Reliability of the power-conversion system is a critical issue, especially at high power levels. Application areas that fall under this umbrella include solar-powered inverters, motor drives, electric vehicles (EVs), dc-dc converters, traction inverters, and more. Thus, designers must address the ever-growing need for an improved, reliable fault-detection system in high-power systems.
Redundant components, as well as greatly over-rated power switches, have traditionally been used in designs to improve the reliability of the overall system. However, such solutions greatly increase system complexity and cost.
As a more effective solution, fault-protection strategies will maximize the use of power-device capabilities without compromising their reliability. Implementing fault-protection systems as a part of the gate-drive circuitry will help prevent power devices from being damaged in the event of a system malfunction or over-stressed occurrence.