Abstract:
A level shifter, particularly suited for driving power stages for supplying power to integrated circuits, includes a DMOS transistor (40) which is driven by a time-controlled signal and has a load resistor (44), as its drain load. A shifted output signal developes at the ends of said load resistor. The drain (V1) of the DMOS transistor is connected to the input of an inverter (46), while a Zener diode (54) and a second transistor (52) are connected in parallel to the load resistor (44), the gate of the second transistor (52) being driven by the output of the inverter (46). The output of the inverter (46) can be connected to the input of a drive stage (48), the output of which drives a power stage (50) for supplying power to an integrated circuit.
Abstract:
This device for generating a reference voltage for a capacitive bootstrap circuit of an output stage can be easily integrated. The output stage comprises a driving block (1), a capacitive bootstrap circuit (3) and a reference voltage generating block (2) generating a floating reference voltage which is referred to the output voltage signal and switches in accordance thereto.
Abstract:
In a power converter circuit directly or indirectly connected to the power distribution network, the protection from voltage spikes which may occur on the power supply rail is implemented in a manner as to consent the utilization of at least a portion of the energy associated with the spike by storing portion of said energy in the reactive components of the converter circuit itself instead of dissipating completely the energy through a dissipating element as in prior art arrangements. The novel circuit arrangement utilizes one or two spike sensors the output signal or signals of which are fed to logic gates which determine a certain configuration of the analog switches of the converter circuit. A protection voltage limiting element (zener diode, avalanche diode, voltage-dependent resistor, etc.) is functionally connected across the analog switch connected between the reactive element of the converter circuit and the power supply rail and limits to its intrinsic breakdown voltage the maximum voltage across the switch.
Abstract:
The switching driving device with current limitation, operating reliably even with high switching frequencies, comprises a drive stage (10) receiving at the input a timing clock signal (MCl) at a preset frequency and generating at the output a drive signal synchronized with the timing clock signal, a power element (11) connected at the input to the drive stage, receiving therefrom the drive signal and generating a load supply signal, a load (14) fed by the power element, and a current sensor (16,17) generating an overload signal when the current in the load has reached a preset threshold. The current limitation is obtained through a memory element (21) connected to the current sensor (16,17) and disabling the drive stage (10) in the presence of the overload signal. In order to obtain a reliable operation, in the presence of the overload signal the drive stage is controlled at a switching frequency which is lower than the preset frequency of the timing clock signal.
Abstract:
A circuit for controlling a power transistor connected between two supply terminals (ground, V H ) is described, in series with a load (L) and comprising a control logic circuit (LG) which produces a signal at two levels with respect to a reference terminal (ground), a level shifter (LS1) connected between the control circuit (LG) and the power transistor (T1), and which produces a signal at two levels referred to the node (S1) between the power transistor (T1) and the load (L). The level shifter (LS1) includes a flip-flop (RS) the output of which controls the power transistor (T1) as well as two transistors (M10, M9) driven by the control logic circuit (LG) to switch alternatively and provide switchin signals on the "set" and "reset" inputs (S,R) of the flip-flop (RS) via two resistors (R4, R3). Two parasitic current generators (Tp1, Tp2) inject current into the two resistors (R4, R3) during the phase in which the power transistor (T1) is cut off. To prevent this current from causing unwanted switching of the flip-flop a resistor (R4) connected to the "set" terminal (S) of the flip-flop has a lower resistance than that of the other resistor (R3).
Abstract:
The resin sealing layer (30) enclosing the device (10) is biased to a low voltage by means of an anchoring structure (32) formed close to high-voltage contact pads (23). The anchoring structure is formed by a metal region (24) deposited on the surface of the device (10) and contacting the resin layer (30), and by a deep region (28) extending from the surface (19) of the device, beneath the metal region (24), to the substrate (11). The electrical field in the resin layer (30) is confined between the high-voltage pads (23) and the anchoring structure (32) and prevented from generating polarity inversions in the semiconductor material at the low-voltage contact pads (25) or any other points at which the resin layer (30) contacts the body of semiconductor material (11, 12).