Converter output stage with bias voltage generator
AssigneeEmpower Semiconductor, Inc.
InventorTimothy Alan Phillips
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A buck voltage converter is disclosed. The buck voltage generator includes a controller configured to generate one or more pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, and a plurality of serially connected switches configured to receive the PWM signals and to generate an output voltage signal at an output terminal based on the received PWM signals. The output voltage signal has an average voltage corresponding with a duty cycle of the PWM signals, a first switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a first breakdown voltage and a second switch of the plurality of serially connected switches has a second breakdown voltage, and the first breakdown voltage is less than the second breakdown voltage.
Claims20
A switching converter circuit, comprising:
- a first switch coupled to a first voltage source;
- a second switch coupled to the first switch;
- a third switch coupled to the second switch, and coupled to a power output terminal;
- a fourth switch coupled to the third switch, and coupled to the power output terminal;
- a fifth switch coupled to the fourth switch;
- a sixth switch coupled to the fifth switch, and coupled to a second voltage source;
- a first inverter circuit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first output terminal coupled to the first switch;
- and
- a second inverter circuit having a second input terminal and a second output terminal, the second output terminal coupled to the sixth switch;
- wherein the first inverter circuit comprises a ground connection and the second inverter circuit comprises a power connection, and wherein the power connection of the second inverter circuit is arranged to receive current from the ground connection of the first inverter circuit through a transistor.
A circuit comprising:
- a first switch coupled to a first voltage source;
- a second switch coupled to the first switch;
- a third switch coupled to the second switch, and coupled to a power output terminal;
- a fourth switch coupled to the third switch, and coupled to the power output terminal;
- a fifth switch coupled to the fourth switch;
- a sixth switch coupled to the fifth switch, and coupled to a second voltage source;
- a first inverter circuit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, the first output terminal coupled to the first switch;
- a second inverter circuit having a second input terminal and a second output terminal, the second output terminal coupled to the sixth switch;
- and
- a bias voltage generator arranged to provide a first bias voltage to the second switch and to provide a second bias voltage to the fifth switch, wherein the bias voltage generator comprises a conductive path arranged to conduct charge from the second switch to the fifth switch through a transistor directly coupled between the second switch and the fifth switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.