Gate Driver Circuit with All-Magnetic Isolation for Cascode-Connected SiC JFETs in a Three-Level T-Type Bridge-Leg

Abstract

This article presents a gate driver circuit with all-magnetic isolation for driving silicon carbide (SiC) power devices in a three-level T-type bridge-leg. Gate driver circuitry for SiC devices has to be tolerant of rapid common-mode voltage changes. With respect to the resultant potentially problematic common-mode current paths, an arrangement of transformers is proposed for supplying the power devices with drive signals and power for their local floating gate driver circuits. The high-frequency carrier phase-switching technique is used to reduce the number of transformers. Signal timing and other implementation issues are addressed when using this arrangement with the T-type converter. The circuit is demonstrated in a 540 V bridge-leg constructed around 650 V and 1200 V cascode-connected normally-on SiC junction field effect transistors (JFETs).

Keywords

• cascode-connected
• gate driver
• isolation
• JFET
• silicon carbide
• T-type converter