Abstract:
This patent specification describes a backflow prevention circuit which includes a first switch configured to conduct or to shut down a current path from an input terminal to an output terminal, a logic circuit configured to binarize an input voltage at the input terminal based on an output voltage at the output terminal and to output a binary signal and a shutdown circuit configured to cause the first switch to shut down independently of a switching control signal in accordance with the binary signal output from the logic circuit. The switching control signal performs a switching control of the first switch. The logic circuit outputs a shutdown signal to shut down independently of the switching control signal when the input voltage becomes smaller than the output voltage.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a backflow prevention circuit, and more particularly to a backflow prevention circuit capable of preventing reverse current efficiently. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Recently, a variety of electric equipments such as a mobile phone, a personal computer, an electric home appliance, and so on, has been widely developed. It has been studied to make such electric equipment more compact, to have higher functional capability and lower power consumption. The electric equipment commonly includes a switching circuit between a power supply and a load to have a margin of safety. 
         [0003]    Further, the electric equipment may include more complex circuit which may need a multiple power supplying system in order for the electric equipment to have a high performance. The multiple power supplying system supplies multiple voltages and a variety of power capacities. Namely, it has become more important to control the multiple power supplying system by switching each power supply so as to obtain a safe equipment having a low power consumption, and avoid faulty operation. 
         [0004]    Thus, a switching circuit is generally employed to protect electric equipment from damages due to overheat and protect a power supply, such as battery, etc., from a reverse current flowing from a load to the power supply. It is desirable for the switching circuit to have less power consumption, because the switching circuit is an auxiliary circuit for the electric equipment. Such a switching circuit is called a backflow prevention circuit. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a conventional backflow prevention circuit  100 . The backflow prevention circuit  100  includes a MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) switch  103 , a diode  109  and a gate drive circuit  110 . The diode  109  and the MOS switch  103  are connected in series between a power supply  107  and a load  108 . 
         [0006]    When a voltage of the power supply  107  at an input terminal IN is larger than a voltage of a cathode of the diode  109  at an output terminal OUT, a current flows through the diode  109  because a forward voltage is applied on the diode  109 . Meanwhile, when the voltage of the cathode of the diode  109  at the output terminal OUT is larger than the voltage of power supply  107  at the input terminal IN, the current through the diode  109  is restricted and may be a small reverse current which is defined by a current-to-voltage characteristic of the diode  109 . 
         [0007]    In the backflow prevention circuit  100  of  FIG. 1 , however, there is a power loss at the diode  109  due to the forward current of the diode  109 . Further, a resistance between the power supply  107  and the load  108  is increased due to a resistance of the diode  109  in addition to a resistance of the MOS switch  103 . 
         [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates another example of the conventional backflow prevention circuit  200 . The backflow prevention circuit  200  includes a MOS switch  113 , a comparator  111 , a bias voltage source  112  and a gate drive circuit  120 . The bias voltage source  112  is employed to improve a noise margin of the backflow prevention circuit  200  and is connected between the power supply  107  and an inverted-input terminal of the comparator  111 . The MOS switch  113  is formed of a P-MOS (p-channel metal oxide semiconductor) transistor. A voltage of the bias voltage source  112  is set to be smaller than the voltage of the power supply  107 . 
         [0009]    The comparator  111  compares voltages between an output voltage at the output terminal OUT and the voltage of the power supply  107  at the input terminal IN. When the output voltage becomes lower than a predetermined voltage Vc, the comparator  111  outputs a high level signal to a gate of the P-MOS transistor (MOS switch  113 ) so as to fix the MOS switch  113  to be off. The predetermined voltage Vc is defined by the following formula: 
         [0000]    
       
      
       Vc=Vp−Vb  
      
     
         [0010]    where Vp is the voltage of the power supply  107  and Vb is the bias voltage source  112 . Thus, a reverse current is prevented by setting the MOS switch  113  to be in shutdown state. The MOS switch  113  is off in a shutdown state. 
