LEVEL-SHIFTING CIRCUIT AND HIGH-SIDE DRIVER INCLUDING SUCH A LEVEL-SHIFTING CIRCUIT

Abstract: A level-shifting circuit (LSA) comprising: a series arrangement of a load resistor (RA), a main current path of an input transistor (T1A) and a bipolar series transistor (T3A) arranged as a current source and having a parasitic transistor with a small current gain factor, which is obtained, for example, by wholly surrounding the comparatively weakly doped collector region with a comparatively heavily doped material of the same conductivity type as the collector region. When the input transistor (T1A) is not conductive, a large amount of charge accumulates in the series transistor (T3A), which is then in saturation. When the input transistor (T1A) is turned on, the accumulated charge causes an overshoot in the current (IA) through the level-shifter (LSA), which overshoot compensates for the slow response as a result of the parasitic capacitance (PCA) at the node (NA).

Description: Level-shifting circuit and high-side driver including such a level-shifting circuit The invention relates to a level-shifting circuit comprising: a series arrangement of a load resistor, a main current path of an input transistor and a current- conduction element. The invention also relates to a high-side driver including such a level- shifting circuit. Level shifters and high-side drivers are used circuits for driving power transistors in full-bridge or half-bridge configuration, inter alia in electronic ballast circuits, in driver circuits for brushless motors, and in DC-DC converters. Such a level-shifting circuit and high-side driver are known from an article in PCIM, June 1987, pp. 34-40. In this known level-shifting circuit the current conduction path is a resistor. The voltage drop across this resistor turns on a limiting transistor when a given current flows through this resistor. The limiting transistor then drains the drive signal to ground, thereby limiting the drive to the input transistor. The result of this is a limitation of the peak current through the load resistor and through the input transistor. In the case of high supply voltages, when excessive currents lead to an undesirably high dissipation in the level-shifting circuit, this limitation is particularly useful, but the limiting transistor is not essential. The rate at which the voltage across the load resistance of the level- shifting circuit can vary is limited by parasitic capacitances. When the level-shifting circuit is used in high-side drivers the switching frequency is limited by the speed of this level-shifting circuit. Therefore, rapid level-shifting circuits are required at increasing switching frequencies. It is an object of the invention to meet this requirement. According to the invention the level-shifting circuit of the type defined in the opening paragraph is characterized in that the current-conduction element is a collector-emitter path of a bipolar series transistor having a parasitic transistor with a small current gain factor. As long as no current flows through the level-shifting circuit the series transistor is saturated and charge is built up in the collector region of the series transistor. When the input transistor is driven into conduction by the drive signal the charge in the collector region of the series transistor causes an overshoot in the current through the level-shifting circuit. This overshoot compensates for the limitation of the voltage variation across the load resistance as a result of the parasitic capacitances. The series transistor acts as a temporary speed-up capacitor when the series transistor desaturates. This speed-up function does not require a separate external or integrated capacitor, which has the further drawback that it is permanently and not temporarily present and may thus give rise to instabilities when the optional limiting transistor is turned on. By giving the parasitic transistor in the series transistor a small current gain factor, it is achieved that a maximal charge is built up in the collector region of the series transistor, which is an unusual step because it adversely affects the switching performance of a transistor. However, the invention deliberately utilises the charge build-up in the collector region of the series transistor to speed up the level-shifting circuit by the choice of a bipolar transistor in which this effect has been maximized. The current gain factor of the parasitic transistor can be made small by wholly surrounding the comparatively weakly doped collector region of the bipolar series transistor with a heavily doped material of the same conductivity type or with a non- conductive dielectric. The level-shifting circuit preferably comprises a current source for supplying a bias current to the base of the bipolar series transistor in order to obtain a well- defined charge build-up in the collector region of the series transistor. The input transistor may be of the bipolar type or of the unipolar (MOS) type. The unipolar type has the advantage of requiring a small drive current and of the availability of high-voltage transistors. For the purpose of current limiting the level-shifting circuit may further comprise a limiting transistor having a control electrode connected to receive a voltage drop produced across the series transistor as a result of the passage of current in the main current path of the input transistor, and having a main current path coupled to a control electrode of the input transistor in order to drain a drive signal applied to the control electrode of the input transistor in response to the voltage drop across the series transistor. The limiting transistor limits the voltage drop across the series transistor and may also be of the bipolar or unipolar type. The bipolar type has the