# US 8,786,327 B2 · Electronic components with reactive filters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,327 B2 - Document ID: US8786327B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/403,813 - Filed: 2012-02-23 - Published: 2012-08-30 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-28 - Assignees: Transphorm Inc. - Applicants: James Honea; Yifeng Wu - Inventors: James Honea; Yifeng Wu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786327B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/687: the devices being field-effect transistors - H02M 1/126: {using passive filters} - H02P 7/29: using pulse modulation - H03K 17/162: {without feedback from the output circuit to the control circuit} - H03K 17/567: Circuits characterised by the use of more than one type of semiconductor device, e.g. BIMOS, composite devices such as IGBT - H03K 17/6871: {the output circuit comprising more than one controlled field-effect transistor} - H02M 7/5395: by pulse-width modulation - Y10T 29/49105: Switch making - 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) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An electronic component comprising a half bridge adapted for operation with an electrical load having an operating frequency is described. The half bridge comprises a first switch and a second switch each having a switching frequency, the first switch and the second switch each including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first switch and the second terminal of the second switch are both electrically connected to a node. The electronic component further includes a filter having a 3 dB roll-off frequency, the 3 dB roll-off frequency being less than the switching frequency of the switches but greater than the operating frequency of the electrical load. The first terminal of the filter is electrically coupled to the node, and the 3 dB roll-off frequency of the filter is greater than 5 kHz. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic component, comprising: a half bridge adapted for operation with an electrical load having an operating frequency, the half bridge comprising a first switch and a second switch each having a switching frequency, the first switch and the second switch each including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first switch and the second terminal of the second switch are both electrically connected to a node; and a filter having a 3 dB roll-off frequency, the 3 dB roll-off frequency being less than the switching frequency of the switches but greater than the operating frequency of the electrical load, and the first terminal of the filter being electrically coupled to the node; wherein the first switch or the second switch comprises a high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and a low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor comprising a source electrode, and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor being mounted directly on top of the source electrode of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor; and the 3 dB roll-off frequency of the filter is greater than 5 kHz. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the 3 dB roll-off frequency of the filter is at least 10 kHz. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a III-N device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a switching transistor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic component of claim 4, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is configured to be switched at a frequency of about 80 kHz or larger without sustaining substantial switching losses. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a field-effect transistor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the first terminal of the first switch is a drain terminal, and the second terminal of the second switch is a source terminal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the first terminal of the second switch is a drain terminal, and the drain terminal of the second switch is electrically connected to a high voltage supply. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the control terminals of the first switch and the second switch are gate terminals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the half bridge is free of diodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector connecting the electrical load to a second terminal of the filter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic component of claim 11, wherein the electrical connector is a cable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the electrical load comprises a motor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises an inductive element and a capacitive element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electronic component of claim 14, wherein the inductive element of the filter is a first inductive element, and the electrical load comprises a second inductive element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the electrical load comprises a photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the electrical load has an operating frequency of about 1 kHz or larger. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is part of an inverter circuit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is capable of outputting a substantially sinusoidal AC voltage signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electronic component of claim 19, wherein a frequency of the AC voltage signal is about 1 kHz or larger. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is capable of outputting a substantially sinusoidal AC current. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The electronic component of claim 21, wherein a frequency of the AC current is about 1 kHz or larger. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein a cut-off frequency of the filter is greater than 50 kHz. ### Claim 24 An electronic component, comprising: a half bridge adapted for operation with an electrical load having an operating frequency, the half bridge comprising a first switch and a second switch each having a switching frequency, the first switch and the second switch each including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first switch and the second terminal of the second switch are both electrically connected to a node; and a filter, a first terminal of the filter being electrically coupled to the node; wherein the first switch or the second switch comprises a high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and a low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor comprising a source electrode, and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor being mounted directly on top of the source electrode of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor; and the half bridge and the filter form a module, and a volume of the module divided by a maximum output power of the electronic component is less than 6 cm3/Watt. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the volume of the module is less than 360,000 cm3. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the footprint of the module is less than 11,250 cm2. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the volume of the module is less than 1800 cm3. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the footprint of the module is less than 225 cm2. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the maximum output power of the electronic component is at least 100 Watts. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, further comprising an electrical connector connecting an electrical load to a second terminal of the filter. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The electronic component of claim 30, wherein the electrical connector is a cable. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The electronic component of claim 30, wherein the electrical load comprises a motor. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The electronic component of claim 30, wherein the inductive element of the filter is a first inductive element, and the electrical load comprises a second inductive element. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The electronic component of claim 30, wherein the electrical load comprises a photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The electronic component of claim 30, wherein the electrical load has an operating frequency of about 1 kHz or larger. ### Claim 36 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the electronic component is part of an inverter circuit. ### Claim 37 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the electronic component is capable of outputting a substantially sinusoidal AC voltage signal. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The electronic component of claim 37, wherein a frequency of the AC voltage signal is about 1 kHz or larger. ### Claim 39 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the electronic component is capable of outputting a substantially sinusoidal AC current. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The electronic component of claim 39, wherein a frequency of the AC current is about 1 kHz or larger. ### Claim 41 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the half bridge and the filter are on a common substrate. