Cascoded H-bridge Pre-driver for High Voltage CMOS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CMOS-based H-bridge transmitters face challenges in supporting high DC voltage applications without transistor damage, particularly in high voltage semiconductor technologies like bipolar technologies.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cascoded H-bridge with CMOS FET transistors, source-follower voltage references, and pre-drivers to drive the H-bridge transistor gates, allowing for efficient operation and over-voltage protection by sharing voltage swings among multiple transistors, with pre-drivers setting the scaled voltages and voltage references.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional CMOS-based H-bridge transmitter is used, then cost-effectiveness and ease of fabrication are improved, but the ability to support high DC voltage applications without transistor damage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The H-bridge transmitter is divided into multiple independent CMOS H-bridge units, each capable of operating at lower voltages. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high voltage output capability while individual transistors remain within their safe operating voltage ranges, resolving the contradiction between using low-voltage CMOS technology and supporting high DC voltage applications.
2Device complexity
If conventional H-bridge transmitter design is used, then device simplicity is improved, but the ability to support necessary voltage swings without transistor damage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage swing capability is segmented across multiple CMOS H-bridge units connected in series. Each unit handles a portion of the total voltage swing, allowing the overall system to support high voltage swings while individual units maintain simple conventional designs within their reduced voltage ranges.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the present invention includes a circuit having a cascoded H-bridge, an upper voltage supply component, a lower voltage supply component and a pre-driver component. The cascoded H-bridge is arranged to provide a driving signal for driving a load. The upper voltage supply component can provide an upper supply voltage to the cascoded H-bridge. The lower voltage supply component can provide a lower supply voltage to the cascoded H-bridge. The pre-driver component can provide a pre-driving signal to the cascoded H-bridge, wherein pre-driver component has a first voltage source and a second voltage source. The first voltage source can provide an upper swing voltage and the second voltage source can provide a lower swing voltage. The pre-driver component can provide the pre-driving signal based on the upper swing voltage, the lower swing voltage and one of the upper supply voltage and the lower supply voltage.