Capacitive isolator
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit having voltage isolation capabilities, comprising:
- a first area of the integrated circuit containing functional circuitry, the functional circuitry located in a substrate of the integrated circuit; and
a second area of the integrated circuit containing integrated capacitive isolation circuitry for voltage isolating the functional circuitry, the capacitive isolation circuitry located in conductive layers of the integrated circuit wherein the capacitive isolation circuitry further comprises;
a first voltage isolation capacitor including;
a first plate comprising a first plate of the first voltage isolation capacitor located on a first conductive layer, the first plate connected to the functional circuitry; and
a second plate comprising a second plate of the first voltage isolation capacitor located on a second conductive layer and capacitively coupled thereto, the second plate connected to the a first output of integrated circuit; and
a second voltage isolation capacitor including;
a third plate comprising a first plate of the second voltage isolation capacitor located on the first conductive layer, the first plate connected to the functional circuitry;
a fourth plate comprising a second plate of the second voltage isolation capacitor located on the second conductive layer and capacitively coupled thereto, the fourth plate connected to a second output of the integrated circuit; and
transceiver circuitry connected to the first plate of the first voltage isolation capacitor and the third plate of the second voltage isolation capacitor for selectively transmitting and receiving an AC signal at the first and second outputs of the integrated circuit across the first and second voltage isolation capacitors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit provides high voltage isolation capabilities. The circuit includes a first area containing a first group of functional circuitry located in a substrate of the integrated circuit. This circuit also includes a second area containing a second group of functional circuitry also contained within the substrate of the integrated circuit. Capacitive isolation circuitry located in the conductive layers in the integrated circuit provide a high voltage isolation link between the first group of functional circuitry and the second group of functional circuitry. The capacitive isolation circuitry distributes a first portion of the high voltage isolation signal across the first group of capacitors in the capacitive isolation circuitry and distributes a second portion of the high voltage isolation circuitry across the second group of capacitors in the capacitive isolation circuitry.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit having voltage isolation capabilities, comprising:
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a first area of the integrated circuit containing functional circuitry, the functional circuitry located in a substrate of the integrated circuit; and a second area of the integrated circuit containing integrated capacitive isolation circuitry for voltage isolating the functional circuitry, the capacitive isolation circuitry located in conductive layers of the integrated circuit wherein the capacitive isolation circuitry further comprises; a first voltage isolation capacitor including; a first plate comprising a first plate of the first voltage isolation capacitor located on a first conductive layer, the first plate connected to the functional circuitry; and a second plate comprising a second plate of the first voltage isolation capacitor located on a second conductive layer and capacitively coupled thereto, the second plate connected to the a first output of integrated circuit; and a second voltage isolation capacitor including; a third plate comprising a first plate of the second voltage isolation capacitor located on the first conductive layer, the first plate connected to the functional circuitry; a fourth plate comprising a second plate of the second voltage isolation capacitor located on the second conductive layer and capacitively coupled thereto, the fourth plate connected to a second output of the integrated circuit; and transceiver circuitry connected to the first plate of the first voltage isolation capacitor and the third plate of the second voltage isolation capacitor for selectively transmitting and receiving an AC signal at the first and second outputs of the integrated circuit across the first and second voltage isolation capacitors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification