Volterra Semiconductor Corporation

Chiteh Chiang

Marco A Zuniga

Yang Lu

Anthony J Stratakos

Ilija Jergovic

Kwang Hong Tan

Mihalis Michael

Jun Ruan

Amit Paul

Badredin Fatemizadeh

Craig Cassella

William Numann

Various applications of interconnect substrates in power management systems are described.

Power management application of interconnect substrates

A voltage regulator includes a high-side device, a low-side device, and a controller. The high-side device includes first and second transistors each coupled between an input terminal and an intermediate terminal, where the first transistor has a higher breakdown voltage than the second transistor. The low-side device is coupled between the intermediate terminal and a ground terminal. The controller is configured to drive the high-side and low-side devices to (a) alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and the ground terminal and (b) cause the first transistor to control a voltage across the second transistor during switching transitions of the second transistor.

Voltage regulators with multiple transistors

The subject matter of this document can be embodied in a method that includes a voltage regulator having an input terminal and an output terminal. The voltage regulator includes a high-side transistor between the input terminal and an intermediate terminal, and a low-side transistor between the intermediate terminal and ground. The voltage regulator includes a low-side driver circuit including a capacitor and an inverter. The output of the inverter is connected to the gate of the low-side transistor. The voltage regulator also includes a controller that drives the high-side and low-side transistors to alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and ground. The controller is configured to drive the low-side transistor by controlling the inverter. The voltage regulator further includes a switch coupled to the low-side driver circuit. The switch is configured to block charge leakage out of the capacitor during an off state of the low-side transistor.

Voltage regulators with kickback protection

A voltage regulator has an input terminal and a ground terminal. The voltage regulator includes a high-side device, a low side device, and a controller. The high-side device is coupled between the input terminal and an intermediate terminal. The high-side device includes first and second transistors each coupled between the input terminal and the intermediate terminal, such that the first transistor controls a drain-source switching voltage of the second transistor. The low-side device is coupled between the intermediate terminal and the ground terminal. The controller drives the high-side and low-side devices to alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and the ground terminal.

Power management applications of interconnect substrates

This document describes systems and techniques related to voltage regulators. The subject matter of this document can be embodied in a method that includes measuring an output current of a switching regulator. The switching regulator includes a high-side transistor and a low side-transistor wherein the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor are driven using a first gate voltage and a second, different gate voltage, respectively. The method also includes adjusting a direct-current (DC) voltage source of the switching regulator such that the first gate voltage is adjusted in accordance with the measured output current.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Chiteh Chiang