US 2014/0152369 A1 · Level Translator Circuit, Driving Circuit for Driving High-Voltage Device and Method Thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a level translator circuit, a driving circuit for driving a high-voltage device and a corresponding method. The driving circuit for driving a high-voltage device comprises: a zener diode whose cathode is connected to a high-voltage power supply voltage and whose anode is connected to a ground potential of a low-voltage domain through a resistor; a high-voltage PMOS transistor whose gate is connected to an anode of the resistor, whose drain is connected to the ground potential of the low-voltage domain, and whose source is operable to supply a ground potential of a high-voltage domain; a level translator operable to convert a first signal in the low-voltage domain as received to a second signal in the high-voltage domain and output the second signal; and a low-voltage driving circuit operable to receive the second signal and adapt the second signal as a third signal which can drive the high-voltage device. The present invention allows for use of the low-voltage device to drive the high-voltage device to achieve the drive of the high-voltage device in a simple and efficient manner.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A driving circuit for driving a high-voltage device, comprising:

a zener diode whose cathode is connected to a high-voltage power supply voltage and whose anode is connected to a ground potential of a low-voltage domain through a resistor;
a high-voltage PMOS transistor whose gate is connected to an anode of the resistor, whose drain is connected to the ground potential of the low-voltage domain, and whose source is operable to supply a ground potential of a high-voltage domain;
a level translator whose working voltage terminal is connected to the high-voltage power supply voltage, whose first grounded terminal is connected to the ground potential of the low-voltage domain, and whose second grounded terminal is connected to the ground potential of the high-voltage domain, the level translator being operable to convert a first signal in the low-voltage domain as received to a second signal in the high-voltage domain and output the second signal;
and
a low-voltage driving circuit connected between the high-voltage power supply voltage and the ground potential of the high-voltage domain, and being operable to receive the second signal and adapt the second signal as a third signal which can drive the high-voltage device.

2 more elements

A method of driving a high-voltage device, comprising:

providing a ground potential of a high-voltage domain by using a zener diode, a high-voltage PMOS transistor and a resistor, wherein a cathode of the zener diode is connected to a high-voltage power supply voltage, and an anode of the zener diode is connected to a ground potential of a low-voltage domain through the resistor, and wherein a gate of the high-voltage PMOS transistor is connected to an anode of the resistor, and an drain thereof is connected to the ground potential of the low-voltage domain, and a source thereof is operable to supply the ground potential of the high-voltage domain;
using a level translator to convert a first signal in the low-voltage domain as received to a second signal in the high-voltage domain, wherein a working voltage terminal of the level translator is connected to the high-voltage power supply voltage, a first grounded terminal of the level translator is connected to the ground potential of the low-voltage domain, and a second grounded terminal of the level translator is connected to the ground potential of the high-voltage domain;
and
using a low-voltage drive circuit to adapt the second signal as a third signal which can drive the high-voltage device.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Level Translator Circuit, Driving Circuit for Driving High-Voltage Device and Method Thereof

Life of this patent

Level Translator Circuit, Driving Circuit for Driving High-Voltage Device and Method Thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15