TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to automotive power electronics components.

BACKGROUND

An electric or hybrid vehicle may contain one or more motors for propulsion. The vehicle may also contain a traction battery as a source of energy for the motor, and a generator to charge the traction battery. As the motor, traction battery, and generator may require varying electrical parameters, electrical communication between them may require modification of the power provided or consumed.

SUMMARY

An automotive vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery, and a power converter. The power converter transfers power between the electric machine and traction battery, and includes a switch defining a portion of a phase leg, a gate driver circuit that provides power to a gate of the switch, and a clamping circuit that includes a clamping switch. The clamping switch, responsive to the gate driver circuit being de-energized and a voltage of the gate exceeding a predetermined threshold value, conducts current from the gate to dissipate the voltage and clamp the gate to an emitter of the switch.

A power converter includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a gate driver circuit that provides power to a gate of the IGBT, and a bipolar junction transistor (BJT). The BJT, responsive to the gate driver circuit being de-energized and a voltage of a gate of the IGBT exceeding a predetermined threshold value, conducts current from the gate to dissipate the voltage and clamps the gate to an emitter of the IGBT.

An automotive vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery, and a power converter. The power converter transfers power between the electric machine and traction battery, and includes a switch that defines a portion of a phase leg, a gate driver circuit that provides power to a gate of the switch, and a clamping circuit that includes first and second clamping switches. The first clamping switch, responsive to the gate driver circuit being de-energized and a voltage of the gate of the switch exceeding a predetermined threshold value, conducts current from the gate of the switch to a gate of the second clamping switch to increase a voltage of the gate of the second clamping switch. The second clamping switch, responsive to the voltage of the gate of the second clamping switch exceeding another predetermined threshold value, conducts current such that the gate and emitter of the switch are clamped together

