A DISCHARGE CONTROL CIRCUIT, CORRESPONDING SYSTEM, VEHICLE AND METHOD

A circuit (20) for providing controlled shoot-through discharge of an energized element such as DC-Link capacitor (LC) in a traction system for motor vehicles (V), for instance, comprises:drive circuitry (21, 22, 31, 32, 40) configured to be coupled (VO+, VO-, RCHG, RDCHG) to a control terminal (GSP) of an electronic switch (SP) and to apply therrto a discharge signal (VO) causing the electronic switch (SP) to become conductive and provide an electrical discharge path for an energized element (LC),a sensing node (MC) configured to be coupled to the control terminal (GSP),a feedback network (50, 60, 70, 80) coupled between the sensing node (MC) and the drive circuitry (21, 22, 31, 32, 40).The drive circuitry (21, 22, 31, 32, 40) is configured to produce the drive signal (VO) as a function of the voltage at the control terminal (GSP) sensed the sensing node (MC) via a closed-loop feedback network comprising a comparator circuit (50) coupled to the sensing node (MC) and configured to compare the voltage at the control terminal (GSP) with a reference threshold (V2LTO), wherein the comparator circuit (50) is configured to provide a comparison signal having a first value and a second value, respectively, in response to the voltage sensed at the control terminal (GSP) being higher or lower than said reference threshold (V2LTO). A delay circuit (60) may be coupled to the comparator circuit (50) to provide to the drive circuitry (21, 22, 31, 32, 40) a delayed replica (i_shoot_comp) of the comparison signal.