# US 12,015,028 B2 · Transistor module and its associated semiconductor module

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- Number: US 12,015,028 B2
- Document ID: US12015028B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/038,630
- Filed: 2020-09-30
- Published: 2021-04-08
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-08
- Assignees: Hangzhou Kiwi Instruments Corporation
- Applicants: Hangzhou Kiwi Instruments Corporation
- Inventors: Bo Zhang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015028B2

## CPC

- H02M 1/36: Means for starting or stopping converters
- H02M 1/0006: {Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters}
- H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter}
- H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
- H02M 3/33507: {with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence)}
- H10D 84/84: Combinations of enhancement-mode IGFETs and depletion-mode IGFETs
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- H10D: INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

## Abstract

A transistor module including a first transistor and a second transistor for start up control is provided. Wherein the first end of the first transistor is coupled to the first end of the second transistor, the second end of the first transistor is coupled to the control end of the second transistor, and the second end of the second transistor provides a start up current for a control circuit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transistor module, comprising:
a first transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end; and
a second transistor configured to provide start up current for a control circuit, the second transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the first transistor is coupled to the first end of the second transistor, the second end of the first transistor is coupled to the control end of the second transistor, and the second end of the second transistor is configured to provide the start up current, wherein:
at start up stage, the first transistor is in OFF state, and the second transistor is in ON state; and
at operation stage, the first transistor is in operation state, and the second transistor is in OFF state, and
wherein the transistor module is manufactured on a semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor chip, wherein the semiconductor chip has four pins, and wherein a first pin of the semiconductor chip is coupled to the first end of the first transistor and the first end of the second transistor, a second pin of the semiconductor chip is coupled to the second end of the first transistor and the control end of the second transistor, a third pin of the semiconductor chip is coupled to the control end of the first transistor and a fourth pin of the semiconductor chip is coupled to the second end of the second transistor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The transistor module of claim 1, wherein the fourth pin is coupled to a first terminal of the control circuit and the third pin is coupled to a second terminal of the control circuit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The transistor module of claim 2, wherein:
when the input impedance at the first terminal of the control circuit is lower than a first value, the second transistor is in ON state; and
when the input impedance at the first terminal of the control circuit is higher than a second value, the second transistor is in OFF state, and wherein the first value is lower than the second value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A transistor module, comprising:
a first transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end; and
a second transistor configured to provide start up current for a control circuit, the second transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the first transistor is coupled to the first end of the second transistor, the second end of the first transistor is coupled to the control end of the second transistor, and the second end of the second transistor is configured to provide the start up current, wherein:
at start up stage, the first transistor is in OFF state, and the second transistor is in ON state; and
at operation stage, the first transistor is in operation state, and the second transistor is in OFF state, further wherein
[The transistor module of claim 1, wherein] the first transistor comprises an enhancement mode Field Effect Transistor (FET), and the second transistor comprises a depletion mode FET, wherein the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the drain of the second transistor, the gate of the second transistor is coupled to the source of the first transistor, and wherein:
when the source-gate voltage of the second transistor is lower than a first threshold, the conduction channel of the second transistor exists and the second transistor is in ON state; and
when the source-gate voltage of the second transistor is higher than a second threshold, the conduction channel of the second transistor pinches off and the second transistor is in OFF state, and wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold.

### Claim 5

A transistor module, comprising:
a first transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end; and
a second transistor configured to provide start up current for a control circuit, the second transistor having a first end, a second end and a control end, wherein the first end of the first transistor is coupled to the first end of the second transistor, the second end of the first transistor is coupled to the control end of the second transistor, and the second end of the second transistor is configured to provide the start up current, wherein:
(i) at start up stage, the first transistor is in OFF state, and the second transistor is in ON state; and
(ii) at operation stage, the first transistor is in operation state, and the second transistor is in OFF state, and
further comprising a third transistor for providing a current sensing signal to the control circuit, wherein the third transistor has a first end coupled to the first end of the first transistor, a control end coupled to the control end of the first transistor, and a second end coupled to the second end of the first transistor through a resistor, and the second end of the third transistor is used to provide the current sensing signal;
further wherein the transistor module is manufactured on a semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor chip, and the semiconductor chip having:
a first pin coupled to the first end of the first transistor, the first end of the second transistor and the first end of the third transistor;
a second pin coupled to the second end of the first transistor, one end of the resistor and the control end of the second transistor;
a third pin coupled to the control end of the first transistor;
a fourth pin coupled to the second end of the second transistor; and
a fifth pin coupled to the second end of the third transistor and the other end of the resistor.