Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Yuji Hashiya

Kohsaku Ichikawa

Yukinori Tsuruta

A fault detector apparatus for a power converter in which a plurality of GTOs, functioning at a predetermined potential, are used. The apparatus includes a first fault-detecting circuit, coupled to the gate-cathode path of one of the GTOs, for generating a first fault signal when this GTO malfunctions, a second fault-detecting circuit, coupled to the gate-cathode path of another one of the GTOs, for generating a second fault signal when this GTO malfunctions, a photocoupler for transmitting a DC-isolated optical signal corresponding to the first fault signal, and one optical fiber system for transmitting a DC-isolated output signal, corresponding to the logical sum of the optical signal transmitted by the photocoupler and the second fault signal, to external circuits set at a potential different from the potential at which the GTOs are arranged. The fault-detecting circuits are provided in the same number as the GTOs. The fault-detecting circuits are coupled by the optical signals.

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Yokohama, Japan

Yuji Hashiya