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The electronic component of claim 41, wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board. ### Claim 43 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the filter comprises an inductive element and a capacitive element. ### Claim 44 An electronic component, comprising: a half bridge adapted for operation with an electrical load having an operating frequency, the half bridge comprising a first switch and a second switch each having a switching frequency, the first switch and the second switch each including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first switch and the second terminal of the second switch are both electrically connected to a node; and a filter having a 3 dB roll-off frequency, the 3 dB roll-off frequency being less than the switching frequency of the switches but greater than the operating frequency of the electrical load, and the first terminal of the filter being electrically coupled to the node; wherein the first switch or the second switch comprises a high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and a low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor comprising a source electrode, and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor being mounted directly on top of the source electrode of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor; and the first switch and the second switch are each configured to be switched at a frequency of about 80 kHz or larger without sustaining substantial switching losses during operation of the electronic component. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the 3 dB roll-off frequency of the filter is greater than 5 kHz. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein a cut-off frequency of the filter is greater than 50 kHz. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a III-N device. ### Claim 48 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a field-effect transistor. ### Claim 49 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the first switch comprises the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, the second switch comprises a second high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and a second low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, the first terminal of the first switch is a drain terminal of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor, and the second terminal of the second switch is a source terminal of the second low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor. ### Claim 50 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the second terminal of the first switch is a source terminal of the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, and the source terminal of the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor is electrically connected to ground. ### Claim 51 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the first terminal of the second switch is a drain terminal of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor, and the drain terminal of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is electrically connected to a high voltage supply. ### Claim 52 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the first switch comprises the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, the second switch comprises a second high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and a second low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, and the control terminals of the first switch and the second switch are gate terminals of the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor and the second low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, respectively. ### Claim 53 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the half bridge is free of diodes. ### Claim 54 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, further comprising an electrical connector connecting an electrical load to a second terminal of the filter. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The electronic component of claim 54, wherein the electrical connector is a cable. ### Claim 56 (depends on 54) The electronic component of claim 54, wherein the electrical load comprises a motor. ### Claim 57 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the filter comprises an inductive element and a capacitive element. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The electronic component of claim 57, wherein the inductive element of the filter is a first inductive element, and the electrical load comprises a second inductive element. ### Claim 59 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the electrical load comprises a photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 60 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the electrical load has an operating frequency of about 1 kHz or larger. ### Claim 61 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the electronic component is part of an inverter circuit. ### Claim 62 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the electronic component is capable of outputting a substantially sinusoidal AC voltage signal. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) The electronic component of claim 62, wherein a frequency of the AC voltage signal is about 1 kHz or larger. ### Claim 64 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the electronic component is capable of outputting a substantially sinusoidal AC current. ### Claim 65 (depends on 64) The electronic component of claim 64, wherein a frequency of the AC current is about 1 kHz or larger. ### Claim 66 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor are configured to be operated as a single high-voltage enhancement-mode transistor. ### Claim 67 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein a source electrode of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is electrically connected to a drain electrode of the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor. ### Claim 68 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a III-Nitride transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor is a silicon MOSFET. ### Claim 69 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a lateral transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor is a vertical transistor. ### Claim 70 (depends on 1) The electronic component of claim 1, wherein the half bridge and the filter are on a common substrate. ### Claim 71 (depends on 70) The electronic component of claim 70, wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board. ### Claim 72 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor are configured to be operated as a single high-voltage enhancement-mode transistor. ### Claim 73 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein a source electrode of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is electrically connected to a drain electrode of the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor. ### Claim 74 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a III-Nitride transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor is a silicon MOSFET. ### Claim 75 (depends on 24) The electronic component of claim 24, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a lateral transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor is a vertical transistor. ### Claim 76 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor are configured to be operated as a single high-voltage enhancement-mode transistor. ### Claim 77 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein a source electrode of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is electrically connected to a drain electrode of the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor. ### Claim 78 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a III-Nitride transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor is a silicon MOSFET. ### Claim 79 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor is a lateral transistor and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor is a vertical transistor. ### Claim 80 (depends on 44) The electronic component of claim 44, wherein the half bridge and the filter are on a common substrate. ### Claim 81 (depends on 80) The electronic component of claim 80, wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board. ### Claim 82 An electronic component, comprising: a half bridge adapted for operation with an electrical load having an operating frequency, the half bridge comprising a first switch and a second switch each having a switching frequency, the first switch and the second switch each including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first switch and the second terminal of the second switch are both electrically connected to a node; and a filter having a 3 dB roll-off frequency, the 3 dB roll-off frequency being less than the switching frequency of the switches but greater than the operating frequency of the electrical load, and the first terminal of the filter being electrically coupled to the node; wherein the first switch or the second switch comprises a high-voltage depletion-mode transistor and a low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor, the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor comprising a source electrode, and the low-voltage enhancement-mode transistor being mounted directly on top of the source electrode of the high-voltage depletion-mode transistor.