Cascode drive circuitry
US8729927B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 2012 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/102
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A drive circuit includes a switching transistor having a design maximum voltage V2 and a cascode transistor having a design maximum voltage V1, wherein the cascode transistor is source-drain coupled in series with the switching transistor. The circuit further includes a current source coupled between an intermediate voltage node and a gate of the cascode transistor. If the drive circuit is a low side driver, the intermediate voltage node receives an intermediate voltage Vmed set below a high supply voltage Vhigh and that meets the following conditions: a) Vmed<=V2 and b) Vhigh−Vmed<=V1. If the drive circuit is a high side driver, the intermediate voltage node receives an intermediate voltage Vmed set below the high supply voltage and that mees the following conditions: a) Vmed<=V1 and b) Vhigh−Vmed<=V2. The circuit may be configured as a push pull driver by coupling a high side driver and low side driver in series.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.