Integrated FET and driver for use in a synchronous dc-dc conversion circuit
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsNicolas J. Wheeler, Leonardus A. De Groot, Philip Rutter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated driver circuit includes a low side component and a synchronous dc voltage converter circuit. A sync FET (8) is controlled by a driver (32) powered between high and low voltage power connections (134, 138). A timing circuit (150) controls the driver circuit in accordance with a signal on a control input. The driver circuit (32) is isolated from the timing circuit (150), for example by a level shift circuit (136) and the low voltage power connection (138) of the driver circuit is directly connected to the source (108) of the sync FET (8). This arrangement is intended to reduce transient voltage effects.
Claims10
A low side component comprising
- a sync FET having a source, a drain and a gate;
- a driver circuit powered between high and low voltage power connections and with an output connected to the gate of the sync FET for driving the sync FET;
- a timing circuit for controlling the driver circuit in accordance with a signal on a control input;
- wherein the driver circuit is isolated from the timing circuit and the low voltage power connection of the driver circuit is directly connected to the source of the sync FET.
A synchronous dc—dc converter circuit comprising
- a high side driver for driving a control FET;
- a low side driver for driving a sync FET;
- at least one timing circuit for accepting a signal on a control input and controlling the high and low side drivers to drive the control and sync FETs alternately in accordance with the signal on the control input;
- wherein the high side driver is isolated from the timing circuit and driven by the timing circuit through a level shifter;
- and
- the low side driver is isolated from the timing circuit and the high side driver and driven through a level shifter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.