US 12,480,980 B2
Techniques and driver circuits configured to monitor load current through a gate injection transistor (GIT)
Marcus Nuebling, Olching-Esting (DE); Peter Weiss, Kelheim (DE); Christian Novak, Remseck am Neckar (DE); and Christoph Bauer, Regensburg (DE)
Assigned to Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg (DE)
Filed by Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg (DE)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/498,912.
Prior Publication US 2025/0138056 A1, May 1, 2025
Int. Cl. G01R 19/165 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 19/16533 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A driver circuit configured to control a gate injection transistor (GIT), wherein the driver circuit is configured to:
output a control current to a gate of the GIT;
detect a voltage at the gate of the GIT; and
determine a load current through the GIT based on the voltage detected at the gate of the GIT, wherein the voltage at the gate of the GIT is dependent on both the load current and the control current, wherein to determine the load current, the driver circuit is configured to:
compare the voltage detected at the gate to a fixed reference voltage; and
determine the load current based on a pre-defined transfer function associated with the GIT, wherein the pre-defined transfer function defines both the load current through the GIT and the control current at the gate when the voltage detected at the gate is greater than a threshold defined in the pre-defined transfer function associated with the GIT.