High voltage integrated circuit driver with a high voltage PMOS bootstrap diode emulator
First Claim
1. A driver circuit for driving a first transistor and a second transistor coupled together in a half-bridge arrangement at a switching node in a power converter system, the driver circuit comprising:
- a first driver cell operable to drive the first transistor;
a second driver cell operable to drive the second transistor;
control circuitry coupled to the first and second driver cells, the control circuitry operable to cause the first and second driver cells to turn on and off the first and second transistors;
a bootstrap circuit coupled between the switching node and the first driver cell, the bootstrap circuit operable to provide a high voltage for the first driver cell; and
a high voltage PMOS transistor coupled between a first voltage source and the bootstrap circuit, wherein the high voltage PMOS transistor is integrated with the first and second driver cells, wherein the high voltage PMOS transistor is embedded in an N-isolation layer, wherein a source and a body of the high voltage PMOS transistor are electrically coupled, the high voltage PMOS transistor operable to be turned on so that the first voltage source charges the bootstrap circuit up to a voltage level of the first voltage source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high voltage circuit driver includes high and low side driver cells to drive a high and a low side power MOSFET, a bootstrap circuit to energize the high side driver cell, a high voltage PMOS transistor (HVPMOS) between a voltage source and the bootstrap circuit, wherein the HVPMOS is embedded in an N-isolation layer and is integrated with the driver cells. A bootstrap control circuit, for controlling the HVPMOS, includes a high voltage level shift stage, which can also be embedded in an N-isolation layer. The circuit driver is operated by switching the high side drive signal from high to low, the low side drive signal from low to high with a first delay, and a bootstrap control signal from high to low with an additional second delay. Also, the bootstrap capacitor is first charged by switching on the HVPMOS, and then it energizes the high side driver cell.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A driver circuit for driving a first transistor and a second transistor coupled together in a half-bridge arrangement at a switching node in a power converter system, the driver circuit comprising:
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a first driver cell operable to drive the first transistor; a second driver cell operable to drive the second transistor; control circuitry coupled to the first and second driver cells, the control circuitry operable to cause the first and second driver cells to turn on and off the first and second transistors; a bootstrap circuit coupled between the switching node and the first driver cell, the bootstrap circuit operable to provide a high voltage for the first driver cell; and a high voltage PMOS transistor coupled between a first voltage source and the bootstrap circuit, wherein the high voltage PMOS transistor is integrated with the first and second driver cells, wherein the high voltage PMOS transistor is embedded in an N-isolation layer, wherein a source and a body of the high voltage PMOS transistor are electrically coupled, the high voltage PMOS transistor operable to be turned on so that the first voltage source charges the bootstrap circuit up to a voltage level of the first voltage source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for a driver circuit for driving a first transistor and a second transistor coupled together in a half-bridge arrangement at a switching node in a power converter system, the method comprising:
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providing a first driver cell for driving the first transistor and a second driver cell for driving the second transistor; providing a bootstrap circuit coupled between the switching node and the first driver cell, the bootstrap circuit operable to provide a high voltage for the first driver cell; providing a high voltage PMOS transistor coupled between a first voltage source and the bootstrap circuit, wherein the high voltage PMOS transistor is integrated with the first and second driver cells, wherein the high voltage PMOS transistor is embedded in an N-isolation layer, wherein a source and a body of the high voltage PMOS transistor are electrically coupled; and turning on the high voltage PMOS transistor so that the first voltage source charges the bootstrap circuit up to a voltage level of the first voltage source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A power converter system comprising:
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a first transistor and a second transistor coupled together in a half-bridge arrangement at a switching node; an inductor coupled at the switching node and through which a current flows to provide power at an output terminal; a first driver cell operable to drive the first transistor; a second driver cell operable to drive the second transistor; control circuitry coupled to the first and second driver cells, the control circuitry operable to cause the first and second driver cells to turn on and off the first and second transistors; a bootstrap circuit coupled between the switching node and the first driver cell, the bootstrap circuit operable to provide a high voltage for the first driver cell; and a high voltage PMOS transistor coupled between a first voltage source and the bootstrap circuit, wherein the high voltage PMOS transistor is integrated with the first and second driver cells, wherein the high voltage PMOS transistor is embedded in an N-isolation layer, wherein a source and a body of the high voltage PMOS transistor are electrically coupled, the high voltage PMOS transistor operable to be turned on so that the first voltage source charges the bootstrap circuit up to a voltage level of the first voltage source. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification