Half-Bridge Driver Circuit Single Control Signal Fault Detection

The patent combines multiple control signals into a single control signal that drives both high-side and low-side switches through integrated driver circuits. The driver circuit generates complementary drive signals internally, eliminating the need for separate external control signals for each switch while maintaining full control flexibility through internal timing and dead-time management mechanisms.

The single control signal serves multiple functions: it controls both high-side and low-side switches, provides timing synchronization, enables dead-time insertion, and facilitates fault detection. The integrated driver circuit performs multiple control functions that would otherwise require separate dedicated circuits, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.

The patent integrates error detection and fault protection functions directly into the half-bridge driver circuit, combining multiple protection mechanisms (overcurrent detection, shoot-through prevention, switch state monitoring) within the same integrated circuit that generates drive signals. This consolidation improves fault detection capability without requiring separate external protection circuits.

The driver circuit performs self-diagnosis and self-protection by continuously monitoring its own output states and switch conditions. The circuit automatically detects faults such as shoot-through conditions, overcurrent events, and switch failures, and takes corrective action without requiring external monitoring circuits, thereby improving reliability while minimizing additional complexity.