Patent · US Expired

Adaptive gate charge circuit for power FETs

US5023474A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
2References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 8, 1989
Grant dateJun 11, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 8, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K17/6877
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An adaptive gate charge circuit for switching a power FET on in response to a control signal. The adaptive gate charge circuit includes driving circuitry that responds to assertion of a control signal by providing a charging current from a charge pump reservoir capacitor to the gate of the power FET for an initial time period sufficient to switch the power FET on. After the initial time period, holding circuitry provides holding current from the charge pump to the power FET gate to compensate for charge leakage. Current limiting circuitry connected to the holding circuitry limits current drain from the charge pump after the initial time period to the holding current required to compensate for charge leakage plus a minimum additional current.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.