         [0011]    In the backflow prevention circuit  200  of  FIG. 2 , however, minimum voltage for the operation is relatively high because the comparator  111  may be formed of a differential amplifier which requires a larger voltage from the power supply to operate. Further, there may be a penalty in power consumption because the differential amplifier may include a constant current source which generates current constantly. Moreover, an operational voltage range may be narrower in comparison to other backflow prevention circuits, because an input voltage for the comparator  111  is restricted to be within a narrower voltage range. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, a full voltage range from the power supply voltage to ground voltage may be needed to be input to the comparator  111  of  FIG. 2 . Therefore, it may be necessary to employ so called Rail-to-Rail input circuit at an input part of the differential amplifier. The so called Rail-to-Rail outputs almost full voltage range from the power supply voltage to ground to the differential amplifier. 
         [0013]    However, such input circuit may require approximately twice more circuit elements in comparison to conventional input circuit of the differential amplifier. As a result, the backflow prevention circuit  200  may be a large circuit in size and may have a larger power consumption in comparison with other backflow prevention circuits. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0014]    This patent specification describes a novel backflow prevention circuit which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a first switch configured to conduct or to shut down a current path from an input terminal to an output terminal, a logic circuit configured to binarize an input voltage at the input terminal based on an output voltage at the output terminal, and output a binary signal, and a shutdown circuit configured to cause the first switch to shut down independently of a switching control signal in accordance with the binary signal output from the logic circuit. The switching control signal is used to perform switching control of the first switch. The logic circuit outputs a shutdown signal to shut down independently of the switching control signal when the input voltage becomes smaller than the output voltage. 
         [0015]    According to another exemplary embodiment of this patent specification, the novel backflow prevention circuit further includes a pull-down resistor configured to form a pull-down connection so as to increase a margin of the backflow prevention circuit. 
         [0016]    In another exemplary embodiment of this patent specification, the novel backflow prevention circuit further includes a second switch configured to perform switching in accordance with the binary signal of the logic circuit, a current-limit resistor connected between a substrate gate of the first switch and the output terminal, and a third switch connected between the substrate gate of the first switch and ground and configured to perform switching at equal timing to the switching of the second switch in accordance with the binary signal of the logic circuit. The first switch can be formed of N-channel MOS transistor and the shutdown circuit is connected between a gate of the N-channel MOS transistor and ground. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional backflow prevention circuit; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates another conventional backflow prevention circuit; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a backflow prevention circuit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates a gate drive circuit of the backflow prevention circuit of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a backflow prevention circuit according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates another example of a backflow prevention circuit according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates a backflow prevention circuit according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    In describing preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, particularly to  FIG. 3 , a backflow prevention circuit according to exemplary embodiments are described. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a backflow prevention circuit  1  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The backflow prevention circuit  1  is a switching circuit and connects a DC power supply  10  to a load  11 . The DC power supply  10  is wired to an input terminal IN and the load  11  is wired to an output terminal OUT of the backflow prevention circuit  1 . 
         [0027]    The backflow prevention circuit  1  includes a MOS switch  2 , a gate drive circuit  3  and a backflow prevention control circuit  4 . The MOS switch  2  is formed of N-MOS (n-channel metal oxide semiconductor) transistor. The gate drive circuit  3  supplies a driving voltage to make the MOS switch  2  on and off. The backflow prevention control circuit  4  is to prevent a backflow current from flowing back from the load  11  to the DC power supply  10 . The backflow prevention control circuit  4  is formed of the N-MOS transistor  7  and an inverter  8 . 
         [0028]    The MOS switch  2  performs as a first switch. The N-MOS transistor  7  performs as a second switch and forms a shutdown circuit. The inverter  8  forms a logic circuit. The backflow prevention control circuit  4  is a control circuit to prevent the backflow current from flowing back from the output terminal OUT to the input terminal IN, when the output voltage becomes larger than the input voltage. 
