Switching circuitry, DC-interface and method for operating a switching circuitry

• US 10,361,694 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2017
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Bogner, Peter, Wappis, Herwig
• Primary Examiner(s): Retebo, Metasebia T
• Application Number:
  US15/783,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20180145673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 327109
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/08 Modifications for protecting switching circuit against overcurrent or overvoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/08104 in field-effect transistor switches H03K17/0812, H03K17/0814 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0063 High side switches, i.e. the higher potential [DC] or life wire [AC] being directly connected to the switch and not via the load
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0081 Power supply means, e.g. to the switch driver

Abstract

A switching circuitry is configured to provide, during an ON-State, a connection between a first port and second port and to electrically disconnect, during an OFF-State, the first port from the second port. The switching interface comprises a first and a second cascode transistor element having an applicable operational voltage and comprising a control terminal, wherein the first cascode transistor element is connected with the first port of the switching interface and wherein the second cascode transistor element is connected with the second port of the switching interface. The switching interface comprises a switching transistor element, having the applicable operational voltage and comprising a third control terminal, the switching transistor element being serially connected the first and second cascode transistor elements. A supply signal arrangement is connected to the control terminals and configured to provide control voltages to the control terminals.

Claims

1. A switching circuitry to provide, during an ON-State, a connection between a first port for receiving an input voltage and a second port and to electrically disconnect, during an OFF-State, the first port from the second port, the switching circuitry comprising:

a first cascode transistor element having an applicable operational voltage and comprising a first control terminal, the first cascode transistor element being connected with the first port of the switching circuitry; and

a second cascode transistor element also having the applicable operational voltage and comprising a second control terminal, the second cascode transistor element being connected with the second port of the switching circuitry;

a switching transistor element also having the applicable operational voltage and comprising a third control terminal, the switching transistor element being serially connected between the first and second cascode transistor elements; and

a supply signal arrangement directly connected to the first control terminal, the second control terminal, and the third control terminal, wherein the supply signal arrangement is configured to provide a first control voltage to the first control terminal, to provide a second control voltage to the second control terminal and to provide a third control voltage to the third control terminal;

wherein the first cascode transistor element is connected to a first adjusting circuitry, the first adjusting circuitry being connected between the first control terminal and a reference potential node and being configured to adjust the first control voltage, so that, during the ON-State, the voltage difference between the first control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage;

wherein the second cascode transistor element is connected to a second adjusting circuitry, the second adjusting circuitry being connected between the second control terminal and the reference potential node and being configured to adjust the second control voltage, so that, during the ON-State, the voltage difference between the second control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage;

wherein the switching transistor element is connected to a third adjusting circuitry, the third adjusting circuitry being connected between the third control terminal and the reference potential node and being configured to adjust the third control voltage, so that, during the ON-State, the voltage difference between the third control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage; and

wherein a maximum voltage level of the input voltage is higher than the applicable operational voltage.

2. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the first adjusting circuitry is configured to adjust the first control voltage, so that, during the OFF-State, the voltage difference between the first control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage;

wherein the second adjusting circuitry is configured to adjust the second control voltage, so that, during the OFF-State, the voltage difference between the second control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage; and

wherein the third adjusting circuitry is configured to adjust the third control voltage, so that, during the OFF-State, the voltage difference between the third control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage.

3. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the applicable operational voltage is higher within a tolerance range than a recommended operational voltage of the first cascode transistor element, the second cascode transistor element, and the switching transistor element, wherein the tolerance range is at most 35% of the recommended operational voltage.

4. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the first adjusting circuitry comprises a first source follower having a first resistive element, wherein, during the ON-State, a voltage drop over the first resistive element adjusts the first control voltage;

wherein the second adjusting circuitry comprises a second source follower having a second resistive element, wherein, during the ON-State, a voltage drop over the second resistive element adjusts the second control voltage;

wherein the third adjusting circuitry comprises a third source follower having a third resistive element, wherein, during the ON-State, a voltage drop over the third resistive element adjusts the third control voltage.

5. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the supply signal arrangement comprises a charge pump circuitry.

6. The switching circuitry of claim 4, wherein the supply signal arrangement comprises a charge pump circuitry further comprising a current mirror circuitry, wherein the current mirror circuitry comprises:

a first branch being connected to the first source follower and the second source follower, and

a second branch connected to the third source follower.

7. The switching circuitry of claim 1,

wherein the first adjusting circuitry comprises a fourth transistor element, wherein, during the OFF-State, the fourth transistor element is connected between the first control terminal and the reference potential node;

wherein the second adjusting circuitry comprises a fifth transistor element, wherein, during the OFF-State, the fifth transistor element is connected between the second control terminal and the reference potential node; and

wherein the third adjusting circuitry comprises a sixth transistor element, wherein, during the OFF-State, the sixth transistor element is connected between the third control terminal and the reference potential node.

8. The switching circuitry of claim 7,

wherein the fourth transistor element and the first cascode transistor element have complementary transistor types;

wherein the fifth transistor element and the second cascode transistor element have complementary transistor types;

wherein the sixth transistor element and the switching transistor element have a same transistor type.

9. The switching circuitry of claim 7, wherein the fourth transistor element comprises a fourth control terminal, wherein the fifth transistor element comprises a fifth control terminal and wherein the sixth transistor element comprises a sixth control terminal, wherein, during the OFF-State, the fourth, fifth and sixth control terminals are connected with a voltage level which corresponds to an applicable operational voltage of the fourth, fifth and sixth transistor elements.

10. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the first cascode transistor element, the second cascode transistor element, and the switching transistor element have the same conductivity type.

11. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the first cascode transistor element, the second cascode transistor element, and the switching transistor element are implemented by an identical transistor type.

12. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the switching transistor element is implemented as a T-GATE circuit.

13. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the first cascode transistor element, the second cascode transistor element and the switching transistor element are implemented as double gate oxide transistors.

14. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the first cascode transistor element, the second cascode transistor element and the switching transistor element comprise 2.5 V as a recommended operational voltage.

15. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry is realized in absence of transistor elements comprising, as a recommended operational voltage, a supply voltage level of an integrated circuit being integrated on a semiconductor substrate together with the switching circuitry.

16. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein the maximum voltage level of the input voltage corresponds to a supply voltage level of an integrated circuit being integrated on a semiconductor substrate together with the switching circuitry.

17. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein a recommended operational voltage of the first cascode transistor element, the second cascode transistor element, and the switching transistor element equals a half of the maximum input voltage level of the input voltage.

18. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein a recommended operation voltage of the first cascode transistor element, the second cascode transistor element, and the switching transistor element equals a half of a supply voltage level of an integrated circuit being integrated on a semiconductor substrate together with the switching circuitry.

19. The switching circuitry of claim 1, wherein at least a third cascode transistor element is connected between the switching transistor element and the first port and wherein at least a fourth cascode transistor element is connected between the second port and the switching transistor element.

20. A DC-interface comprising a switching circuitry to provide, during an ON-State, a connection between a first port for receiving an input voltage and a second port and to electrically disconnect, during an OFF-State, the first port from the second port, the switching circuitry comprising:

a first cascode transistor element having an applicable operational voltage and comprising a first control terminal, the first cascode transistor element being connected with the first port of the switching circuitry; and

a second cascode transistor element also having the applicable operational voltage and comprising a second control terminal, the second cascode transistor element being connected with the second port of the switching circuitry;

a switching transistor element also having the applicable operational voltage and comprising a third control terminal, the switching transistor element being serially connected between the first and second cascode transistor elements; and

a supply signal arrangement directly connected to the first control terminal, the second control terminal, and the third control terminal, wherein the supply signal arrangement is configured to provide a first control voltage to the first control terminal, to provide a second control voltage to the second control terminal and to provide a third control voltage to the third control terminal;

