Patent ID: 8624636
Filing Date: 2014-01-07
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A circuit for switching a semiconductor device between first and second device states by controlling the charge on a gate associated with the device, wherein the first and second device states are characterized by first and second voltages on the gate, with the first voltage being higher than the second voltage, and the device is characterized by a maximum voltage that the gate can withstand without breaking down, the circuit comprising: a first voltage source supplying a third voltage that is higher than the first voltage and is at least as high as the maximum voltage that the gate can withstand without breaking down; a charge storage device having first and second nodes with said first node connected to a circuit node coupled to the gate; first switching circuitry for selectively connecting said second node of said charge storage device to said first voltage source; control circuitry, coupled to said first switching circuitry and responsive to an input signal, wherein when the input signal signifies a transition to the first device state: wherein: