Differential high voltage level shifter

• US 8,044,699 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Semiconductor, LLC (Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Polar Semiconductor, Inc. (Sanken Electric Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kelly, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Almo; Khareem E
• Application Number:
  US12/804,293
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 327/333
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/017536 using opto-electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018521 of complementary type, e.g. CMOS

Abstract

A level-shift circuit translates a control signal to a level-shifted output. The level-shift circuit includes a pulse generator circuit for providing Set and Reset pulses based on the control signal and a level-shift circuit for translating the Set and Reset pulses to level-shifted Set and Reset pulses. First and second differential detectors are connected to monitor the level-shifted Set and Reset pulses to provide detection of communicated Set and Reset pulses despite the presence of transients in the level-shift circuit. A gate drive circuit employs the Set and Reset pulses communicated by the differential detectors to generate a gate drive signal.

Claims

1. A level-shift circuit for translating a control signal to a level-shifted output signal, the level-shift circuit comprising:

a pulse generator circuit for receiving the control signal and generating in response to the control signal a Set pulse and a Reset pulse;

a voltage translation circuit connected to receive the Set and Reset pulses from the pulse generator circuit and to generate in response a level-translated Set pulse and a level-translated Reset pulse, wherein the level-translated Set pulse and level-translated Reset pulse are derived from a bootstrap voltage node having a voltage greater than a voltage of the Set pulse and the Reset pulse, wherein the voltage translation circuit includes;

a first resistor network connected between the bootstrap voltage node and a first node for providing the level-translated Set pulse;

a second resistor network connected between the bootstrap voltage node and a second node for providing the level-translated Reset pulse;

a first high-voltage transistor connected between the first resistor network and a reference node and controlled to be On or Off by the Set pulse provided by the pulse generator circuit, wherein when the first high-voltage transistor is On a current path between the bootstrap voltage node and the reference node through the first resistor network provides the level-translated Set pulse;

a second high-voltage transistor connected between the second resistor network and a reference node and controlled to be On or Off by the Reset pulse provided by the pulse generator circuit, wherein when the second transistor is On a current path between the bootstrap voltage node and the reference node through the second resistor network provides the level-translated Reset pulse;

a common-mode transient detection circuit connected to monitor voltages across the first and second resistor networks and to provide an output in response to detected common-mode transients; and

a gain reduction circuit connected to reduce gain associated with translation of the Set and Reset pulses to level-translated Set and Reset pulses in response to a common-mode transient detected by the common-mode transient detection circuit;

a first differential detector connected to receive the level-translated Set pulse and the level-translated Reset pulse, wherein the first differential detector generates a logic high output when a threshold voltage difference is present between the level-translated Set pulse and the level-translated Reset pulse;

a second differential detector connected to receive the level-translated Reset pulse and the level-translated Set pulse, wherein the second differential detector generates a logic high output when a threshold voltage difference is present between the level-translated Reset pulse and the level-translated Set pulse; and

a gate drive circuit for generating a gate drive signal based on the outputs provided by the first differential detector and the second differential detector.

2. The level-shifted circuit of claim 1, wherein the first resistor network is comprised of a first plurality of resistors and the second resistor network is comprised of a second plurality of resistors, the gain reduction circuit further including:

a third transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and at least one resistor in the first plurality of resistors; and

a fourth transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and at least one resistor in the second plurality of resistors, wherein in response to a common-mode transient detected by the common-mode transient detection circuit, the third and fourth transistors are turned On to reduce the resistance of the first and second resistor networks.

3. The level-shifted circuit of claim 2, wherein the common-mode transient detection circuit includes:

a fifth transistor connected to turn On in response to voltage drops across the first resistor network;

a sixth transistor connected to turn On in response to voltage drops across the second resistor network; and

a logical AND gate connected to turn On in response to both the fifth and sixth transistor turning On in response to voltage drops across both the first and second resistor network, wherein the output of the logical AND gate is provided to turn On the third and fourth transistors in response to a detected common-mode transient.

4. The level-shifted circuit of claim 3, wherein the common-mode transient detection circuit includes:

a timer circuit for maintaining the third and fourth transistors On following a detected common-mode transient for a period of time defined by the timer circuit.

5. The level-shifted circuit of claim 1, further including:

a first voltage clamping circuit connected between the bootstrap voltage node and the node for providing the level-translated Set pulse to limit voltage differences between the level-shifted Set and the bootstrap voltage node; and

a second voltage clamping circuit connected between the bootstrap voltage node and the node for providing the level-translated Reset pulse to limit voltage differences between the level-shifted Reset pulse and the bootstrap voltage node.