advantage of a low threshold voltage. The level-shifting circuit is very suitable for use in high-side drivers, particularly in a high-side driver arrangement comprising: an input stage for supplying complementary first and second drive signals in response to a switching signal; a set-reset flip-flop having a set input, a reset input and a logic output for supplying a driver signal for a high-side switching transistor having a main current path coupled to a load terminal; a first and a second level-shifting circuit, each comprising: a series arrangement of a load resistor, a main current path of an input transistor and a current-conduction element, the set input and the reset input of the flip-flop being coupled to a respective load resistor of the first level-shifting circuit and the second level-shifting circuit, characterized in that the current-conduction element is a bipolar series transistor having a parasitic transistor with a small current gain factor. Such a configuration is highly immune to the large signal transients at the load terminal because the set input and the reset input are equally affected by these signal transients. These and other aspects of the invention will be described and elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a high-side driver arrangement with two level-shifting circuits in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 shows a bipolar NPN transistor of a customary type, Figure 3 shows the equivalent diagram of a bipolar NPN transistor, Figure 4 shows a modified bipolar NPN transistor for use in a level- shifting circuit in accordance with the invention, and Figure 5 shows an alternatively modified bipolar NPN transistor for use in a level-shifting circuit in accordance with the invention. In these Figures items or parts with the same function or purpose bear like reference symbols. Figure 1 shows two level-shifting circuits LS A and LS B used in a high- side driver. The level-shifting circuit LS A comprises a load resistor R A , the main current path of an NMOS input transistor T1 A and the collector-emitter path of a bipolar NPN series transistor T3 A , which in the listed order are arranged in series between a positive supply terminal VP2 and a ground terminal GND. The level-shifting circuit LS A further comprises an (optional) bipolar NPN limiting transistor T2 A , having its collector connected to the control electrode or gate of the transistor T1 A , its emitter to the ground terminal GND, and its base to the node between the source of the transistor T1 A and the collector of the transistor T3 A . The drain of the transistor T1 A and the load resistor R A are interconnected in a node N A , at which a parasitic capacitance exists, represented as a capacitor PC A shown in broken lines. The base of the transistor T3 A receives a bias current from an output branch OBI of a current mirror CM having its input branch IB connected to the ground terminal via a current source CS. The common terminal CT of the current mirror CM is connected to a positive supply terminal VP1. The current mirror may be constructed with bipolar transistors, but any other alternative construction is suitable. The second level-shifting circuit LS B is identical to the first level-shifting circuit LS A and all corresponding elements bear an index B for the sake of distinction. The base of the transistor T3 B receives a bias current from an output branch OB2 of the current mirror CM. Of the two level-shifting circuits LS A and LS B each time one circuit is turned on by an input stage IS having an output terminal OT A for driving the gate of the transistor T1 A , an output terminal OT B for driving the gate of the transistor T1 B , and an input terminal IT for receiving a switching signal. The output terminals OT A and OT B supply complementary drive signals to the gates of the transistors T1 A and T1 B . The nodes N A and N B are coupled to the set input S and the reset input R of a flip-flop FF whose Q output drives the control electrode of a power transistor PT1 , in the present case an NMOS transistor. The source of the power transistor PT and the ground terminals of the flip-flop FF and the buffer BF are all connected to a load terminal LT. The drain of the power transistor PT1 is connected to a positive supply terminal VP3, to which a positive supply voltage can be applied which is normally much higher than the supply voltage on the supply terminal VP1. Furthermore, a second power transistor PT2, in the present case also an NMOS transistor, is arranged between the load terminal LT and the ground terminal GND and is driven with a suitable drive signal from means, not shown, in such a manner that the power transistors PT1 and PT2 are not driven into conduction at the same time. In known manner the positive supply terminal VP2 is connected to the load terminal LT via a bootstrap capacitor BC and to the positive supply terminal VP1 via a bootstrap diode BD. When the power transistor PT2 conducts the bootstrap capacitor is charged via the bootstrap diode BD to substantially the positive supply voltage on the supply terminal VP1. When the power transistor PT1 conducts, the voltage on the supply terminal NP2 is raised above the supply voltage on the supply terminal VP1 by a value equal to the voltage difference between the supply terminal VP3 and the ground terminal GΝD. The bootstrap diode BD is then cut off. Thus, it is possible to apply a sufficiently high positive drive voltage to the gate of the power transistor PT1. The flip-flop FF, the two level-shifters LS A , LS B and the input stage IS ensure that the high-side power transistor PT1 is turned on and turned off in a balanced and symmetrical manner, this process of turning on/off being highly immune to the often very steep signal edges on the load