Optimize Half-Bridge Circuit Designs Through Accurate VGS Measurements

Focus:

Use of a new galvanically isolated measurement system (Tektronix's IsoVu) improves the accuracy of high-side gate-source voltage (Vgs) measurements in power supply circuits. This improvement opens up new opportunities such as the ability to optimize half-bridge circuits, particularly at higher switching frequencies and higher voltages. IsoVu's key strength is its high common- mode rejection across its entire bandwidth. This enables more-accurate measurement of the high- side FET Vgs waveform during FET turn-on as well as more accurate measurement of high-side Vgs and low-side Vgs waveforms during high-side turn-off/low-side turn-on. The article discusses the characteristics of the Vgs waveforms and the limitations of existing instruments in measuring these waveforms. The features and key specs of IsoVu are described, IsoVu measurements of Vgs waveforms are presented, and these results are discussed.

What you’ll learn:

• How to accurately measure gate-source voltage waveforms in power circuits with fast switching and high common-mode voltages

View the Source

Author & Publication:

Tom Neville, Tektronix, Beaverton, Ore, How2Power Today, Jun 15 2016

This article summary appears
in the HOW2POWER Design Guide.

The Design Guide offers
organized access to
hundreds of articles
on dozens of power conversion
and power management topics.

The Design Guide search results
include exclusive summaries
and accurate "how to" analysis
to help you make faster,
more informed decisions.

Search
for more articles