wherein the first cascode transistor element is connected to a first adjusting circuitry, the first adjusting circuitry being connected between the first control terminal and a reference potential node and being configured to adjust the first control voltage, so that, during the ON-State, the voltage difference between the first control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage;

wherein the second cascode transistor element is connected to a second adjusting circuitry, the second adjusting circuitry being connected between the second control terminal and the reference potential node and being configured to adjust the second control voltage, so that, during the ON-State, the voltage difference between the second control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage;

wherein the switching transistor element is connected to a third adjusting circuitry, the third adjusting circuitry being connected between the third control terminal and the reference potential node and being configured to adjust the third control voltage, so that, during the ON-State, the voltage difference between the third control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage; and

wherein a maximum voltage level of the input voltage is higher than the applicable operational voltage.

21. A method for operating a switching circuitry receiving an input voltage between an ON-State and an OFF-State, the method comprising:

providing, during the ON-State, a connection between a first port and a second port and electrically disconnecting, during the OFF-State, the first port from the second port;

wherein the switching circuitry comprises;

a first cascode transistor element having an applicable operational voltage and comprising a first control terminal, the first cascode transistor element being connected with the first port of the switching circuitry;

a second cascode transistor element also having the applicable operational voltage and comprising a second control terminal, the second cascode transistor element being connected with the second port of the switching circuitry;

a switching transistor element also having the applicable recommended operational voltage and comprising a third control terminal, the switching transistor element being serially connected between the first and second cascode transistor elements; and

a supply signal arrangement directly connected to the first control terminal, the second control terminal, and the third control terminal;

providing, by the supply signal arrangement, a first control voltage to the first control terminal;

providing, by the supply signal arrangement, a second control voltage to the second control terminal;

providing, by the supply signal arrangement, a third control voltage to the third control terminal;

adjusting the first control voltage by means of a first source follower connected to the first cascode transistor element and to a reference potential node, so that, during the ON-State, the voltage difference between the first control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage;

adjusting the second control voltage by means of a second source follower connected to the second cascode transistor element and to the reference potential node, so that, during the ON-State, the voltage difference between the second control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage; and

adjusting the third control voltage by means of a third source follower connected to the switching transistor element and to the reference potential node, so that, during the ON-State, the voltage difference between the third control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage;

wherein a maximum voltage level of the input voltage is higher than the applicable operational voltage.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

adjusting the first control voltage, so that, during the OFF-State, the voltage difference between the first control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to an applicable operational voltage;

adjusting the second control voltage, so that, during the OFF-State, the voltage difference between the second control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage; and

adjusting the third control voltage, so that, during the OFF-State, the voltage difference between the third control voltage and the input voltage is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the applicable operational voltage is higher within a tolerance range than a recommended operational voltage of the first cascode transistor element, the second cascode transistor element and the switching transistor element, wherein the tolerance range is at most 35% of the recommended operational voltage.

24. A method for operating a switching circuitry receiving an input voltage between an ON-State and an OFF-State, the method comprising:

providing, during the ON-State, a connection between a first port and a second port and electrically disconnecting, during the OFF-State, the first port from the second port;

wherein the switching circuitry comprises;

switching circuitry sections arranged in series between a first port and a second port, wherein each switching circuitry section comprises a transistor element, wherein a first transistor element is arranged between a second transistor element and a third transistor element and connected in series hereto; and

a supply signal arrangement directly connected to control terminals of the first transistor element, the second transistor element, and the third transistor element;

applying the input voltage at the first port such that the input voltage comprises a maximum voltage level being higher than an applicable operational voltage of the transistor elements; and

controlling, by the supply signal arrangement, a control voltage of the first, second, and third transistor elements of the switching circuitry sections such that, during the ON-State, an operational voltage of the first, second, and third transistor elements between a control terminal and a power terminal of the transistor elements is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage of the first, second, and third transistor elements.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising controlling the control voltage of the second and of the third transistor elements of the switching circuitry sections such that, during the OFF-State, the operational voltage of the first, second, and third transistor element is less than or equal to the applicable operational voltage.