H-bridge with power switches and control in a single package

• US 6,891,739 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp. (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Pavier, Mark, Nadd, Bruno C., Tam, David C., Connah, Glyn
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US10/090,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20030165072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 363/147, 363/132
• US Class Current: 363/147
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48137 the bodies being arranged next to each other, e.g. on a common substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13055 Insulated gate bipolar transistor [IGBT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/38 Means for preventing simultaneous conduction of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/02 Providing protection against overload without automatic interruption of supply protection against faults of stepper motors H02P8/36

Abstract

A fully protected H-bridge for a d-c motor consists of two high side MOSFETs and a control and logic IC on a first conductive heat sink all within a first package and two discrete low side MOSFETs. The entire bridge is controlled by the IC. Shoot thru protection is provided for each leg, and a PMW soft start sequence is provided through the control of the low side MOSFETs, programed by an external, chargeable RC circuit. Input signals to the high side MOSFETs select the operation modes. Protective circuits are provided for short circuit current and over current conditions. Sleep mode and braking/non braking control is also provided.

Claims

1. An H-bridge driver for driving an electrical load;

said H-bridge driver comprising first and second high side MOSFETs and first and second low side MOSFETs;

each of said MOSFETs having respective drain, source and control electrodes;

the drain electrodes of said high side MOSFETs and the source electrodes of said low side MOSFETs connected to power input terminals;

the source electrodes of said first and second high side MOSFETs connected to the drain electrodes of said first and second low side electrodes respectively at first and second nodes which define output bridge terminals;

a control IC for controlling the operation of said high side and low side MOSFETs;

said control IC having input terminals connectable to receive input control signals from an exterior bridge control circuit and having output terminals connected to said control electrodes of said high side MOSFETs;

a conductive support plate for supporting said first and second high side MOSFETs and said IC; and

a common insulation housing enclosing said first and second high side MOSFETs and said IC; and

connection pins extending from said housing.

2. The H-bridge driver of claim 1, wherein said IC includes low side driver circuits for driving said low side MOSFETs;

said low side MOSFETs housed in separate respective discrete packages.

3. The H-bridge driver of claim 1, wherein said IC includes low side driver circuits for driving said low side MOSFETs in accordance with the conduction condition of said first and second high side MOSFETs;

and first and second low side connection pins extending through said housing from said low side driver for connection to said control electrodes of said low side MOSFETs.

4. The H-bridge driver of claim 1, wherein said load is a motor connected to said first and second nodes.

5. The H-bridge driver of claim 1, wherein said connection pins include IN1 and IN2 pins coupled to the respective control electrodes of said first and second high side MOSFETs, a V_cc pin and a GND pin connected to said power input terminals, and M1 and M2 pins connected to said first and second nodes respectively.

6. The H-bridge driver of claim 5, wherein said IC includes low side driver circuits for driving said low side MOSFETs in accordance with the conduction of said first and second high side MOSFETs;

and first and second low side connection pins extending through said housing from said low side driver for connection to said control electrodes of said low side MOSFETs.

7. The H-bridge driver of claim 1, wherein said first and second low side MOSFETs are mounted atop said first and second high side MOSFETs respectively, and wherein said low side MOSFETs are contained within said housing.