Bootstrap Analog Switch for High-Voltage Signals Without HV Supplies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analog switch designs for high voltage signals require high voltage power supplies, leading to complex board layouts, safety hazards, inflexible power cords, stringent power-up sequences, and incompatibility with nominal BCD processes.
Innovation Solution
The design employs translinear loops and a bootstrap configuration to maintain constant on-resistance and conductance, using shunt termination to ground instead of high voltage negative power supplies, eliminating the need for high voltage DC power and allowing for flexible on-resistance and termination voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high voltage power supplies are used in analog switch design, then the switch can transmit high voltage signals, but the board layout becomes complex and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the high voltage power supply from the analog switch design. By using standard voltage supplies (e.g., 5V) combined with voltage translation circuitry, the design removes the need for complex high voltage power supply networks, thereby simplifying board layout while maintaining high voltage signal transmission capability through the switch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter approach by using voltage translation rather than direct high voltage supplies. The analog switch operates at standard voltages, and voltage translation circuitry converts between different voltage levels as needed, transforming the problem from managing high voltage supplies to managing voltage level conversion, which simplifies the overall system design.
2Reliability
If high voltage power supplies are used in analog switch design, then the switch can transmit high voltage signals, but safety hazards increase for operators and patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes high voltage power supplies from the analog switch design, replacing them with standard voltage supplies and voltage translation circuitry. This extraction of high voltage elements eliminates the electric shock hazard to operators and patients while preserving the ability to transmit high voltage signals through the switch using isolated voltage translation stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces voltage translation circuitry as an intermediary between the low voltage control logic and the high voltage signal path. This intermediary performs voltage level conversion in a controlled manner, allowing high voltage signal transmission without exposing operators or patients to dangerous high voltage potentials in the control circuits.
3Reliability
If high voltage power supplies are used in analog switch design, then the switch can transmit high voltage signals, but the system requires stringent power-up sequences to prevent transistor breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates high voltage power supplies from the design, replacing them with standard voltage supplies. This removal of high voltage elements eliminates the need for complex power-up sequencing to prevent transistor breakdown, as the voltage translation circuitry and isolated stages are inherently more tolerant of power-up variations and do not require stringent sequencing.
4Reliability
If high voltage power supplies are used in analog switch design, then the switch can transmit high voltage signals, but the system is incompatible with nominal BCD processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter approach by using standard voltage supplies compatible with nominal BCD processes. The voltage translation circuitry is designed to work within the voltage ranges supported by standard BCD process technologies, eliminating the need for specialized high voltage process variations while maintaining the ability to transmit high voltage signals through isolated translation stages.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are multiple designs for an improved analog switch for use in transmitting high voltage signals without using high voltage power supplies for the switch. The analog switches are able to pass and block input signals in the approximate range of −100V to +100V. The use of translinear loops and a bootstrap configuration results in a constant on-resistance of the symmetrical switches and matches the conductance of each analog switch to the transconductance of an NMOS transistor, which can be easily stabilized with a constant gm biasing scheme. In certain embodiments, a shunt termination (T-switch) configuration is used for better off-isolation, and each of the symmetrical switches has its own translinear loop and thus flexibility of on-resistance and termination voltage.