Power MOS Switch Circuit With Rapid Gate Discharge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switch elements, such as power MOS transistors, experience prolonged switching times between on and off states due to parasitic capacitance, leading to potential burnout and reduced reliability in electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A switch circuit comprising a control unit, a driving unit, a voltage sudden-change unit, and a connection unit, where the voltage sudden-change unit generates a signal to quickly discharge parasitic capacitance, enabling rapid switching between on and off states by controlling the potential at the driving node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transistor is used as a switch element, then the circuit can control electrical connection between power-supply terminal and load terminal, but the switching time is relatively long causing the transistor to work in linear region or burn out
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage sudden-change unit generates a voltage sudden-change signal in advance to quickly discharge the parasitic capacitance of the transistor when the enable signal indicates turning off. This preliminary action of discharging capacitance before the transistor fully switches off prevents the transistor from staying in the linear region, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and switching speed.
2Reliability
If the transistor switches between on and off states, then the electrical connection can be controlled, but the prolonged switching time causes the transistor to burn out
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage sudden-change unit acts as an intermediary component that introduces a voltage sudden-change signal to quickly discharge parasitic capacitance during the switching process. This intermediary mechanism accelerates the switching duration, preventing the transistor from burning out due to prolonged switching time, thus improving reliability without requiring changes to the transistor itself.
3Reliability
If no voltage sudden-change signal is applied, then the circuit structure is simpler, but the transistor remains in linear region longer increasing burnout risk
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage sudden-change unit changes the voltage parameter at the driving node by generating a voltage sudden-change signal that quickly discharges parasitic capacitance. This parameter change accelerates the switching process, reducing the time the transistor spends in the dangerous linear region, thereby improving transistor safety while adding only one functional module to the circuit.
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 solution prevents power MOS transistors from burning out by quickly discharging parasitic capacitance, thereby improving the reliability and safety of the switch circuit during operation.
Implementation Method 1
the voltage sudden-change unit generates and outputs a voltage sudden-change signal to the driving node, where the voltage sudden-change signal allows to control a potential at the driving node to experience sudden change when the driving unit stops outputting the driving signal, to make the connection unit be switched to a turned-off state from a turned-on state quickly
Data Source
AI summary
A switch circuit includes a control unit, a driving unit, a voltage sudden-change unit, and a connection unit. The connection unit is configured to turn on or turn off an electrical connection between a power-supply device and a load. The control unit is configured to control the driving unit to output or stop outputting a driving signal to the connection unit, where the driving signal allows to turn on the connection unit. The voltage sudden-change unit is coupled with a driving node between the driving unit and the connection unit. The control unit is configured to control the voltage sudden-change unit to output a voltage sudden-change signal to the driving node, where the voltage sudden-change signal allows to make the connection unit be switched to a turned-off state from a turned-on state quickly when the driving unit stops outputting the driving signal.