High Voltage Analog Switch With Clamp Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high voltage analog switches in medical ultrasound applications require complex high voltage power supplies, increasing costs and raising safety concerns due to the need for passing high voltage piezoelectric excitation signals.
Innovation Solution
A high voltage analog switch design that includes three output switches with a clamp circuit, allowing the switch to pass high voltage transducer excitation signals without a high voltage power supply by ensuring transistors remain OFF when the switch is OFF, using gate driver circuits and Zener diodes to manage voltage and prevent parasitic capacitance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high voltage power supplies are used in current high voltage analog switches, then the switch can pass high voltage piezoelectric excitation signals, but the cost increases and safety issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the high voltage power supply component from the analog switch system. By using standard low voltage transistors with gate driver circuits that generate appropriate gate voltages, the design passes high voltage signals through the transistor channels without requiring high voltage power supplies, thereby removing the source of complexity and safety issues while maintaining signal passing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter control approach by using dynamic gate voltage modulation instead of static high voltage power supply. The gate driver circuits generate time-varying gate voltages that control the switching of transistors, allowing the system to handle high voltage signals through parameter modulation rather than through high voltage power supply architecture
2Reliability
If high voltage power supplies are used in current high voltage analog switches, then the switch can pass high voltage piezoelectric excitation signals, but the cost of the medical ultrasound device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive high voltage power supply component from the system architecture. By using standard low voltage transistors controlled by gate driver circuits, the design achieves high voltage signal passing capability without the associated cost of high voltage power supply components, directly reducing device manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs standard, inexpensive low voltage transistors and gate driver circuits instead of expensive high voltage power supply components. These standard components are widely available and cost-effective, allowing the system to achieve the required functionality at a lower cost point
3Reliability
If high voltage power supplies are used in current high voltage analog switches, then the switch can pass high voltage piezoelectric excitation signals, but safety issues are raised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the high voltage power supply component that creates safety hazards. By using low voltage transistors with gate driver circuits that control switching through voltage modulation on the gate terminal, the system passes high voltage signals through the channel without requiring high voltage power supplies, thereby eliminating the primary safety risk source
Solution Approach 2:
The gate driver circuit acts as an intermediary that controls the switching of transistors using low voltage gate signals. This intermediary control mechanism allows the system to handle high voltage signals through the transistor channel while the control electronics themselves operate at safe low voltages, isolating the safety-critical control functions from high voltage exposure
4Reliability
If clamp circuits are added to ensure transistors remain OFF when the switch is OFF, then parasitic capacitance is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clamp circuit functionality into the output switch structure itself. By integrating the clamp circuit with the output switch transistors and gate driver, the design achieves reliable transistor control and parasitic capacitance prevention without adding a separate, independent clamp circuit module, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity
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 the passing of high voltage signals without the need for high voltage power supplies, reducing costs and safety risks while maintaining effective multiplexing of transmitter and receiver circuits in medical ultrasound devices.
Implementation Method 1
using gate driver circuits and Zener diodes to manage voltage and prevent parasitic capacitance
Implementation Method 2
using gate driver circuits and Zener diodes to manage voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A high voltage analog switch can be used in medical ultrasound applications. The high voltage analog switch can pass high voltage transducer excitation signals without necessarily having any high voltage power supplies. The high voltage analog switch can include three output switches, with one of the output switches having a clamp circuit for ensuring that transistors of an output switch on an input end of the high voltage analog switch remain OFF when the high voltage analog switch is OFF.