Patent ID: 8405248
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: H01L,H02J,H02M,H03K,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A photovoltaic power conditioning integrated circuit for providing power to an AC mains power supply line from a photovoltaic device, the integrated circuit comprising: a DC power input to receive DC power from said photovoltaic device; a first DC-to-DC power conversion stage coupled to said DC power input to convert a first DC voltage from said photovoltaic device to a second, higher DC voltage, said first DC-to-DC power conversion stage comprising a first plurality of power MOSFET devices; a second DC-to-AC power conversion stage having an input coupled to an output of said first DC-to-DC power conversion stage to convert said second, higher DC voltage to an AC voltage for said AC mains power supply line, said second DC-to-AC power conversion stage comprising a second plurality of power semiconductor devices; an AC voltage output coupled to an output of said second DC-to-AC power conversion stage; a first driver circuit coupled to drive said first DC-to-DC power conversion stage; and a second driver circuit coupled to drive said second DC-to-AC power conversion stage; wherein said integrated circuit has a common substrate on which are fabricated said first DC-to-DC power conversion stage including said first plurality of power MOSFET devices, said second DC-to-AC power conversion stage including said second plurality of power semiconductor devices, said first driver circuit and said second driver circuit; wherein said integrated circuit is a silicon-on-insulator integrated circuit having a buried oxide layer, and wherein said first driver circuit and a portion of said first DC-to-DC power conversion stage are unconnected and electrically isolated from said second DC-to-AC power conversion stage and from said second driver circuit, wherein said electrical isolation comprises a dielectric filled trench on said integrated circuit extending down to contact said buried oxide layer.