input terminals; and
a restriction unit that restricts driving of the switching element, if the judgment unit judges that the abnormality occurs;

the detection unit includes a constant current source that is located at the outside of the integrated circuit, and a temperature sense diode that is located in the vicinity of the switching element; and
the judgment unit judges that an abnormality occurs in the switching element, if an anode voltage of the temperature sense diode is a predetermined threshold voltage or less.

2. A drive method for driving a switching element, comprising:
detecting, at a detection unit, a state of a switching element targeted for being driven and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a detection result of the state;
receiving, at an integrated circuit, the voltage signal via an input terminal including at least two input terminals that are connected to each other so as to receive the same voltage signal from the detection unit; and
controlling, by the integrated circuit, the switching element based on the received voltage signal, wherein:
the integrated circuit includes:
a judgment unit that judges whether or not an abnormality of driving of the switching element occurs based on the same voltage single inputted via the at least two input terminals; and
a restriction unit that restricts driving of the switching element, if the judgment unit judges that the abnormality occurs;

the detection unit includes a constant current source that is located at the outside of the integrated circuit, and a temperature sense diode that is located in the vicinity of the switching element; and
the judgment unit judges that an abnormality occurs in the switching element, if an anode voltage of the temperature sense diode is a predetermined threshold voltage or less.

3. A power conversion circuit, comprising:
a switching element; and
a drive circuit that drives the switching elements, wherein
the drive circuit includes:
a detection unit that detects a state of a controlled switching element targeted for being driven and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a detection result of the state; and
an integrated circuit that receives the voltage signal via an input terminal for the detection result and controls the switching element based on the received voltage signal, the input terminal including at least two input terminals that are connected to each other so as to receive the same voltage signal from the detection unit, wherein:
the integrated circuit includes:
a judgment unit that judges whether or not an abnormality of driving of the switching element occurs based on the same voltage single inputted via the at least two input terminals; and
a restriction unit that restricts driving of the switching element, if the judgment unit judges that the abnormality occurs;

the detection unit includes a constant current source that is located at the outside of the integrated circuit, and a temperature sense diode that is located in the vicinity of the switching element; and
the judgment unit judges that an abnormality occurs in the switching element, if an anode voltage of the temperature sense diode is a predetermined threshold voltage or less.

4. A motor system for a vehicle, comprising:
a motor generator that is a main machine mounted on the vehicle;
a battery that supplies a direct current (DC) voltage; and
a power conversion circuit that converts the DC voltage from the battery to an alternating current (AC) voltage and supplies the AC voltage to the motor generator, which includes a switching element and a drive circuit that drives the switching elements, wherein
the drive circuit includes:
a detection unit that detects a state of a switching element targeted for being driven and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a detection result of the state; and
an integrated circuit that receives the voltage signal via an input terminal for the detection result and performs drive control of the switching element based on the received voltage signal, the input terminal including at least two input terminals that are connected to each other so as to receive the same voltage signal from the detection unit,
wherein the at least two input terminals receiving the same voltage signal have the same potential that is voltage divided by resistors,
the integrated circuit includes:
a judgment unit that judges whether or not an abnormality of driving of the switching element occurs based on the same voltage single inputted via the at least two input terminals; and
a restriction unit that restricts driving of the switching element, if the judgment unit judges that the abnormality occurs;

the detection unit includes a constant current source that is located at the outside of the integrated circuit, and a temperature sense diode that is located in the vicinity of the switching element; and
the judgment unit judges that an abnormality occurs in the switching element, if an anode voltage of the temperature sense diode is a predetermined threshold voltage or less.

5. The motor system according to claim 4 , wherein
the power conversion circuit includes:
a converter that converts the DC voltage from the battery to a predetermined DC voltage under drive control of the switching element through the drive circuit; and
an inverter that converts the predetermined DC voltage from the converter to the AC voltage under control of the switching element through the drive circuit.

Assignees

• Miyauchi Syun
• Maebara Tsuneo
• Hamanaka Yoshiyuki
• Miura Ryotaro
• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Miyauchi Syun
• Maebara Tsuneo
• Hamanaka Yoshiyuki
• Miura Ryotaro

Classifications

• H03K17/0828

  in composite switches · CPC title

• H03K17/18 Primary

  Modifications for indicating state of switch · CPC title