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US 11,082,038 B1Granted
Gate driver isolating circuit
AssigneeAllegro MicroSystems, LLC
InventorsThomas Ross, James McIntosh, Gianluca Allegrini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, a circuit includes a gate driver having a first input connected to a first node and a second input connected to a second node; an epi diode connected to the first node; a switch connected to the first node; a capacitor having a top plate connected to the switch and a bottom plate connected to the second node; and a first clamp connected the first node and to the second node. The switch being open isolates the first node from negative transient effects from the top plate of the capacitor.
Claims23
A circuit comprising:
- a gate driver having a first input connected to a first node and a second input connected to a second node;
- an epi diode connected to the first node;
- a switch connected to the first node;
- a capacitor having a top plate connected to the switch and a bottom plate connected to the second node;
- and
- a first clamp connected to the first node and to the second node,
- wherein the switch being open isolates the first node from negative transient effects from the top plate of the capacitor.
4 more elements
An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
- a gate driver having a first input connected to a first node and a second input connected to a second node, wherein the gate driver is fabricated in an n-type epitaxial layer;
- an epi diode connected to the first node, wherein the epi diode comprises the n-type epitaxial layer and a p-type substrate;
- a first clamp connected to the first node and to the second node;
- and
- a switch connected to the first node, wherein the switch comprises a transistor and a second clamp,
- wherein the IC is configured to be connected to a capacitor having a top plate connected to the switch and a bottom plate connected to the second node,
- wherein the switch is open in response to negative voltages on the second node and thereby isolates the first node from the negative voltages that result at the top plate of the capacitor,
- wherein, with the switch being open, the epi diode is off in response to a magnitude of negative voltages on the second node not exceeding either (1) a sum of a breakdown voltage of the first clamp and a turn-on voltage of the epi diode, or (2) a sum of a breakdown voltage of the second clamp, the turn-on voltage of the epi diode and a boot voltage of the capacitor.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.