US 11,962,233 B2 · Interface for passing control information over an isolation channel

Abstract

An isolated gate driver has a first portion in a first voltage domain and a second portion in a second voltage domain. The first and second portions are coupled by an isolation communication channel. The isolated gate driver transmits across the isolation communication channel a serial word containing first drive strength information and simultaneously transmits gate information with the serial word across the isolation communication channel. The gate information indicates a state of a gate signal for a transistor coupled to the second portion of the isolated gate driver. A demodulator circuit demodulates a signal containing the gate information and the drive strength information transmitted across the isolation communication channel in the serial word. A gate signal output circuit coupled to the demodulator circuit supplies the gate signal based on the gate information with a drive strength of the gate signal being based on the drive strength information.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for transmitting information in an isolated gate driver, the method comprising:

receiving gate control information and drive strength information at a first voltage domain portion of the isolated gate driver;
transmitting a serial word in multiple bit times from the first voltage domain portion to a second voltage domain portion of the isolated gate driver across an isolation communication channel, the transmitting including modulating a signal during each respective bit time of the multiple bit times to represent both the gate control information and the drive strength information, the gate control information indicating a state of a gate control signal to control a gate of a device coupled to the second voltage domain portion of the isolated gate driver;
with a demodulator circuit, demodulating the modulated signal transmitted across the isolation communication channel;
and
with a gate signal output circuit coupled to the demodulator circuit, supplying the gate control signal based on the gate control information and with a drive strength based on the drive strength information.

2 more elements

A system including an isolated gate driver comprising:

a controller configured to output gate information and additional information;
a first voltage domain portion including a transmit circuit;
a second voltage domain portion including a receive circuit;
an isolation communication channel between the first and second voltage domain portions, the first voltage domain portion configured to receive the gate information and additional information, the transmit circuit configured to transmit a serial word in multiple bit times from the first voltage domain portion to the second voltage domain portion across the isolation communication channel, by modulating a signal during each respective bit time of the multiple bit times to represent both the gate information and the additional information;
and
a device coupled to the second voltage domain portion of the isolated gate driver to receive the gate information and the additional information, the gate information indicating a state of a gate control signal to control the device, the receive circuit including a demodulator circuit configured to demodulate the modulated signal transmitted across the isolation communication channel and a gate signal output circuit coupled to the demodulator circuit to supply the gate control signal based on the gate information, the gate information changing during transmission of the serial word, resulting in the gate control signal corresponding to an ON state of the device for at least one of the multiple bit times and an OFF state of the device for at least another of the multiple bit times.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interface for passing control information over an isolation channel

Life of this patent

Interface for passing control information over an isolation channel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19