6. The level-shifted circuit of claim 5, wherein the first voltage clamping circuit includes a first Zener diode connected between the node for providing the level-translated Set pulse and the bootstrap voltage node and the second voltage clamping circuit includes a second Zener diode connected between the node for providing the level-translated Reset pulse and the bootstrap voltage node.

7. The level-shifted circuit of claim 6,

wherein the first voltage clamping circuit includes:

a third Zener diode connected in parallel with a third resistor between the node for providing the level-translated Set pulse and a drain of the first high-voltage transistor to detect negative transients on the bootstrap voltage node; and

a seventh transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and the node for providing the level-translated Set pulse, wherein the seventh transistor is turned On in response to detected negative transients; and

wherein the second voltage clamping circuit includes;

a fourth Zener diode connected in parallel with a fourth resistor between the node for providing the level-translated Reset pulse and a drain of the second high-voltage transistor to detect negative transients on the bootstrap voltage node; and

an eighth transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and the node for providing the level-translated Reset pulse, wherein the eighth transistor is turned On in response to detected negative transients.

8. A high-voltage driver circuit for supplying a drive output to a power switch connected to supply a high-voltage power input to an output terminal, the high-voltage driver circuit comprising:

an input terminal for receiving a power supply voltage;

a bootstrap diode connected between the input terminal and a bootstrap voltage;

a capacitor connected between the bootstrap terminal and the output terminal to provide a bootstrap voltage having a magnitude related to a magnitude of the output terminal;

a pulse generator circuit for receiving a low-voltage control signal and generating in response to the control signal a Set pulse and a Reset pulse;

a voltage translation circuit connected to receive the Set and Reset pulses and to provide in response a level-translated Set pulse and a level-translated Reset pulse, wherein the level-translated Set pulse and level-translated Reset pulse are derived from the bootstrap voltage;

a first differential detector connected to receive the level-translated Set pulse and the level-translated Reset pulse, and to provide in response a first output indicating whether a level-translated Set pulse has been detected based on a comparison of the level-translated Set pulse and the level-translated Reset pulse;

a second differential detector connected to receive the level-translated Set pulse and the level-translated Reset pulse, and to provide in response a second output indicating whether a level-translated Reset pulse has been detected based on a comparison of the level-translated Set pulse and the level-translated Reset pulse;

a memory circuit for receiving the first and second outputs from the first and second differential detectors, respectively, and for providing in response a level-shifted control signal; and

a gate drive circuit connected to receive the level-shifted control signal from the memory circuit and for providing in response a drive output to the power switch.

9. The high-voltage driver circuit of claim 8, wherein the voltage translation circuit includes:

a first resistor network connected between the bootstrap voltage and a first node for providing the level-translated Set pulse;

a second resistor network connected between the bootstrap voltage and a second node for providing the level-translated Reset pulse;

a first high-voltage transistor connected between the first resistor network and a reference node and controlled to be On or Off by the Set pulse provided by the pulse generator circuit, wherein when the first high-voltage transistor is On a current path between the bootstrap voltage and the reference node through the first resistor network provides the level-translated Set pulse to the first and second differential detectors;

a second high-voltage transistor connected between the second resistor network and the reference node and controlled to be On or Off by the Reset pulse provided by the pulse generator circuit, wherein when the second transistor is On a current path between the bootstrap voltage and the reference node through the second resistor network provides the level-translated Reset pulse to the first and second differential detectors.

10. The level-shifted circuit of claim 9, wherein the voltage translation circuit further includes:

a common-mode transient detection circuit connected to monitor voltages across the first and second resistor networks and to provide an output in response to detected common-mode transients; and

a gain reduction circuit connected to reduce gain associated with translation of the Set and Reset pulses to level-translated Set and Reset pulses in response to a common-mode transient detected by the common-mode transient detection circuit.

11. The level-shifted circuit of claim 10, wherein the first resistor network is comprised of a first plurality of resistors and the second resistor network is comprised of a second plurality of resistors, the gain reduction circuit further including:

a third transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and at least one resistor in the first plurality of resistors; and

a fourth transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and at least one resistor in the second plurality of resistors, wherein in response to a common-mode transient detected by the common-mode transient detection circuit, the third and fourth transistors are turned On to reduce the resistance of the first and second resistor networks.

12. The level-shifted circuit of claim 11, wherein the common-mode transient detection circuit includes:

a fifth transistor connected to turn On in response to voltage drops across the first resistor network;

a sixth transistor connected to turn On in response to voltage drops across the second resistor network; and

a logical AND gate connected to turn On in response to both the fifth and sixth transistor turning On in response to voltage drops across both the first and second resistor network, wherein the output of the logical AND gate is provided to turn On the third and fourth transistors in response to a detected common-mode transient.

