Bidirectional GaN switch with built-in bias supply and integrated gate drivers

A DC-AC converter configured to receive an input DC signal and to generate an output AC signal, the DC-AC converter comprising:

• an input port comprising first and second input terminals;
• an output port comprising first and second output terminals;
• an input DC-AC converter configured to receive the input DC signal from the input port and to generate a first AC signal;
• a transformer device configured to receive the first AC signal and to generate a second AC signal across first and second transformer output terminals;
• a first bidirectional switch circuit connected between the first transformer output terminal and the first output terminal of the output port, wherein the first bidirectional switch circuit is configured to selectively conduct current between the first transformer output terminal and the first output terminal of the output port according to at least one first control signal;
• and
• a second bidirectional switch circuit connected between the second transformer output terminal and the second output terminal of the output port, wherein the second bidirectional switch circuit is configured to selectively conduct current between the second transformer output terminal and the second output terminal of the output port according to at least one second control signal,
• wherein each of the first and second bidirectional switch circuits comprises:
• first and second transistors connected in series between first and second input/output terminals,
• at least one transistor driver comprising one or more outputs electrically directly connected to the first and second transistors and configured to drive the first and second transistors according to at least one received input signal, and
• a capacitor connected to power and ground terminals of the at least one transistor driver, wherein the at least one transistor driver is powered by the capacitor, wherein the capacitor is configured to receive charge from either of the first and second input/output terminals, whereby the capacitor is charged, and configured to provide the received charge to the at least one transistor driver to power the at least one transistor driver,
• wherein the first and second transistors are configured to conditionally conduct current therethrough from the first input/output terminal to the second input/output terminal, and wherein the first and second transistors are configured to conditionally conduct current therethrough from the second input/output terminal to the first input/output terminal.