# US 8,542,037 B2 · Multi-level high voltage pulser integrated circuit using low voltage MOSFETs

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- Number: US 8,542,037 B2
- Document ID: US8542037B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/355,749
- Filed: 2012-01-23
- Published: 2013-07-25
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2012-01-23
- Assignees: Supertex, Inc.
- Applicants: Ben Choy; Ching Chu
- Inventors: Ben Choy; Ching Chu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542037B2

## CPC

- H03F 3/2173: {of the bridge type}
- B06B 1/0215: {for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes}
- H03K 17/6872: {using complementary field-effect transistors}
- B06B 2201/76: Medical, dental
- G01S 7/5202: {for pulse systems}
- H03F: AMPLIFIERS
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

A multi-level high-voltage pulse generator integrated circuit has a digital logic-level control interface circuit. A pair of complementary MOSFETs is controlled by the digital control interface circuit. A pair of supply voltage rails is provided, wherein one of the pair of supply voltage rails is connected to each of the pair of complementary MOSFETs. A pair of Zener diodes is provided, wherein one of the pair of Zener diodes is connected to each of the pair of complementary MOSFETs. A pair of resistors is provided, wherein one of the pair of resistors is connected in parallel with each of the pair of Zener diodes. A pair of complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs having predetermined gate bias voltages is provided, wherein each of the pair complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs is attached to a corresponding one pair of complementary MOSFETs.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multi-level high-voltage pulse generator integrated circuit comprising:
a digital logic-level control interface circuit;
a pair of complementary MOSFETs controlled by the digital control interface circuit;
a pair of supply voltage rails, wherein one of the pair of supply voltage rails is connected to each of the pair of complementary MOSFETs;
a pair of Zener diodes, wherein one of the pair of Zener diodes is connected to each of the pair of complementary MOSFETs;
a pair of resistors, wherein one of the pair of resistors is connected in parallel with each of the pair of Zener diodes;
a pair of complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs having predetermined gate bias voltages, wherein each of the pair complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs is attached to a corresponding one pair of complementary MOSFETs.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A multi-level high voltage pulse generator integrated circuit comprising in accordance with claim 1 wherein the digital logic-level control interface circuit comprises a direct-coupling gate driver connected to each of the pair of complementary MOSFETs.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A multi-level high voltage pulse generator integrated circuit comprising in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pair of supply voltage rails are complementary voltage sources.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A multi-level high voltage pulse generator integrated circuit comprising in accordance with claim 1 wherein gate terminals of each of the pair of complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs is connected to ground.

### Claim 5

A multi-level high-voltage pulse generator integrated circuit comprising:
a digital logic-level control interface circuit;
at least one pair of complementary MOSFETs controlled by the digital control interface circuit;
at least one pair of supply voltage rails, wherein one of the at least one pair of supply voltage rails is connected to each of the at least one pair of complementary MOSFETs;
at least one pair of Zener diodes, wherein one of the at least one pair of Zener diodes is connected to each of the at least one pair of complementary MOSFETs;
at least one pair of resistors, wherein one of the at least one pair of resistors is connected in parallel with each of the at least one pair of Zener diodes;
at least one pair complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs having predetermined gate bias voltages, wherein each of the at least one pair complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs is attached to a corresponding one of the at least one pair of complementary MOSFETs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A multi-level high voltage pulse generate integrated circuit comprising in accordance with claim 5 wherein a number of pairs of complementary MOSFETs is equal to a number of pairs of complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs to generate an even number of multiple voltage levels.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A multi-level high voltage pulse generate integrated circuit comprising in accordance with claim 5 wherein a number of pairs of complementary MOSFETs is unequal to a number of pairs of complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs to generate an odd number of multiple voltage levels.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A multi-level high voltage pulse generator integrated circuit comprising in accordance with claim 5 wherein the digital logic-level control interface circuit comprises direct-coupling gate drivers connected to each of the at least one pair of complementary MOSFETs.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

A multi-level high voltage pulse generator integrated circuit comprising in accordance with claim 5 wherein the at least one pair of supply voltage rails are complementary voltage sources.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

A multi-level high voltage pulse generator integrated circuit comprising in accordance with claim 5 wherein the at least one pair of supply voltage rails are shared limited number of complementary voltage sources.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

A multi-level high voltage pulse generator integrated circuit comprising in accordance with claim 5 wherein gate terminals of each of the at least one pair of complementary voltage blocking-MOSFETs is connected to ground.