Magneti Marelli S.p.a.

Fabio Bernardi

Riccardo Viancino

Giovanni Giuffre'

Giovanni Giuffré

A discharge device and method actively discharge a main capacitor in an electric-power system of an electric-drive vehicle. The discharge device comprises a discharge branch of a circuit that is connected in parallel to the main capacitor and includes a discharge transistor that is biased to 'conduction' mode when the main capacitor is required to be discharged. A control device is connected to a 'gate/base' terminal of the discharge transistor and commands the discharge transistor, biasing the discharge resistor to &#x201c;conduction&#x201d; mode when the main capacitor is required to be discharged. The control device includes a safety capacitor that is interposed between the &#x201c;gate/base&#x201d; terminal and a power supply and charges when the discharge transistor is in the &#x201c;conduction&#x201d; mode, causing a progressive decrease of current at the &#x201c;gate/base&#x201d; terminal, until the discharge transistor is biased to the &#x201c;non-conductive&#x201d; state.

Device and method to discharge a capacitor for use in the electric power system of an electric drive vehicle

A discharge device actively discharges a main capacitor in an electric-power system of an electric-drive vehicle and comprises a discharge branch of a circuit connected in parallel to the capacitor and including a discharge transistor biased to 'conduction' mode when the capacitor must be discharged. A control device is connected to a 'gate/base' terminal of and controls the transistor, biasing the transistor to the mode when the capacitor is required to fee discharged. A control transistor maintains the discharge transistor in a &#x201c;non-conductive&#x201d; state when the control transistor is in the mode. The control transistor is in the state for the discharge transistor to be in the mode. A safety capacitor is interposed between the terminal and a power supply and charges when the discharge transistor is in the mode, causing a progressive decrease of current at the terminal, until the discharge transistor is biased to the state.

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Osasco, Italy

Fabio Bernardi