Bypass for on-chip voltage regulator
First Claim
1. A circuit arrangement comprisinga driver circuit configured to generate a control signal at a high voltage and at a low voltage for driving a power switch;
- wherein the driver circuit comprisesa voltage regulator configured to generate a second voltage from a supply voltage;
a drive unit configured to generate the control signal based on the supply voltage and configured to provide the control signal to a control interface of the driver circuit; and
a logic component operating at the second voltage and drawing a second current, and configured to control the drive unit; and
a bypass circuitry coupled at an input to the control interface and configured to provide at an output at least part of the second current to the logic component, when the control signal is at high voltage;
whereinthe driver circuit comprises a plurality of drive units configured to generate a plurality of control signals for a plurality of power switches, respectively, and configured to provide the plurality of control signals to a plurality of control interfaces of the driver circuit, respectively; and
the circuit arrangement comprises a plurality of bypass circuitries, each coupled at an input to a respective control interface and each configured to provide at an output at least part of the second current to the logic component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present document relates to a reduction of heat generated in driver circuits comprising voltage regulators. A circuit arrangement comprises a driver circuit configured to generate a control signal for driving a power switch. The driver circuit comprises a voltage regulator configured to generate a second voltage from a supply voltage, a drive unit configured to generate the control signal based on the supply voltage and configured to provide the control signal to a control interface of the driver circuit, and a logic component operating at the second voltage and drawing a second current, and configured to control the drive unit. Furthermore, the circuit arrangement comprises bypass circuitry coupled at an input to the control interface and configured to provide at an output at least part of the second current to the logic component.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A circuit arrangement comprising
a driver circuit configured to generate a control signal at a high voltage and at a low voltage for driving a power switch; - wherein the driver circuit comprises
a voltage regulator configured to generate a second voltage from a supply voltage; a drive unit configured to generate the control signal based on the supply voltage and configured to provide the control signal to a control interface of the driver circuit; and a logic component operating at the second voltage and drawing a second current, and configured to control the drive unit; and a bypass circuitry coupled at an input to the control interface and configured to provide at an output at least part of the second current to the logic component, when the control signal is at high voltage; wherein the driver circuit comprises a plurality of drive units configured to generate a plurality of control signals for a plurality of power switches, respectively, and configured to provide the plurality of control signals to a plurality of control interfaces of the driver circuit, respectively; and the circuit arrangement comprises a plurality of bypass circuitries, each coupled at an input to a respective control interface and each configured to provide at an output at least part of the second current to the logic component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- wherein the driver circuit comprises
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17. A method to reduce heat generated within a driver circuit used to drive an external power switch, the method comprising
providing a driver circuit comprising a voltage regulator, a drive unit, and logic components configured to control the drive unit, an external power switch driven by the driver circuit, a supply voltage, and a bypass circuitry; -
generating by the driver circuit a control signal at a high voltage and at a low voltage for driving the power switch; implementing the bypass circuitry comprising a resistor, wherein the bypass circuitry is external to the driver circuit; splitting power losses between the voltage regulator and the bypass resistor, by providing current to the logic components using the bypass circuitry, when the control signal is at high voltage, wherein a sum of the power losses remains unchanged by the splitting; and generating a plurality of control signals respectively for a plurality of power switches via a plurality of control interfaces by a plurality of drive units, wherein a plurality of bypass circuitries, each coupled at an input to a respective control interface, and each provides at an output at least part of a second current to the logic component. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification