Gate driver ASIC for an automotive starter/alternator

Abstract

A starter/alternator system for an engine and a battery of an automobile are provided. The system includes a starter/alternator machine; a three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge electrically coupled to the starter/alternator machine, the three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge including bridge connected MOSgated devices; a control ASIC electrically coupled to the bridge connected MOSgated devices of the three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge, the control ASIC including all control circuitry required to control the starter/alternator machine; and a motor drive circuit electrically coupled to the control ASIC.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A starter/alternator system for an engine and a battery of an automobile, comprising: 
 a starter/alternator machine;    a three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge electrically coupled to the starter/alternator machine, the three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge including bridge connected MOSgated devices;    a control ASIC electrically coupled to the bridge connected MOSgated devices of the three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge, the control ASIC including all control circuitry required to control the starter/alternator machine; and    a motor drive circuit electrically coupled to the control ASIC.    
     
     
         2 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor drive circuit includes feedback inputs electrically coupled to respective feedback signals.  
     
     
         3 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 2 , wherein the feedback signals include a first feedback signal generated by the three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge and a second feedback signal generated by the starter/alternator machine.  
     
     
         4 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 1 , wherein the control ASIC is capable of operating in a plurality of different voltage networks.  
     
     
         5 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of different voltage networks include a 12 volt voltage network and a 42 volt voltage network.  
     
     
         6 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 1 , wherein the control ASIC is capable of operating in a wide operating temperature range.  
     
     
         7 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature range is −40° C. to 165° C.  
     
     
         8 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 1 , wherein the control ASIC is capable of operating in a plurality of modes.  
     
     
         9 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of modes include a starter mode, the control ASIC driving the bridge connected MOSgated devices of three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge in the starter mode, such that gate-to-source voltages of the bridge connected MOSgated devices are held for a duration of a start-up sequence.  
     
     
         10 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 9 , wherein the control ASIC includes at least one control input, the starter mode of the control ASIC being initiated by the assertion of the at least one control input.  
     
     
         11 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of modes include an alternator mode, the control ASIC driving the bridge connected MOSgated devices of three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge in the alternator mode to rectify an alternating voltage from the starter/alternator machine.  
     
     
         12 . The starter/alternator system of  claim 9 , wherein the control ASIC includes at least one control input, the alternator mode of the control ASIC being initiated by the assertion of the at least one control input.  
     
     
         13 . A control ASIC for use in a starter/alternator system for an engine and a battery of an automobile, the control ASIC comprising: 
 an ASIC configured to electrically coupled to bridge connected MOSgated devices of a three phase MOSgate control inverter/bridge of the starter/alternator system, the control ASIC including all control circuitry required to control a starter/alternator machine of the starter/alternator system.