I don't often see this kind of IGBT symbol, and I'm curious as to why the gate is drawn as it is. If you have information or ideas, I'd love to know.

Thanks!

 

It's a symbol for an IGBT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulated-gate_bipolar_transistor

http://www.ixys.com/documents/appnotes/ixys_igbt_basic_i.pdf

 

Thanks! I know that, and as I'd mentioned, I'm asking why the gate of this particular symbol is drawn like this, with the box.

To clarify: I haven't seen this iteration before, and I'd like to understand it better. I've researched the different IGBT symbols that are commonly used, and noted their differences, but this appears to be unique.

 

Do you have a schematic diagram in which this symbol appears? If so, maybe the context will provide some hint as to what it is.

 

The IGBTs are used in a power inverter which drives a three-phase AC motor. This schematic doesn't show the DC source:

 

It more than likely represents a gate driver sub circuit either built into the devices or as a separate circuit of the overall system.

 

I agree with @tcmtech: those boxes most likely represent gate driver circuits of some sort.

 

Thanks to you both! You've given me a direction for further learning.

 

It's a symbol for an IGBT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulated-gate_bipolar_transistor

http://www.ixys.com/documents/appnotes/ixys_igbt_basic_i.pdf

To clarify: I haven't seen this iteration before, and I'd like to understand it better. I've researched the different IGBT symbols that are commonly used, and noted their differences, but this appears to be unique.

Since the associated components of the "driver" to the gate of the IGBT may be discrete components that form an essentially charged pump supply, perhaps the designers were simplifying the schematic using the "stuff goes here" drawing method. That said, perhaps when the diagram was published, mosfet/igbt pre-drivers were not readily available ? who knows ... In my old circuit, U$1 and the R2 formed the gate driver sub-ciruit. Trigger Pulse IN (TPIPD_IN) was a standard 3V logic high/low. TPIPD_OUT was the critical output, it had to work, and be managed carefully (once the IXDN604 was brought TPIPD_IN low, energy was still stored in the chip for at least one or two additional triggers. I need to figure out how to bleed that once I redo this circuit in a few months.