US 12,261,605 B2
Gate driving with phased slew rate control and overcurrent protection
Parth Purohit, Madison, WI (US); Mohamed Ahmed Kamel Ahmed, Birmingham, MI (US); Muhammad Hussain Alvi, Troy, MI (US); and Chandra S. Namuduri, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/154,450.
Prior Publication US 2024/0243737 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. H02P 27/08 (2006.01); H02P 23/14 (2006.01); H03K 5/04 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 5/04 (2013.01) [H02P 23/14 (2013.01); H02P 27/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating an electric motor of a vehicle, comprising:
controlling a flow of a current between a gate driver and an inverter to control a slew rate of an electrical signal output by the inverter; and
providing the electrical signal output by the inverter to the electric motor to operate the electric motor, wherein controlling the flow rate includes:
flowing the current through a first branch from the inverter to the gate driver during a first time period, the first branch including a capacitor, wherein flowing the current in the first branch during the first time period charges the capacitor;
flowing the current through a second branch from the inverter to the gate driver during a second time period to reduce a drain current to zero, the second branch parallel to the first branch, wherein the charged capacitor diverts the current from the first branch to flow in the second branch during the second time period; and
discharging the charged capacitor through a third branch in parallel with the first branch and the second branch during a third time period in which the drain current is zero.