Is a "soft switch" concept able to acheive or it's just do not make sence?

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oldfish - 27 Oct 2003 17:11 GMT

Just be curious if it's worthwhile to develpe a semiconductor switch
that will have inherent capability of soft transition so it could
be used similar as a regular switch but acheiving ZVS/ZCS.

Is that just a "day dreaming" theoratically? Or if it is practically
feasible, will a hybrid modul making any sense to continue?

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Mike Engelhardt - 27 Oct 2003 18:37 GMT

Dear oldfish,

> Just be curious if it's worthwhile to develpe a
> semiconductor switch that will have inherent
> capability of soft transition so it could
> be used similar as a regular switch but acheiving
> ZVS/ZCS.

There are products that monitor when zero
current or zero voltage is going to occur to
reduce switching losses. An example would
be the LTC1922. This is used for resonately
switched supplies. Resonately switched supplies
pick up the advantages of reduced switching
losses without going to a resonate tank.

But in general, the zero voltage/zero current
condition has to be created by the complete
circuit, not just the switch. If you slow down
the switch's switching by itself, you'll simply
increase switching losses.

However, there are products that do control
switching voltage and current slew rates, such
as is done in the the LT1533, for EMI reasons.

--Mike

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Electronics Forum / CAD / October 2003

Is a "soft switch" concept able to acheive or it's just do not make sence?