GATE DRIVERS FOR CONVERTER

A gate driver is a power amplifier that accepts a low-power input from a

controller IC and produces a high-current drive input for the gate of a high-
power transistor such as an IGBT or power MOSFET. In order to drive a
device like an IGBT or power MOSFET into conduction, the gate terminal
must be made positive with respect to its source or emitter. Gate drivers can
be provided either on-chip or as a discrete module. In essence, a gate driver
consists of a level shifter in combination with an amplifier.
Gate drivers function as current buffers and signal converters. They convey
both the switching state information and gate drive power required during
the power semiconductor switching process.
 NEED FOR GATE DRIVE CIRCUIT
The faster switching on/off the MOSFET.
The driver is there to provide the current and also drives the
gates with an appropriate voltage level .
To avoid the risk of damaging the MOSFET.
Another advantage of MOSFET driver is slew rate controlling.
To reduce device losses as much as possible.
In order to drive a device like a power MOSFET into conduction, the gate terminal
must be made positive with respect to its source and its value should be greater
than threshold voltage. For this purpose we use two techniques:
1.Floating supply: A supply is needed in order to provide power to any circuitry
associated with the floating midpoint potential in case of two or more switches.
Isolated Supply: The simplest way of generating a floating supply is to use a
transformer isolated supply.
Charge-pump Supply Bootstrap Supply
2. Level Shifting: The second requirement for driving a high-side switch, is that
the control signal fed from the PWM electronics needs to be conveyed to the
floating driver circuitry.
Opto-couplers: Opto-couplers offer a cost effective, and easy solution, but are
susceptible to noise and fast voltage transitions.
Transformer Level Shifting Fiber Optic Link Electronic Level Shifting
 Isolated Power Supply with Opto-coupled Control Signal Inputs
A standard technique employed widely employed, is to generate floating supplies through the use of
mains frequency transformer isolation(fig).

Opto coupler
Voltage
Bridge regulator
rectifier

FIG: Circuiit to drive MOFET with isolated power supply and opto coupler.
A regulated supply is easily realized using three-terminal voltage regulators, which can
easily deliver continuous power to gate drive circuits in excess of 10W. Level shifting of
the switching control signal is achieved by means of optical isolation,with the input
diodes referenced to the logic ground of the signal processing circuitry.
This system is a reliable and medium cost solution for almost any power converter up to
switching frequencies well below 1 mhz.

Fig:Switching waveforms for above driver circuit.

Turn-on occurs when the MOSFET gate voltage reaches its threshold level(Vgth) and
drain current starts to flow. The waveforms also shows dead-time created between
switching trnsitions.
 COMPONENT/ICS USED IN DRIVER CIRCUIT

1. Transformer (230/15-0-15):
Transformer is connected between the main supply and the rest of the driver circuit
to bring down the voltage feasible for driver circuit.
2. Diodes (D1N4007):
Diodes are used in the bridge rectifier circuitry and for controlling switching speed of
the MOSFET.
3. Voltage regulator (LM7815C):
Voltage regulators are used to attain the voltage suitable for ICs as 5V, 12V and 15V.
4. Opto-coupler(1MBd,6N135):
Opto-coupler is used for providing isolation between the power circuitry comprised
with MOSFET and the control circuitry comprised with PWM generator
(Microcontroller).
5. Zener diode:
Zener diode is used to hold the voltage across the Gate terminal of MOSFET.
6. MOSFET(IRF250N):
MOSFET is used as semiconductor switch having characteristics VDSS =200 V,
RDS(on) =0.075 ohm, ID =30 A.