Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen Gmbh

Edward Shelton

Mark Snook

Matteo Vit

Stephen Parker

We describe a system for controlling very large numbers of power semiconductor switching devices () to switch in synchronization. The devices are high power devices, for example carrying hundreds of amps and/or voltages of the order of kilovolts. In outline the system comprises a coordinating control system (), which communicates with a plurality of switching device controllers () to control the devices into a plurality of states including a fully-off state, a saturated-on state, and at least one intermediate state between the fully-off and saturated-on states, synchronizing the devices in the at least one intermediate state during switching.

Switching control systems

Switching data is communicated in a power semiconductor switching device control system having a coordinating control system and a switching device controllers each coupled to the coordinating control system and each configured to control a respective power semiconductor switching device. Switching control data is formatted as one or more switching control data packets whose switching control data comprises data for controlling switching of the power semiconductor switching devices. The switching control data packets are sent from the coordinating control system to the switching device controllers. State data is detected, provided, and then formatted to represent states of the power semiconductor switching devices controlled in combination by the switching control data packets into acknowledgment data packets from the power semiconductor switching devices. The acknowledgment data packets are sent from the switching device controllers to the coordinating control system.

Switching control system signaling techniques

We describe a fault-tolerant power semiconductor switching device control system (), the control system comprising: a coordinating control system (); and a plurality of switching device controllers () each coupled to said coordinating control system and each configured to control a respective power semiconductor switching device (); wherein said coordinating control system is configured to send real time switching control data to said switching device controllers to control switching of said power semiconductor switching devices, and to receive real time acknowledgement data from said switching device controllers; wherein a said switching device controller is configured to receive said real time switching control data from said coordinating control system, to control a said power semiconductor switching device responsive to said real time switching control data, and to provide said real time acknowledgement data confirming said switching device control to said coordinating control system; and wherein said coordinating control system is further configured to control further switching of said power semiconductor switching devices responsive to said real time acknowledgement data.

Fault-tolerant power semiconductor switching device control system

We describe a controller () for controlling a power semiconductor switching device () into a selected one of a plurality of states, the states including a fully-off state, a saturated-on state, and at least one intermediate state. The switching device controller includes a voltage sense input () to sense a voltage on the device; a current sense input (current feedback) to sense a current passing through the device; a negative feedback control circuit () coupled to the sense inputs, a control output () to provide to the power semiconductor switching device a drive signal with a response dependent on one or more adjustable parameters; and a circuit controller () to control the adjustable parameters responsive to state command data, to control the switching device into a selected state, in particular by controlling an effective resistance of the device. Preferred intermediate states include an active low current state and an active low voltage state.

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Cambridge, United Kingdom

Edward Shelton