Semiconductor device and high side circuit drive method

• US 9,722,610 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Inventors: Akahane, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, JUNG H
• Application Number:
  US15/067,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20160197614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0054 Transistor switching losses periodically suspending operation of switching converter in low power mode H02M1/0035
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/538 in a push-pull configuration H02M7/5375 takes precedence ; with oscillating arrangements H02M7/53832, H02M7/53846
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/04123 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/08122 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/26 Modifications for temporary blocking after receipt of control pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018521 of complementary type, e.g. CMOS
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018528 with at least one differential stage
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0063 High side switches, i.e. the higher potential [DC] or life wire [AC] being directly connected to the switch and not via the load
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0081 Power supply means, e.g. to the switch driver
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/012 Modifications of generator to improve response time or to decrease power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/013 Modifications of generator to prevent operation by noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

Aspects of the invention can include a pulse generating means that outputs a set signal and reset signal for driving the high potential side switching element is such that, while either one of the set signal or reset signal is in an on-state as a main pulse signal for putting the high potential side switching element into a conductive state or non-conductive state, the other signal is turned on a certain time after the rise of the main pulse signal, thereby generating a condition in which the set signal and reset signal are both in an on-state.

Claims

1. A semiconductor device that transmits a primary side potential system input signal to a secondary side potential system differing from the primary side potential system, the semiconductor device comprising:

a high potential side switching element operating on a secondary side potential system control signal and a low potential side switching element operating on a primary side potential system control signal, connected in series, and power supply means having the potential of a connection point of the high potential side switching element and low potential side switching element as a reference;

a pulse generator that, based on the input signal, generates a pulse form set signal for putting the high potential side switching element into a conductive state and a pulse form reset signal for putting the high potential side switching element into a non-conductive state;

a first level shifter, in which a first resistor and first switching element are connected in series between a secondary side potential system high potential side power supply potential and a primary side potential system low potential side power supply potential, that provides the set signal as a gate signal of the first switching element, and obtains a secondary side potential system level-shifted set signal from a first connection point, which is a connection point of the first resistor and first switching element;

a second level shifter, in which a second resistor and second switching element are connected in series between the secondary side potential system high potential side power supply potential and primary side potential system low potential side power supply potential, that provides the reset signal as a gate signal of the second switching element, and obtains a secondary side potential system level-shifted reset signal from a second connection point, which is a connection point of the second resistor and second switching element;

a control signal output module that, based on the level-shifted set signal and level-shifted reset signal, outputs a control signal maintaining the high potential side switching element in a conductive state or non-conductive state;

a protection module provided in a stage prior to the control signal output means that, when the level-shifted set signal and level-shifted reset signal are provided simultaneously, provides a predetermined signal to the control signal output means such that the output of the immediately preceding control signal is continued;

a third switching element connected in parallel with the first resistor;

a fourth switching element connected in parallel with the second resistor; and

a logical gate module, operating on the secondary side potential system, into which the potentials of the first and second connection points are input, wherein

the logical gate module, when the potentials of the first and second connection points are both lower than the input threshold voltage of the logical gate module, puts the third and fourth switching elements into a conductive state.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising a feedback module that pulls down the first connection point and pulls up the second connection point when the high potential side switching element is in a conductive state, and pulls up the first connection point and pulls down the second connection point when the high potential side switching element is in a non-conductive state.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the pulse generator, while either one of the set signal or reset signal is in an on-state as a main pulse signal for putting the high potential side switching element into a conductive state or non-conductive state, turns on the other signal a certain time after the rise of the main pulse signal, thereby generating a condition in which the set signal and reset signal are both in an on-state.