Driver for driving a p-type power switch
AssigneeDialog Semiconductor GmbH
InventorMarinus Wilhelmus Kruiskamp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is presented a driver and a corresponding method for driving a p-type power switch. The driver includes a capacitor coupled to a control terminal of the power switch. The driver is configured to apply a control voltage to the control terminal and to connect the control terminal to ground to reduce the control voltage down to a target value to switch the power switch on. When identifying that the control voltage has reached the target value, the driver disconnects the control terminal from ground. The driver may be used in various circuits including switching power converters, audio amplifiers and charge-pump circuits.
Claims18
A driver for driving a p-type power switch, the driver comprising
- a capacitor coupled to a control terminal of the power switch;
- the driver being adapted
- to apply a control voltage to the control terminal,
- to connect the control terminal to ground to reduce the control voltage down to a target value to switch the power switch on;
- and to disconnect the control terminal from ground upon identifying that the control voltage has reached the target value;
- wherein the capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the control terminal and a second terminal reversibly coupled to a voltage source adapted to provide a predetermined voltage.
A circuit comprising a p-type power switch coupled to a first driver, the first driver comprising a capacitor coupled to a control terminal of the power switch;
- the first driver being adapted to apply a control voltage to the control terminal, to connect the control terminal to ground to reduce the control voltage down to a target value to switch the power switch on;
- and to disconnect the control terminal from ground upon identifying that the control voltage has reached the target value:
- wherein the capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the control terminal and a second terminal reversibly coupled to a voltage source adapted to provide a predetermined voltage.
A method for driving a p-type power switch, the method comprising
- providing a capacitor coupled to a control terminal of the power switch;
- wherein the capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the control terminal and a second terminal reversibly coupled to a voltage source adapted to provide a predetermined voltage;
- applying a control voltage to the control terminal,
- connecting the control terminal to ground to reduce the control voltage down to a target value to switch the power switch on;
- and
- disconnecting the control terminal from ground upon identifying that the control voltage has reached the target value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.