The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 11, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 28, 2001
William Andrew Burkland, Ames, IA (US);
Micrel, Incorporated, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A control circuit receives complementary logic signals ranging from Vdd to 0 VDC, and outputs a drive signal Vhs ranging from magnitude Vhv to Vhv+Vdd to control a high-side switch. The control circuit includes an Ibias generator and a level shift circuit that preferably includes a passive current sink mechanism, coupleable between Vdd and ground. The level shift circuit includes a totem-pole configuration of a PMOS device, an NMOS device, and an NMOS device that mirrors Ibias current. An additional NMOS device is provided, whose source node is coupled between the PMOS and NMOS devices in the totem-pole, whose gate node is coupled to Vdd, and whose drain node serves as an interface to the load circuit. A capacitor coupled across the current source hastens Vhs transition time. The PMOS and NMOS devices in the totem pole turn on and off complementarily responsive to the logic signals, which dictate the state of Vhs