Texas Instruments Corporation

Efficient Power Conversion Corporation

International Rectifier Corporation

Linear Technology Corporation

Efficient Power Converson Corporation

Johan Tjeerd Strydom

Olivier Trescases

Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay

Michael Lueders

Cetin Kaya

Michael Andrew De Rooij

Paul L Brohlin

Robert A Beach

Jianjun Cao

Alexander Lidow

Alana Nakata

David C Reusch

Guangyuan Zhao

Maxim James Franke

Maik Peter Kaufmann

Rajdeep Bondade

Mrinal Kanti Das

Stephen Phillip Savage

Bhaskaran R Nair

Jun Honda

Christopher P Schaffer

Guang Yuan Zhao

Yiding (Eric) Gu

Andrea Ciuffoli

Tong Yao

Rajarshi Mukhopdhyay

Eric Gu Yiding

In one example, an apparatus comprises: a voltage sensing circuit having a voltage sensing terminal and a voltage sensing output, the voltage sensing circuit configured to generate a first voltage at the voltage sensing output representing a second voltage at the voltage sensing terminal; a control circuit having a control circuit input and a control circuit output, the control circuit input coupled to the voltage sensing output, the control circuit configured to: determine a state of a transistor based on the first voltage; and generate a driver signal at the control circuit output based on the state; and a driver circuit having a driver input and a switch control output, the driver input coupled to the control circuit output, the driver circuit configured to provide a current at the switch control output responsive to the driver signal.

Transistor switching based on voltage sensing

Described embodiments include a rectifier circuit comprising a first resistor with first and second resistor terminals, and a second resistor with third and fourth resistor terminals. The first and third resistor terminals are coupled to an auxiliary power terminal. A current source is coupled between the second resistor terminal and a ground terminal. An amplifier has a first amplifier input coupled to the second resistor terminal, and a second amplifier input coupled to the fourth resistor terminal. A first transistor is coupled between the fourth resistor terminal and a damping terminal, and has a first control terminal coupled to the first amplifier output. A gate drive circuit has an input coupled to the damping terminal. A second transistor is coupled between the damping terminal and a bootstrap supply terminal, and has a second control terminal coupled to an output of the gate drive circuit.

Synchronous bootstrap half bridge rectifier

A current booster circuit, which can be coupled between a gate driver and a power switch, includes controlled current sources and current sensors to provide a scaled copy of the booster input current at the booster output while operating in a current-gain mode during on-to-off or off-to-on switching periods. During switched-on or switched-off periods, the booster can pull the output to the high or low rail, respectively, through low-impedance circuitry to hold the switch on or off. A voltage and/or current feedback path between the booster output and the booster input permits the booster to control the voltage input during switching operation. The current booster devices and methods can be compatible with both smart and conventional gate drivers of either the voltage-driven or current-driven variety.

Fixed current-gain booster for capacitive gate power device with input voltage control

In circuitry for measuring a voltage at a node, a capacitive divider is coupled to the node, wherein the capacitive divider provides a first output. A resistive divider is coupled to the node, wherein the resistive divider provides a second output.

Methods and circuitry for analyzing voltages

A startup circuit adapted to be coupled to an input voltage supply and operable to supply an output voltage at an output terminal, the startup circuit including: a first transistor having a first control terminal, a first current terminal and a second current terminal, the first current terminal adapted to be coupled to the input voltage supply and the second current terminal coupled to the output terminal; a precharge circuit having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the second terminal adapted to be coupled to the input voltage supply and the third terminal coupled to the first control terminal; a current limiter coupled to the precharge circuit, the first control terminal and the second current terminal; a second transistor having a second control terminal, a third current terminal and a fourth current terminal, the third current terminal coupled to the precharge circuit and the second control terminal adapted to be coupled to a control signal; and a third transistor having a third control terminal, a fifth current terminal and a sixth current terminal, the fifth current terminal coupled to the first control terminal and the third control terminal is adapted to be coupled to the control signal.

Enhancement mode startup circuit with JFET emulation

A circuit includes first and second transistors, a capacitor, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the control inputs of the first and second transistors. The controller configured to, during a first mode and in accordance with a first time-varying duty cycle, turn on and off the first transistor while turning on the second transistor when the first transistor is off. The controller is also configured to, during a second mode following the first mode, and in accordance with a second time-varying duty cycle, turn on and off the first transistor while turning on the second transistor when the first transistor is off.

Pre-charge techniques for a multi-level flying capacitor converter

Methods, systems, and apparatus to facilitate high side control of a switching power converter are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a latch including a first node coupled to a first source of a first switch and an output coupled to a first gate of the first switch; a first diode coupled to the first node and a second node; a second diode coupled to the second node and ground; a second switch coupled to a voltage source and the second node; and a third switch including a third gate coupled to the second switch, a third source coupled to the second node, and a third drain coupled to the latch.

High low power converter switches, latch, diode isolated intermediate ground

In some examples, a circuit comprises a first switch adapted to be coupled to a direct current (DC) power source, a second switch coupled to the first switch and adapted to be coupled to the DC power source, and a resistor coupled to the first and second switches. The circuit comprises a transformer having a primary side and a secondary side, the primary side coupled to the first and second switches, the secondary side adapted to be coupled to a load. The circuit comprises a third switch coupled between the resistor and the primary side of the transformer, and a capacitor coupled to the second switch.

Rapid and high voltage pulse generation circuits

Methods and circuitry for driving a device are disclosed. An example of the circuitry includes a voltage sensing circuit coupled to an input of a transistor, the voltage sensing circuit having a first output at a node, the voltage sensing circuit comprising a capacitive voltage divider, and a current sensing circuit coupled to the input of the transistor and to the voltage sensing circuit, the current sensing circuit having a second output, the current sensing circuit comprising a resistive divider coupled to the input of the transistor.

Methods and circuitry for driving a device

A startup circuit includes an enhancement mode transistor with a drain coupled to a startup circuit input, a source coupled to a first node, and a gate coupled to a second node. The startup circuit includes a current limiting circuit that controls a current path between the second node and a startup circuit output node based on a current sense voltage signal representing a current through the enhancement mode transistor, and a voltage regulation circuit controls a voltage of the second node to regulate a startup circuit output voltage of the startup circuit output node.

In some examples, a system comprises a bi-directional gallium nitride (GaN) device including first and second switches and a substrate, the first switch including a first gate and a first source, the second switch including a second gate and a second source, and the substrate shared between the first and second switches. The system include a third switch coupled to the first source and the substrate. The system includes a fourth switch coupled to the second source and the substrate and a comparator having inputs coupled to the first and second sources and outputs coupled to the third and fourth switches.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Johan Tjeerd Strydom