13. The level-shifted circuit of claim 12, wherein the common-mode transient detection circuit includes:

a timer circuit for maintaining the third and fourth transistors On following a detected common-mode transient for a period of time defined by the timer circuit.

14. The level-shifted circuit of claim 9, further including:

a first voltage clamping circuit connected between the bootstrap voltage and the node for providing the level-shifted Set pulse to limit voltage differences between the node for providing the level-shifted Set pulse and the bootstrap voltage node; and

a second voltage clamping circuit connected between the bootstrap voltage node and the node for providing the level-shifted Reset pulse to limit voltage differences between the node for providing the level-shifted Reset pulse and the bootstrap voltage node.

15. The level-shifted circuit of claim 14, wherein the first voltage clamping circuit includes a first Zener diode connected between the node for providing the level-shifted Set pulse and the bootstrap voltage node and the second voltage clamping circuit includes a second Zener diode connected between the node for providing the level-shifted Reset pulse and the bootstrap voltage node.

16. The level-shifted circuit of claim 15,

wherein the first voltage clamping circuit includes:

a third Zener diode connected in parallel with a third resistor between the node for providing the level-shifted Set pulse and a drain of the first high-voltage transistor for detecting negative transients on the bootstrap voltage node; and

a seventh transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and the node for providing the level-shifted Set pulse, wherein the seventh transistor is turned On in response to detected negative transients; and

wherein the second voltage clamping circuit includes;

a fourth Zener diode connected in parallel with a fourth resistor between the node for providing the level-shifted Reset pulse and a drain of the second high-voltage transistor to detect negative transients on the bootstrap voltage node; and

an eighth transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and the node for providing the level-shifted Reset pulse, wherein the eighth transistor is turned On in response to detected negative transients.

17. A level-shift circuit for translating a control signal to a level-shifted output signal, the level-shift circuit comprising:

a pulse generator circuit for receiving the control signal and generating in response to the control signal a Set pulse and a Reset pulse;

a voltage translation circuit connected to receive the Set and Reset pulses from the pulse generator circuit and to generate in response a level-translated Set pulse and a level-translated Reset pulse, wherein the level-translated Set pulse and level-translated Reset pulse are derived from a bootstrap voltage node having a voltage greater than a voltage of the Set pulse and the Reset pulse;

a common-mode transient detection circuit connected to monitor translation of the level-translated Set pulse and the level-translated Reset pulse and to provide an output in response to detected common-mode transients;

a gain reduction circuit connected to reduce gain associated with translation of the Set and Reset pulses by the voltage translation circuit to level-translated Set and Reset pulses in response to a common-mode transient detected by the common-mode transient detection circuit;

a first differential detector connected to receive the level-translated Set pulse and the level-translated Reset pulse, wherein the first differential detector generates a logic high output when a threshold voltage difference is present between the level-translated Set pulse and the level-translated Reset pulse;

a second differential detector connected to receive the level-translated Reset pulse and the level-translated Set pulse, wherein the second differential detector generates a logic high output when a threshold voltage difference is present between the level-translated Reset pulse and the level-translated Set pulse; and

a gate drive circuit for generating a gate drive signal based on the outputs provided by the first differential detector and the second differential detector.

18. The level-shifted circuit of claim 17, wherein the voltage translation circuit includes:

a first resistor network connected between the bootstrap voltage node and a first node for providing the level-translated Set pulse, wherein the first resistor network is comprised of a first plurality of resistors;

a second resistor network connected between the bootstrap voltage node and a second node for providing the level-translated Reset pulse, wherein the second resistor network is comprised of a second plurality of resistors;

a first high-voltage transistor connected between the first resistor network and a reference node and controlled to be On or Off by the Set pulse provided by the pulse generator circuit, wherein when the first high-voltage transistor is On a current path between the bootstrap voltage node and the reference node through the first resistor network provides the level-translated Set pulse to the first and second differential detectors;

a second high-voltage transistor connected between the second resistor network and a reference node and controlled to be On or Off by the Reset pulse provided by the pulse generator circuit, wherein when the second transistor is On a current path between the bootstrap voltage node and the reference node through the second resistor network provides the level-translated Reset pulse to the first and second differential detectors;

a third transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and at least one resistor in the first plurality of resistors; and

a fourth transistor connected between the bootstrap voltage node and at least one resistor in the second plurality of resistors, wherein in response to a common-mode transient detected by the common-mode transient detection circuit, the third and fourth transistors are turned On to reduce the resistance of the first and second resistor networks.