High-Side Gate Driver Circuit With Single Level Shifter Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-side gate driver circuits for DC-DC converters use two level shifters to control drive strength during turn-on and turn-off, increasing circuit area and cost, and fail to effectively manage ringing and transistor damage due to overvoltage.

Innovation Solution

A gate driver circuit utilizing a single level shifter and a drive strength control circuit to individually control drive strength for high-side power transistors based on load conditions, enabling variable drive strength during turn-on and turn-off to reduce ringing and protect transistors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two level shifters are used to control drive strength during turn-on and turn-off, then drive strength control is improved, but circuit area and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive strength controlVSAvoidcircuit area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of two separate level shifters into a single level shifter that controls both turn-on and turn-off drive strength. The level shifter receives a drive strength control signal and generates an enable signal that simultaneously controls the pull-up circuit during turn-on and the pull-down circuit during turn-off, thereby reducing circuit area while maintaining adaptive drive strength control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single level shifter is designed to perform multiple functions: it level shifts the drive strength control signal, generates the enable signal, and controls both the pull-up and pull-down circuits during different phases of the switching cycle. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate level shifters for turn-on and turn-off operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If two level shifters are used to control drive strength during turn-on and turn-off, then drive strength control is improved, but device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive strength controlVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of two separate level shifters into a single level shifter that controls both turn-on and turn-off drive strength. The level shifter receives a drive strength control signal and generates an enable signal that simultaneously controls the pull-up circuit during turn-on and the pull-down circuit during turn-off, thereby reducing circuit area while maintaining adaptive drive strength control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single level shifter is designed to perform multiple functions: it level shifts the drive strength control signal, generates the enable signal, and controls both the pull-up and pull-down circuits during different phases of the switching cycle. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate level shifters for turn-on and turn-off operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If fixed drive strength is used, then circuit complexity is reduced, but transistor damage from ringing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit complexityVSAvoidtransistor damage from ringing

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic drive strength control where the drive strength is adjusted based on the switching phase and load conditions. The enable signal generated by the level shifter dynamically enables or disables the pull-up and pull-down circuits during turn-on and turn-off operations, allowing the drive strength to be optimized for each phase to minimize ringing and protect the transistor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drive strength control circuit receives feedback about the switching state and load conditions, and adjusts the enable signal accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the circuit to adapt the drive strength in real-time to minimize ringing and protect the transistor from damage while maintaining relatively simple circuit architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250364888A1Gate driver circuit

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

A gate driver circuit includes a pull-up circuit, a pull-down circuit, a level shifter circuit, and a drive strength control circuit. The pull-up circuit includes a pull-up output, a first signal input, and a first enable input. The pull-up output is coupled to a gate drive output. The first signal input is coupled to a drive signal input. The pull-down circuit includes a pull-down output, a second signal input, and a second enable input. The pull-down output is coupled to the gate drive output. The second signal input is coupled to the drive signal input. The level shifter circuit includes a shifter output and a drive strength input. The shifter output is coupled to the first enable input and the second enable input. The drive strength control circuit includes a drive strength output coupled to the drive strength input.