Bootstrap Transistor Circuit

A method of controlling a switch, the switch comprising a first semiconductor device having a first control terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• in an off state of the switch, charging a capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a charging voltage source and a second terminal, the first terminal of the capacitor being coupled to the charging voltage source by a second semiconductor device;
• in the off state of the switch, applying a non-zero voltage across a latching circuit, the latching circuit being coupled between the first terminal of the capacitor and the first control terminal of the first semiconductor;
• and
• toggling the switch to be in an on state by controlling the second semiconductor device to disconnect the first terminal of the capacitor from the charging voltage source, and causing the latching circuit to latch to couple the first terminal of the capacitor to the first control terminal of the first semiconductor device to provide a bootstrap voltage between the first control terminal and the second terminal of the first semiconductor device.

A method for controlling a switch, the switch having a control terminal, a middle terminal, an input switch terminal, and an output switch terminal;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• providing a capacitor having a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal;
• providing a connecting circuit having a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal;
• in an off state of the switch, applying a first predetermined voltage between the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal, and applying a second predetermined voltage between the first capacitor terminal and the second capacitor terminal;
• and
• in an on state of the switch, equalizing the potentials of the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal, thereby effectively connecting the capacitor between the middle terminal and the control terminal of the switch,
• whereby, in the on state of the switch, a conductive path is established between the input switch terminal and the output switch terminal;
• the conductive path traversing the middle terminal.