Abstract: A driver and protection circuit for driving a power switch is disclosed. The driver and protection circuit includes a fault detection block configured to detect a discrepancy between a reference drive signal and a measured voltage at a gate of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit also includes a short circuit detection block configured to detect a gate-to-source short circuit or a gate-to-drain short circuit of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit further includes a latch coupled to the fault detection block and the short circuit detection block to selectively turn off an output driver coupled to the gate of the power switch when a fault or a short circuit is detected, and wherein the latch is configured to send a diagnostic signal when the fault or the short circuit is detected.

Abstract: A driver and protection circuit for driving a power switch is disclosed. The driver and protection circuit includes a fault detection block configured to detect a discrepancy between a reference drive signal and a measured voltage at a gate of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit also includes a short circuit detection block configured to detect a gate-to-source short circuit or a gate-to-drain short circuit of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit further includes a latch coupled to the fault detection block and the short circuit detection block to selectively turn off an output driver coupled to the gate of the power switch when a fault or a short circuit is detected, and wherein the latch is configured to send a diagnostic signal when the fault or the short circuit is detected.

Abstract: A driver and protection circuit for driving a power switch is disclosed. The driver and protection circuit includes a fault detection block configured to detect a discrepancy between a reference drive signal and a measured voltage at a gate of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit also includes a short circuit detection block configured to detect a gate-to-source short circuit or a gate-to-drain short circuit of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit further includes a latch coupled to the fault detection block and the short circuit detection block to selectively turn off an output driver coupled to the gate of the power switch when a fault or a short circuit is detected, and wherein the latch is configured to send a diagnostic signal when the fault or the short circuit is detected.

Abstract: A driver and protection circuit for driving a power switch is disclosed. The driver and protection circuit includes a fault detection block configured to detect a discrepancy between a reference drive signal and a measured voltage at a gate of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit also includes a short circuit detection block configured to detect a gate-to-source short circuit or a gate-to-drain short circuit of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit further includes a latch coupled to the fault detection block and the short circuit detection block to selectively turn off an output driver coupled to the gate of the power switch when a fault or a short circuit is detected, and wherein the latch is configured to send a diagnostic signal when the fault or the short circuit is detected.

Abstract: An intelligent power switch (IPS) circuit providing current protection for a power switch, a gate terminal of the power switch being controlled by a first control signal generated by a gate driver. The IPS circuit includes a first circuit to measure a current in the power switch, determine a first difference between a first voltage and a first reference voltage, and reduce the first control signal if the first difference exceeds a first predetermined limit; and a second circuit to measure the current in the power switch and determine a second difference between the first voltage and a second reference voltage, wherein if the second difference exceeds a second predetermined limit the first control signal is set to turn OFF the power switch.

Abstract: A charge pump circuit comprising a plurality of charge pumps connected in parallel, each charge pump receiving a plurality of clock signals, having an output (VCP) that is coupled to the output of the at least one other charge pump, and further comprising a first capacitor that is being charged by a switching circuit receiving the clock signals to charge the first capacitor, a second capacitor coupled in series with the first capacitor, the second capacitor provided between a first terminal (IN) of the charge pump and a second terminal (OUT) of the charge pump, wherein the first terminal (IN) of the charge pump is connected to a second terminal (OUT) of another charge pump and the second terminal (OUT) of the charge pump is connected to the first terminal (IN) of another charge pump.

Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a power device and a current sense device formed in a common semiconductor region.

Abstract: A circuit protective device includes a current sensing circuit adapted to be coupled to an output power switch to provide a feedback signal representative of the output current, an overcurrent sensor responsive to the feedback signal exceeding a presettable reference level to provide an overcurrent alert signal, a function generator responsive to the feedback signal to generate a first signal related to the output current according to a preset functional relationship, an integration circuit coupled to the output of the function generator to provide a second signal representative of the product of the first signal and t, where t is the elapsed time following generation of an overcurrent alert signal, and a control circuit responsive to a presettable value of the second signal to disable a gating circuit for the power switch, the shut-down signal being provided at a time which depends on the magnitude of the overcurrent signal.

Abstract: A power converter provides constant load power while achieving a high power factor in a single stage configuration with reduced component count and ratings. The power converter takes a rectified line input to a switching half-bridge that supplies current to a load. A series combination of shunt switch and capacitor is connected across the load to store energy from the input and supply energy to the load. The switches are operated with conduction angles that achieve constant power supplied to the load while drawing a sinusoidal current in phase with the input voltage to achieve high power factor. The circuit provides a simplified configuration over prior power converters that may be used with a resonant load as part of an electronic ballast or an AC-to-DC converter. The power converter configuration and operation also achieves a low total harmonic distortion on the input line power.