         [0029]    The MOS switch  2  is connected between the input terminal IN and the output terminal OUT. A substrate gate of the MOS switch  2  is wired to the output terminal OUT. The N-MOS transistor  7  is connected between a gate of the MOS switch  2  and ground. 
         [0030]    As for the inverter  8 , an input terminal of the inverter  8  is wired to the input terminal IN and an output terminal of the inverter  8  is wired to a gate of the N-MOS transistor  7 . A power to the inverter  8  is supplied from the output terminal OUT. A substrate gate of the N-MOS transistor  7  is wired to ground. The inverter  8  may be formed of a variety of combinations such as a P-MOS transistor and a resistor, a N-MOS transistor and a resistor, NMOS and PMOS transistors, etc. 
         [0031]    The gate drive circuit  3  may be formed of a charge pump circuit as shown in  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the gate drive circuit  3  includes a power source  20 , an oscillator  21 , diodes  22  to  24 , invertors  25  and  26  and capacitors  27  to  29 . The power source  20  supplies a predetermined voltage. The oscillator  21  generates a predetermined rectangular wave. 
         [0032]    A plus terminal of the power source  20  is wired to an anode of the diode  22  and a terminal of the capacitor  27 . Another terminal of the capacitor  27  is wired to an output terminal of the oscillator  21  and an input terminal of the inverter  25 . A cathode of the diode  22  is wired to an anode of the diode  23  and a terminal of the capacitor  28 . An output terminal of the inverter  25  is wired to another terminal of the capacitor  28  and an input terminal of the inverter  26 . 
         [0033]    Similarly, a cathode of the diode  23  is wired to an anode of the diode  24  and a terminal of the capacitor  29 . An output terminal of the inverter  26  is wired to another terminal of the capacitor  29 . A cathode of the diode  24  is an output terminal of the gate drive circuit  3  and is wired to the gate of the MOS switch  2 . 
         [0034]    With this circuit configuration, when the output voltage becomes larger than the input voltage, the inverter  8  outputs a high level signal to the gate of the N-MOS transistor  7  so as to make the N-MOS transistor  7  to be on. When the N-MOS transistor  7  is on, the gate of the MOS switch  2  is grounded so that the MOS switch  2  is to be off. Thus, the backflow prevention circuit  1  is set to be in shutdown state independently of the operation of the gate drive circuit  3 . Thus, the backflow prevention control circuit  4  controls to prevent the backflow current from flowing back from the output terminal OUT to the input terminal IN. 
         [0035]    When the MOS switch  2  is stopped to operate, a reverse current through the N-MOS transistor  7  is relatively very small. Furthermore, even while the MOS switch  2  is being operated, only a very small leakage current is flowing from the gate drive circuit  3 . Since the gate drive circuit  3  is formed of, for example, the charge pump circuit of  FIG. 4 , there may be no output current of the gate drive circuit  3  except a very small leakage current to the gate of the MOS switch  2 . 
         [0036]    By the backflow prevention circuit  1  according to the first exemplary embodiment, a power saving is achieved without additional power loss to a power loss due to the current flow from the input terminal IN to the output terminal OUT at a forward bias. Further, the backflow prevention control circuit  4  is simple and is just formed of one inverter and one N-MOS transistor. Therefore, it is easily integrated into an IC (integrated circuit) and a necessary area for the backflow prevention control circuit  4  may be relatively small in the IC. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  illustrates a backflow prevention circuit  50  according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In a second exemplary embodiment, a depression MOS transistor is introduced to the backflow prevention control circuit  1  of  FIG. 3 . Namely, only difference from the first exemplary embodiment is that the depression NMOS transistor  31  is introduced. 
         [0038]    Similar to the first exemplary embodiment, the backflow prevention circuit  50  includes the MOS switch  2 , the gate drive circuit  3  and a backflow prevention control circuit  4   a . The MOS switch  2  is formed of N-MOS transistor. The gate drive circuit  3  supplies a gate voltage to cause the MOS switch  2  on and off. 
