Cascode power switch topologies

US7719055B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Ty R. McNutt · Columbia, US
• John Vincent Reichl · Ellicott City, US
• Harold C. Heame, III · Baltimore, US
• Eric J. Stewart · Silver Spring, US
• Stephen Van Campen · Clarksville, US
• Victor Veliadis · Midlothian, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 10, 2007
• Grant date: May 18, 2010
• Expiry date: May 10, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10D62/8503
• WIPO field: Basic communication processes
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A normally-off cascode power switch circuit is disclosed fabricated in wide bandgap semiconductor material such as silicon carbide or gallium nitride and which is capable of conducting current in the forward and reverse direction under the influence of a positive gate bias. The switch includes cascoded junction field effect transistors (JFETs) that enable increased gain, and hence blocking voltage, while minimizing specific on-resistance.