Gate driver circuit for high and low side switches with primary and secondary shoot-through protection
US6307409A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/6872
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A driver circuit for alternately driving a first transistor and a second transistor connected in series includes primary and secondary anti-shoot-through protection. The driver circuit prevents shoot-through at the first and second transistors by using a pair of switch lock-out signals. The switch lock-out signals prevent one transistor from turning on until the other transistor is turned off. The driver circuit eliminates shoot-through in the driver devices driving the first and second transistors by using a pair of driver lock-out signals. The driver devices are turned on only briefly during the transitions of the first and second transistors. Otherwise, the driver devices are turned off. The driver lock-out signals ensure that no contention occurs between the driver devices and furthermore, set up the driver devices for the next On-Off switching sequence. The driver circuit can achieve a fast switching operation as well as improve the efficiency of the power transistors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.