Circuits and methods for controlling an on/off state of a switch
AssigneeInfineon Technologies Austria AG
InventorGiuseppe Bernacchia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit having a first circuit portion configured to receive a pulse-width modulated first signal and a second signal, and configured to generate third and fourth signals each responsive to the first and second signals; a second circuit portion configured to receive the third and fourth signals and to generate a fifth signal responsive to both the third and fourth signals; and a third circuit portion configured to control an on/off state of a first switch in response to the fifth signal, wherein the second signal is present at a load path terminal of the first switch. Also, various related methods.
Claims28
A circuit, comprising:
- a first circuit portion configured to receive a pulse-width modulated first signal and a second signal, and configured to generate third and fourth signals each responsive to the first and second signals, wherein the first circuit portion is configured to cause the third signal to pulse responsive to a rising edge of the first signal, and to cause the fourth signal to pulse responsive to a falling edge of the first signal;
- a second circuit portion configured to receive the third and fourth signals and to generate a fifth signal responsive to both the third and fourth signals;
- a third circuit portion configured to control an on/off state of a first switch in response to the fifth signal, wherein the second signal is present at a load path terminal of the first switch;
- a capacitor coupled in series with a voltage supply and the load path terminal of the first switch;
- and
- a second switch coupled to the capacitor and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the capacitor to the voltage supply, wherein the second circuit portion is configured to control an on/off state of the second switch in response to at least one of the third and fourth signals.
A circuit configured to drive a first switch, the first switch having a first load terminal coupled to a first supply potential, a second load terminal configured to provide a phase-feedback signal, and a control terminal, the circuit comprising:
- a first circuit portion configured to receive an input signal and the phase-feedback signal, and configured to generate:
- a set signal that attains a first logic level responsive to a first edge of the input signal and that attains a second logic level responsive to a first edge of the phase-feedback signal, and
- a reset signal that attains the first logic level responsive to a second edge of the input signal and that attains the second logic level responsive to a second edge of said phase-feedback signal;
- a second circuit portion configured to receive the set signal and the reset signal and to generate an output signal with respect to a potential of the phase-feedback signal, where the output signal attains the first logic level responsive to a first edge of the set signal and attains the second logic level responsive to a first edge of the reset signal;
- and
- a third circuit portion coupled to the control terminal of the first switch and configured to receive the output signal.
A method, comprising:
- setting a set signal to a first logic level responsive to a first edge of an input signal, and resetting the set signal to a second logic level responsive to a first edge of a phase-feedback signal;
- setting a reset signal to the first logic level responsive to a second edge of the input signal, and resetting the reset signal to a second logic level responsive to a second edge of the phase-feedback signal;
- level-shifting the set signal and the reset signal to generate floating versions thereof with reference to a potential of the phase-feedback signal;
- setting an output signal to the first logic level responsive to a first edge of the floating version of the set signal and resetting the output signal to the second logic level at a first edge of the floating version of the reset signal;
- and
- changing a switch between an on state and an off state depending on the logic level of the output signal.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for setting a set signal to a first logic level responsive to a first edge of an input signal, and resetting the set signal to a second logic level responsive to a first edge of a phase-feedback signal;
- means for setting a reset signal to the first logic level responsive to a second edge of the input signal, and resetting the reset signal to a second logic level responsive to a second edge of the phase-feedback signal;
- means for level-shifting the set signal and the reset signal to generate floating versions thereof with reference to a potential of the phase-feedback signal;
- means for setting an output signal to the first logic level responsive to a first edge of the floating version of the set signal and resetting the output signal to the second logic level at a first edge of the floating version of the reset signal;
- and
- means for changing a switch between an on state and an off state depending on the logic level of the output signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.