Abstract: A driver circuit for driving top and bottom power transistors stacked between two supply terminals is provided. The driver circuit includes shoot-through reduction means for monitoring the gate-to-source voltages of the two power transistors so as to inhibit the turning-ON of each power transistor until the gate-to-source voltage of the other power transistor has fallen to a voltage level indicative of the other transistor being OFF. Additionally, the driver circuit which can utilize a bootstrap capacitor for providing enhanced voltages to drive the top power transistor, also includes a bootstrap capacitor recharge means to monitor the output voltage of the circuit so as to inhibit the turning-ON of the top power transistor until the bootstrap capacitor has had sufficient time to recharge.

Abstract: A power efficient circuit for charging the gate of a transistor switch to a charge-pumped voltage level in excess of a supply rail voltage is provided. The circuit includes a current-controlled oscillator which generates an oscillating waveform that drives a capacitive charge-pump circuit. The circuit monitors the gate voltage of the transistor switch and reduces the frequency of the oscillating waveform, thereby reducing power consumption, when the gate voltage exceeds a frequency switching value indicating that the transistor switch has been sufficiently turned so as to allow the circuit to enter a micropower mode.