Semiconductor Ground-Disconnection Clamp for Transistor Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices face malfunctions due to unstable ground voltage conditions during disconnection, leading to potential transistor breakdown and heat generation, as existing technologies lack effective mechanisms to manage voltage transitions and prevent overvoltage situations.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor device incorporates a switching control circuit and disconnection protection circuit that manage the connection and disconnection of the ground voltage terminal with a clamp circuit, using diodes and zener diodes to clamp voltages and prevent overvoltage, ensuring the transistor remains off during ground disconnection and preventing breakdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ground voltage terminal is disconnected during operation, then the device can be powered off or reconfigured, but the ground voltage becomes unstable causing transistor breakdown and heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp circuit is activated in advance before ground terminal disconnection occurs. The switching control circuit detects the disconnection state and proactively clamps the voltage at the first node to prevent instability, ensuring the transistor remains in a safe state before the ground connection is actually broken.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp circuit acts as an intermediary between the first node and the power supply voltage terminal. By introducing this intermediate voltage clamping mechanism, the patent prevents direct exposure of the transistor to unstable ground voltage conditions during disconnection, thereby protecting against breakdown and heat generation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a clamp circuit is always connected to the ground voltage terminal, then voltage stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the clamp circuit and the ground voltage terminal is made dynamic rather than static. The switching control circuit activates the clamp circuit only when ground terminal disconnection is detected or anticipated, and deactivates it when stable operation is confirmed. This dynamic approach maintains voltage stability when needed while avoiding unnecessary complexity during normal operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively suppresses malfunctions by maintaining stable voltage conditions, preventing transistor breakdown and heat generation, and ensuring reliable operation during ground voltage disconnection.
Implementation Method 1
using diodes and zener diodes to clamp voltages and prevent overvoltage
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first transistor, a first circuit, a second circuit, and a third circuit. The first transistor has one end connected to a power supply voltage terminal, the other end connected to a first node, and a gate connected to a first output terminal. The first circuit is configured to control a voltage of the first node based on a voltage of a ground voltage terminal. The second circuit is configured to control a voltage of the first output terminal based on the voltage of the ground voltage terminal and a voltage of an input terminal. The third circuit is configured to control switching between connection and disconnection between the ground voltage terminal and the first circuit.