US 2020/0007119 A1 · Gate Drivers and Voltage Regulators for Gallium Nitride Devices and Integrated Circuits

Abstract

Voltage stabilizing and voltage regulating circuits implemented in GaN HEMT technology provide stable output voltages suitable for use in applications such as GaN power transistor gate drivers and low voltage auxiliary power supplies for GaN integrated circuits. Gate driver and voltage regulator modules include at least one GaN D-mode HEMT (DHEMT) and at least two GaN E-mode HEMTs (EHEMTs) connected together in series, so that the at least one DHEMT operates as a variable resistor and the at least two EHEMTs operate as a Zener diode that limits the output voltage. The gate driver and voltage regulator modules may be implemented as a GaN integrated circuits, and may be monolithically integrated together with other components such as amplifiers and power HEMTs on a single die to provide a GaN HEMT power module IC.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A gate driver circuit for a gallium nitride (GaN) power transistor, comprising:

an input point that receives an input voltage and an output point that outputs an output voltage to drive the GaN power transistor;
a series circuit comprising at least one GaN D-mode HEMT (DHEMT) with gate-to-source connection and at least first to fourth GaN E-mode HEMTs (EHEMTs) each with drain-to-gate connection;
an output EHEMT having a drain connected to the input point and a source connected to the output point;
wherein a drain of the DHEMT is connected to the input point and a source of the DHEMT is connected to a drain of the first EHEMT and to a gate of the output EHEMT;
wherein a source of the first EHEMT is connected to a drain of the second EHEMT, a source of the second EHEMT is connected to a drain of the third EHEMT, a source of the third EHEMT is connected to a drain of the fourth EHEMT, and a source of the fourth EHEMT is connected to a circuit common.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gate Drivers and Voltage Regulators for Gallium Nitride Devices and Integrated Circuits

Life of this patent

Gate Drivers and Voltage Regulators for Gallium Nitride Devices and Integrated Circuits

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20