Optically-modulated active-gate control (OMAG) for switching electrical power-conversion systems

Critically important to the future electric ship power systems are performance and reliability parameters such as electromagnetic-noise generated by the power converter, power-conversion efficiency, and stress on the power semiconductor devices (PSDs). Modulation of these parameters using optically-modulated and galvanically isolated gate control is outlined and experimentally demonstrated. An optimal optical-intensity is also experimentally determined for balanced trade-off between switching loss reduction and PSD stress mitigation. Applicability of the concept over a wide spectrum of PSDs (including SiC MOSFET) is also demonstrated.