A resonate gate drive circuit for driving at least one power switching
device recovers energy loss for charging and discharging the gate
capacitance of the power switching devices. The gate drive circuit uses a
current source to charge and discharge the gate capacitance with a high
current, reducing the switching loss of the power switching device. The
gate drive circuit comprises four semiconductor bidirectional conducting
switching devices connected in a full-bridge configuration. An inductor
connected across the bridge configuration provides the current source.
The gate drive circuit may be used in single and dual high-side and
low-side, symmetrical or complementary, power converter gate drive
applications.