Cascode configured switching using at least one low breakdown voltage internal, integrated circuit switch to control at least one high breakdown voltage external switch
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an integrated circuit controller to at least control a switching power converter, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching power converter by generating a switch control signal to control a first switch, wherein the first switch is internal to the controller, the integrated circuit includes a node to couple the first switch to a second switch in a cascode configuration, a breakdown voltage of the first voltage switch is approximately less than or equal to one-half of a breakdown voltage of the second switch;
a first node to couple to a voltage supply; and
a second node to couple to the first switch and the second switch; and
a charge recovery circuit coupled between the first node and the second node to provide charge recovery to the voltage supply during at least a portion of a time when the control signal turns the first switch off.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic system includes a low breakdown voltage (LBV) switch internal to an integrated circuit controller to control conductivity of an external, high breakdown voltage (HBV) switch. In at least one embodiment, the internal LBV switch and a cascode configuration of the LBV and HBV switches allow the controller to control the LBV switch and the HBV switch using an internal (“on-chip”) control signal. In at least one embodiment, the LBV switch and the cascode configuration of the HBV switch also allows the controller to control the LBV and HBV switches with more accuracy and less parasitic losses relative to directly controlling the HBV switch. Thus, in at least one embodiment, the low breakdown voltage switch is fabricated as part of an integrated circuit controller, and the high breakdown voltage switch is fabricated separately and located external to the integrated circuit controller.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
an integrated circuit controller to at least control a switching power converter, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching power converter by generating a switch control signal to control a first switch, wherein the first switch is internal to the controller, the integrated circuit includes a node to couple the first switch to a second switch in a cascode configuration, a breakdown voltage of the first voltage switch is approximately less than or equal to one-half of a breakdown voltage of the second switch;
a first node to couple to a voltage supply; and
a second node to couple to the first switch and the second switch; anda charge recovery circuit coupled between the first node and the second node to provide charge recovery to the voltage supply during at least a portion of a time when the control signal turns the first switch off. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 25)
-
-
11. A method comprising:
-
generating a switch control signal; controlling conductivity of a first switch using the control signal; controlling conductivity of a second switch of a switching power converter with the first switch; and providing charge recovery from a node coupled between the first and second switches to a voltage supply during at least a portion of a time when the control signal turns the first switch off; wherein a breakdown voltage of the first switch is approximately less than or equal to one-half of a breakdown voltage of the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 26)
-
-
22. An apparatus comprising:
-
a switching power converter having a first switch to control an output voltage of the switching power converter; and an integrated circuit controller, coupled to the first switch, to generate a switch control signal to control a second switch, wherein the second switch is internal to the controller, the integrated circuit includes a node to couple the second switch to the first switch of the switching power converter in a cascode configuration, a breakdown voltage of the second switch is approximately less than or equal to one-half of a breakdown voltage of the first switch of the switching power converter;
a first node to couple to a voltage supply; and
a second node to couple to the first switch and the second switch; anda charge recovery circuit coupled between the first node and the second node to provide charge recovery to the voltage supply during at least a portion of a time when the control signal turns the first switch off. - View Dependent Claims (23, 27)
-
Specification