terminal LT. This is because these edges have a similar effect on the set input and on the reset input of the flip-flop FF. The input stage IS turns on one of the two level-shifting circuits, for example LS A . This results in a current I A through the load resistor R A , the transistor T1 A and the transistor T3 A , which functions as a current source. The current I A is limited in that the transistor T2 A is turned on as soon as the voltage drop across the transistor T3 A exceeds the threshold voltage of the transistor T2 A . Current limiting is necessary to preclude an excessive dissipation in the level-shifting circuit. If desired, the limiting transistors T2 A and T2 B may be omitted. The nominal value of the current I A is determined by the current supplied to the base of the transistor T3 A and the current gain of the transistor T3 A . The current I B through the other level-shifting circuit LS B is zero but the transistor T3 B yet receives a current equal to that received by the transistor T3 A . The transistor T3 B is then in saturation through lack of collector current. Consequently, the transistor T3 A is also in saturation just before turn-on of the level-shifting circuit LS A , causing charge to accumulate in the collector region. This charge causes an overshoot in the current I A when the level- shifting circuit LS A is turned on, which overshoot enables a more rapid charge variation to be obtained in the parasitic capacitance PC A at the node N A . This allows a higher switching frequency in turning on and turning off the power transistors PT1 and PT2. The bipolar transistor T3 A , and consequently also T3 B , is constructed so as to obtain a maximal charge accumulation during saturation. This is achieved by making the current gain of the parasitic PNP transistor in the NPN transistor T3 A small. Figure 2 shows the structure of a normal NPN transistor. The parasitic PNP transistor, which is formed by the P material of the base region b, the N material of the epitaxial layer N-epi, and the P material of the substrate P-sub, has a fairly large current gain because the buried layer BL does not wholly surround the base region b. During saturation of the transistor the voltage on the collector c becomes low, as a result of which the emitter-base junction of the parasitic PNP transistor becomes conductive and current can flow from the base b to the substrate P-sub. See Figure 3. The amount of charge stored in the collector region c is limited in that the parasitic PNP transistor becomes conductive. This parasitic PNP transistor drains a part of the base current directly to the substrate instead of to the emitter upon reversal of the collector-base voltage during saturation. This base current loss limits the stored charge. The base-emitter voltage decreases, as a result of which less electrons are injected into the base and, consequently, less electrons can accumulate in the collector region. Moreover, a part of the charge stored in the collector region is drained in the form of base current of the parasitic PNP transistor. By now cutting off the current path from the base b to the substrate P-sub as effectively as possible, it is achieved that the current gain factor of the parasitic PNP transistor becomes small and that the charge drain to the substrate P-sub during saturation becomes substantially smaller. Figure 4 shows a first possibility of realizing this. Here, the comparatively heavily doped buried layer BL wholly surrounds the comparatively weakly doped N-epi collector region, as a result of which the path to the substrate P-sub is cut off almost completely. Thus, the saturation current of the parasitic PNP transistor is very small, which results in a small leakage current to the substrate P-sub upon reversal of the collector- base voltage of the NPN transistor. The N-epi region of the collector c is weakly doped and contains a large quantity of electrons in the saturation condition, which quantity corresponds to a few tens of picofarads. Providing a capacitor having this capacitance would be likely to cause instabilities in the feedback loop formed by the second transistor T2 A during current limiting and would require a comparatively large chip area in the case of integration. However, the saturated transistor T3 A having the special structure shown in Figure 4 behaves as a normal transistor with a low collector capacitance after discharging of the collector region when the transistor has become desaturated and resumes operation in its normal linear region. The additional capacitance therefore exists only temporarily, i.e. when the current I A is switched on by the level-shifting circuit LS A , and has vanished when the current limiting becomes active. Figure 5 shows an alternative solution for the construction of the transistor T3 A . Here, the collector region of the third transistor T3 A is surrounded with a non-conductive dielectric in the form of a trench isolation TO and an adjoining buried oxide which obstructs drainage of charge carriers to the substrate P-sub. The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown herein. The NMOS transistors T1 A and T1 B and the power transistors PT1 and PT2 may also be bipolar NPN transistors, in which case drain, source and gate should read collector, emitter and base. Conversely, the bipolar NPN transistors T2 A and T2 B may be replaced by unipolar NMOS transistors. Furthermore, it will be evident that it is also possible to use transistors of opposite conductivity types in conjunction with a supply voltage of the correct polarity. The use of the level-shifting circuit LS A or LS B is not restricted to high- side drivers of the type as shown in Figure 1 but extends to any application where slew-rate limitation by parasitic capacitances poses a problem.

Claims: Claims 1. A level-shifting circuit (LS A ) comprising: a series arrangement of a load resistor (R A ), a main current path of an input transistor (T1 A ) ' and a current-conduction element (T3 A ), characterized in that the current-conduction element (T3 A ) is a collector-emitter path of a bipolar series transistor having a parasitic transistor with a small current gain factor. 2. A level-shifting circuit as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the bipolar series transistor (T3 A ) comprises a comparatively weakly doped collector region (N-epi) which is wholly surrounded with a comparatively heavily doped material (BL) of the same conductivity type as the collector region. 3. A level-shifting circuit as claimed in Claim 1 , characterized in that the bipolar series transistor (T3 A ) has a collector region which is wholly surrounded with a non- conductive dielectric (T, BO). 4. A level-shifting circuit as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the level-shifting circuit ( S A ) further comprises a bias current source (CS) coupled to the base of the bipolar series transistor (T3 A ). 5. A level-shifting circuit as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the input transistor (T1 A ) is a unipolar transistor. 6. A level-shifting circuit as claimed in Claim 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the level-shifting circuit (LS A ) further comprises a limiting transistor (T2A) having a control electrode connected to receive a voltage drop produced across the series transistor (T3 A ) as a result of the passage of current in the main current path of the input transistor (T1 A ), and having a main current path coupled to a control electrode of the input transistor (T1 A ) in order to drain a drive signal applied to the control electrode of the input transistor (T1 A ) in response to the voltage drop across the series transistor (T3 A ). 7. A high-side driver arrangement comprising: an input stage (IS) for supplying complementary first and second drive signals in response to a switching signal; a set-reset flip-flop (FF) having a set input (S), a reset input (R) and a logic output (Q) for supplying a driver signal for a high-side switching transistor (PT1) having a main current path coupled to a load terminal (LT); a first (LS A ) and a second (LS B ) level-shifting circuit, each comprising: a series arrangement of a load resistor (R A /R B ), a main current path of an input transistor (T1 A T1 B ) and a current-conduction element (T3 A /T3 B ), the set input (S) and the reset input (R) of the flip-flop (FF) being coupled to a respective load resistor (R A /R B ) of the first level- shifting circuit (LS A ) and the second level-shifting circuit (LS B ), characterized in that the current-conduction element is a bipolar series transistor (T3 A T3 B ) having a parasitic transistor with a small current gain factor. 8. A high-side driver arrangement as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that the bipolar series transistor (T3 A /T3 B ) comprises a comparatively weakly doped collector region (N-epi) which is wholly surrounded with a comparatively heavily doped material (BL) of the same conductivity type as the collector region or with a non-conductive dielectric (T, BO). 9. A high-side driver arrangement as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, further comprising: a current mirror (CM) having an input branch (IB) coupled to a bias current source (CS) and having two output branches (OBI , OB2), one (OBI) of said output branches being coupled to the base of the bipolar series transistor (T3 A ) of the first level-shifting circuit (LS A ) and the other (OB2) output branch being coupled to the base of the bipolar series transistor (T3 B ) of the second level-shifting circuit (LS B ). 10. A high-side driver arrangement as claimed in Claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the respective load resistors (R A /R B ) of the first level-shifting circuit (LS A ) and the second level-shifting circuit (LS B ) are coupled to a supply terminal (VP2) which is coupled to a supply voltage terminal (NP1) via a bootstrap diode (BD) and to the load terminal (LT) via a bootstrap capacitor (BC). 11. A high-side driver arrangement as claimed in Claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the first (LS A ) and the second (LS B ) level-shifting circuit further comprises a limiting transistor (T2 A /T2 B ) having a control electrode connected to receive a voltage drop produced across the series transistor (T3 A /T3 B ) as a result of the passage of current in the main current path of the input transistor (T1 A /T1 B ), and having a main current path coupled to a control electrode of the input transistor (T1 A /T1 B ) in order to drain a drive signal applied to the control electrode of the input transistor (T1 A /T1 B ) in response to the voltage drop across the series transistor (T3 A /T3 B ).

Inventors: DE VRIES JOHANNES PETRUS THEOD, FRONEN ROBERT JAN, DE VRIES, JOHANNES, PETRUS, THEODORUS, FRONEN, ROBERT, JAN
Applicants: PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, PHILIPS NORDEN AB, PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H03K5
IPC codes: H03K5, H03K17