Driver circuit for driving semiconductor switches

A driver circuit for generating a drive signal in accordance with a control signal that has an operating voltage range represented by a reference voltage, the circuit comprising:

• an input stage configured to receive the control signal and the reference voltage and to generate a modified control signal;
• and
• an output stage coupled to the input stage downstream thereof and is configured to receive the modified control signal and to provide the drive signal in accordance with the modified control signal;
• wherein the input stage is configured to:
• scale the control signal dependent on a level of the reference voltage,
• compare the scaled control signal with at least one threshold value that is related to the reference voltage,
• generate the modified control signal dependent on a result of the compare,
• compare the scaled control signal with two different threshold values thus providing a comparison with hysteresis, wherein the two different threshold values are set responsive to a measurement signal representative of the reference voltage.

A method comprising:

• receiving a control signal and a reference voltage, the control signal having an operating voltage range represented by the reference voltage;
• scaling the control signal dependent on a level of the reference voltage;
• comparing the scaled control signal with a threshold value that is related to the reference voltage, wherein comparing the scaled control signal with the threshold value comprises comparing the scaled control signal with two different threshold values, and the two different threshold values are set responsive to a measurement signal representative of the reference voltage;
• generating a modified control signal dependent on a result of the comparing of the scaled control signal and the threshold value;
• and
• generating a driver signal in accordance with the modified control signal (VCMP).

A driver circuit for driving a semiconductor switch to an on-state or an off-state in accordance with a control signal that has an operating voltage range represented by a reference voltage, the circuit comprising:

• a first adjustable scaling circuit configured to amplify or attenuate the control signal in accordance with a first adjustable scaling factor to generate a scaled control signal;
• a second adjustable scaling circuit configured to amplify or attenuate the reference voltage in accordance with a second adjustable scaling factor to obtain a threshold;
• a measurement circuit configured to provide a measurement signal representative of a level of the reference voltage, wherein the first adjustable scaling factor and the second scaling factor is related to the measurement signal;
• a comparator circuit configured to compare the scaled control signal with the threshold and to generate a modified control signal;
• and
• an output stage coupled to receive the modified control signal and to provide a drive signal for driving the semiconductor switch on and off in accordance with the modified control signal.