Integratable circuit for controlling turn-off voltage rate-of-change of

Abstract

An integratable circuit for controlling the turn-off time-rate-of-voltage-change of a non-regenerative power switching device (such as a field-effect transistor, an insulated gate transistor and the like) uses a single capacitive element, in conjunction with a first current source, to provide a ramp voltage generator which is operative only if a ramp generator terminal is disconnected from a circuit common potential. The circuit uses a second current source and a controlled-conduction device to provide a control electrode drive signal to the at least one power switching device, controlling the flow of current through a load from a unipolarity or bipolarity source. The voltage across the controlled-conduction circuit of the power switching device then active is applied in attenuated form to another input of the ramp voltage generator to control the load voltage time-rate-of-change during load current turn-off.