US 11,683,030 B2
Protecting semiconductor switches in switched mode power converters
Jan Thalheim, Biel (CH)
Assigned to POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on May 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/747,818.
Application 17/747,818 is a continuation of application No. 16/456,922, filed on Jun. 28, 2019, granted, now 11,368,148.
Claims priority of application No. 18183155 (EP), filed on Jul. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0393676 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02H 7/00 (2006.01); H03K 17/082 (2006.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01); H03K 5/24 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 17/0822 (2013.01) [H02H 1/0007 (2013.01); H03K 5/24 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of driving a power switch comprising:
providing a drive signal to a control input of the power switch;
coupling a sense terminal to a main terminal of the power switch;
mirroring a current input into the sense terminal during turn-off by using a current mirror;
determining a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-off by comparing a current signal from the current mirror to a first current threshold; and
determining a highest voltage of the main terminal during turn-on by comparing a signal from the sense terminal to a turn-on threshold.