Semiconductor device for output of pulse waveforms

A semiconductor device comprising:

• an output terminal;
• a series circuit for producing an output signal at the output terminal, the series circuit including a high-side field-effect transistor and a low-side field-effect transistor with respective first main terminals interconnected at a node connected to the output terminal, the high-side field-effect transistor having a second main terminal for receiving a power supply voltage, the low-side field-effect transistor having a second main terminal for receiving a ground voltage, the high-side and low-side field-effect transistors having respective control terminals by which they are turned on and off;
• a first capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal;
• a second capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal;
• a first switching element connected to the first terminal of the first capacitor;
• a second switching element connected to the first terminal of the second capacitor;
• a switching control circuit for controlling the first and second switching elements;
• a first driver for outputting a first driving signal to the control terminal of the high-side field-effect transistor and a first auxiliary signal to the first terminal of the first capacitor;
• and
• a second driver for outputting a second driving signal to the control terminal of the low-side field-effect transistor and a second auxiliary signal to the first terminal of the second capacitor;
• wherein
• when the high-side field-effect transistor is turned on, the first driver sets the first driving signal and the first auxiliary signal to mutually identical levels and the switching control circuit turns the first switching element off;
• when the high-side field-effect transistor is turned off, the first driver places the first auxiliary signal in a high-impedance state and the switching control circuit turns the first switching element on;
• when the low-side field-effect transistor is turned on, the second driver sets the second driving signal and the second auxiliary signal to mutually identical levels and the switching control circuit turns the second switching element off;
• and
• when the high-side field-effect transistor is turned off, the second driver places the second auxiliary signal in the high-impedance state and the switching control circuit turns the second switching element on.

A semiconductor device comprising:

• an output terminal;
• a plurality of series circuits for producing an output signal at the output terminal, each series circuit including a high-side field-effect transistor and a low-side field-effect transistor with respective first main terminals interconnected at a node connected to the output terminal, the high-side field-effect transistor having a second main terminal for receiving a power supply voltage, the low-side field-effect transistor having a second main terminal for receiving a ground voltage, the high-side and low-side field-effect transistors having respective control terminals by which they are turned on and off;
• a driver circuit for outputting a plurality of first driving signals to the control terminals of the high-side field-effect transistors and a plurality of second driving signals to the control terminals of the low-side field-effect transistors;
• wherein
• the first driving signals turn the high-side field-effect transistors on at mutually differing timings;
• and
• the second driving signals turn the low-side field-effect transistors on at mutually differing timings.