High-Side Transistor Driver Circuit With RF Capacitive Power Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-side transistors in power electronics struggle to maintain an on-state for an arbitrarily long time due to capacitor discharge in existing bootstrap circuits, which are complex and costly to manufacture, limiting their application in very-large-scale-integrated circuits.
Innovation Solution
A circuit arrangement that uses a radio-frequency signal source capacitively coupled to a power supply circuit, allowing permanent power supply to the high-side driver circuit through capacitive coupling, decoupling DC supply voltages, and utilizing a diode and inductive components to ensure continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a bootstrap circuit with a capacitor is used to supply power to the high-side driver circuit, then the circuit can be manufactured in very-large-scale-integrated circuits, but the high-side switch cannot remain in an on-state for an arbitrarily long time due to capacitor discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional capacitor-based bootstrap circuit with a radio-frequency (RF) signal source that is capacitively coupled to the high-side driver circuit. The RF signal source provides continuous energy transfer through capacitive coupling, eliminating the need for a large storage capacitor and enabling indefinite on-state duration while maintaining compatibility with integrated circuit manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF signal source generates periodic high-frequency signals that continuously transfer energy to the high-side driver circuit through the coupling capacitor. This periodic energy transfer replenishes the charge on the capacitor continuously, preventing discharge and maintaining the high-side switch in the on-state indefinitely.
2Duration of action of moving object
If DC/DC converters are used to permanently supply power to the high-side driver circuit, then the high-side switch can remain in an on-state indefinitely, but the circuit arrangement becomes very complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex DC/DC converter circuits with a simple RF signal source and capacitive coupling arrangement. The RF signal source, which can be a simple oscillator or signal generator, provides continuous power transfer through the capacitor without requiring the complex voltage conversion and regulation stages of a DC/DC converter, thereby dramatically reducing circuit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling capacitor serves as an intermediary between the RF signal source and the high-side driver circuit. It enables energy transfer while blocking DC components, providing a simple yet effective interface that avoids the need for complex power conversion circuits.
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
Enables high-side transistors to remain in an on-state indefinitely by preventing capacitor discharge, simplifying the circuit design and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a supply circuit which is capacitively coupled to the radio-frequency signal source and which is designed to provide a supply voltage to the driver circuit
Data Source
AI summary
One example of the invention relates to a circuit arrangement for actuating a high-side transistor which includes a control terminal and a load terminal. The circuit arrangement includes a driver circuit that is designed to generate, in response to a control signal, a driver signal for the control terminal of the high-side transistor. A supply circuit is capacitively coupled to a radio-frequency signal source and is designed to provide a supply voltage to the driver circuit, the supply voltage being referenced to a floating reference potential.