Abstract: A charge pump circuit comprising a plurality of charge pumps each having their outputs connected in parallel, each charge pump receiving a plurality of clock signals, a clock signal oscillator for providing the plurality of clock signals, the clock signals being out of phase, each charge pump having an output (VCP) that is coupled to the output of the at least one other charge pump, further comprising a first capacitor in each charge pump, the first capacitor being charged by a switching circuit receiving the clock signals to charge the first capacitor to a voltage between a supply voltage and a reference potential, and further comprising a second capacitor coupled in series with the first capacitor, the second capacitor provided between a first terminal (IN) of the charge pump and a second terminal (OUT) of the charge pump, wherein the first terminal (IN) of the charge pump is connected to a second terminal (OUT) of another charge pump and the second terminal (OUT) of the charge pump is connected to the firs

Abstract: A fully protected H-bridge for a d-c motor consists of two high side MOSFETs and a control and logic IC on a first conductive heat sink all within a first package and two discrete low side MOSFETs. The entire bridge is controlled by the IC. Shoot thru protection is provided for each leg, and a PMW soft start sequence is provided through the control of the low side MOSFETs, programed by an external, chargeable RC circuit. Input signals to the high side MOSFETs select the operation modes. Protective circuits are provided for short circuit current and over current conditions. Sleep mode and braking/non braking control is also provided.

Abstract: A circuit for minimizing a voltage offset between inverting and non-inverting input terminals of an operational amplifier circuit is provided. The circuit includes a chopper circuit connected to the inverting and non-inverting input terminals of the operational amplifier circuit, the chopper circuit including: an amplifier having differential outputs; and a switching circuit for periodically reversing the input terminals to the amplifier and periodically reversing the outputs of the amplifier to provide an output signal having an offset adjustment signal to the operational amplifier circuit to adjust the offset of the operational amplifier circuit.

Abstract: A circuit for protection against reverse circulation of current through the body diode of an FET power switching device switching a load, the power switching device having gate, source and drain terminals, wherein the power switching device is connected in series with the load, the load being connected to the source or drain terminal of the power switching device, the load being capable of providing a voltage across the source and drain terminals sufficient to cause the body diode to conduct, the power switching device being controlled by a driver output stage having a driver output stage body diode, the driver output stage having a substrate set at a substrate voltage level, the reverse circulation protection circuit comprising a circuit for changing the substrate voltage level of the driver output stage so that the voltage across the driver output stage body diode is less than a voltage sufficient to cause the driver output stage body diode to conduct, thereby allowing the power switching device to pass the

Abstract: An intelligent power switch (IPS) circuit providing current protection for a power switch, a gate terminal of the power switch being controlled by a first control signal generated by a gate driver. The IPS circuit includes a first circuit to measure a current in the power switch, determine a first difference between a first voltage and a first reference voltage, and reduce the first control signal if the first difference exceeds a first predetermined limit; and a second circuit to measure the current in the power switch and determine a second difference between the first voltage and a second reference voltage, wherein if the second difference exceeds a second predetermined limit the first control signal is set to turn OFF the power switch.

Abstract: A power switching circuit supplying electrical power to a load comprising a power MOSFET semiconductor switch having a gate electrode and two main current carrying electrodes and a back biased body zener diode, an active clamp for clamping a voltage between one of the main current carrying electrodes provided with a supply voltage and the gate electrode at a first specified voltage when the supply voltage increases beyond a predetermined voltage; and a circuit for disconnecting the active clamp when the supply voltage increases a predetermined amount above the predetermined voltage, allowing the body zener diode to avalanche at a second specified voltage that is greater than the first specified voltage thereby to clamp the voltage across the power semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A circuit for protecting a power switch in the event of a reverse battery connection, wherein the power switch comprises a MOSFET having a body diode and the MOSFET is connected in series with a load, the circuit comprising terminals connected to the circuit and normally connectable to respective positive and negative power potentials of the battery, and the circuit comprising a switching circuit coupled to the terminals such that the switching circuit turns on the power switch in the event that the terminals are connected with a reverse battery connection.

Abstract: A circuit for preventing shoot-through in a high side switching transistor coupled in series with a low side switching transistor across a supply voltage, the circuit comprising a voltage reference circuit having an output providing a reference voltage which is negative with respect to the supply voltage provided to the high side switching transistor, the reference voltage being applied to the control electrode of the high side switching transistor when the high side switching transistor is off and the source of the high side switching transistor exceeds the reference voltage and the low side switching transistor is on.

Abstract: A circuit for minimizing a voltage offset between inverting and non-inverting input terminals of an operational amplifier circuit is provided. The circuit includes a chopper circuit connected to the inverting and non-inverting input terminals of the operational amplifier circuit, the chopper circuit including: an amplifier having differential outputs; and a switching circuit for periodically reversing the input terminals to the amplifier and periodically reversing the outputs of the amplifier to provide an output signal having an offset adjustment signal to the operational amplifier circuit to adjust the offset of the operational amplifier circuit.

Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a power device and a current sense device formed in a common semiconductor region.

Abstract: A fully protected H-bridge for a d-c motor consists of two high side MOSFETs and a control and logic IC on a first conductive heat sink all within a first package and two discrete low side MOSFETs. The entire bridge is controlled by the IC. Shoot thru protection is provided for each leg, and a PMW soft start sequence is provided through the control of the low side MOSFETs, programed by an external, chargeable RC circuit. Input signals to the high side MOSFETs select the operation modes. Protective circuits are provided for short circuit current and over current conditions. Sleep mode and braking/non braking control is also provided.