         [0039]    The backflow prevention control circuit  4   a  is a control circuit to prevent a backflow current from flowing back from the load  11  to the DC power supply  10 . The backflow prevention control circuit  4   a  is formed of the N-MOS transistor  7 , an inverter  8  and the depression NMOS transistor  31 . 
         [0040]    The depression NMOS transistor  31  is connected between the output terminal of the inverter  8  and ground. A gate and a substrate gate of the depression NMOS transistor  31  is wired to ground to work as a constant current source. The depression MOS transistor works as a pull-down resistance to fix the output voltage of the inverter  8  to be ground voltage. 
         [0041]    The depression NMOS transistor  31  improves a noise margin of the backflow prevention circuit  50  so as to avoid a following false operation. 
         [0042]    When the output voltage is dropped slightly, the supply power voltage of the inverter  8  is also decreased because the power is supplied to the inverter  8  from the output terminal. By the decrease of the supply power voltage of the inverter  8 , an input voltage range, which allows the inverter  8  to output a low level signal in response to a predetermined input voltage range, is changed and becomes narrower. 
         [0043]    The inverter  8  may output an almost equal voltage to the output voltage of the output terminal OUT to the gate of the N-MOS transistor  7 , in accordance with a slight drop of the input voltage at the input terminal IN. As a result, the N-MOS transistor  7  may be turned on. 
         [0044]    By the backflow prevention circuit  50  according to the second embodiment, however, it is possible to avoid an occurrence of such faulty operation by fixing the output voltage of the inverter  8  to be ground voltage. 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  illustrates another example of a backflow prevention circuit according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The backflow prevention circuit  60  of  FIG. 6  is different from the backflow prevention circuit  50  of  FIG. 5  only in that a gate of the depression NMOS transistor  31  is wired to the input terminal IN. The backflow prevention circuit  60  can obtain a similar effect as the backflow prevention circuit  50  of the  FIG. 5 . 
         [0046]    Thus, the depression NMOS transistor  31  is employed and is connected between the output terminal of the inverter  8  and ground to improve the noise margin of the backflow prevention circuits  50  and  60  in the second exemplary embodiment. 
         [0047]    In a switching circuits using MOS transistor switch, a substrate bias effect of MOS transistor is to be considered. The substrate bias effect may increase the threshold voltage of the MOS switch and affect the switching performance of the MOS transistor switch. 
         [0048]    In the switch circuit in which a MOS switch is provided between input and output terminals and a substrate gate of the MOS switch is wired to ground, when high voltage is input to the input terminal IN and the MOS switch is to be on, the threshold voltage of the MOS switch is increased due to the substrate bias effect of MOS transistor. When the threshold voltage of the MOS switch is increased, a resistance at on-state of the MOS switch is increased. 
         [0049]    In the first and second exemplary embodiments, the substrate gate of the MOS switch  2  is wired to the output terminal to avoid the substrate bias effect. 
         [0050]    However, there may be a possibility of an occurrence of a forward bias at a reverse current condition in which the output voltage is larger than the input voltage. If the output voltage is higher than a voltage at the substrate gate of the MOS switch  2  at the reverse current condition, a large current may flow due to the forward bias which may be formed between the output terminal OUT and the substrate gate of the MOS switch  2 . 
         [0051]    In a third exemplary embodiment, a N-MOS transistor  35  and a resistor  36  are added to the backflow prevention circuit of  FIG. 5  to avoid such forward bias condition by applying ground voltage to the substrate gate of the MOS switch  2  at the reverse current condition. 
         [0052]      FIG. 7  illustrates a backflow prevention circuit  70  according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The backflow prevention circuit  70  includes the MOS switch  2 , the gate drive circuit  3  and a backflow prevention control circuit  4   b . The MOS switch  2  is formed of N-MOS transistor. The gate drive circuit  3  supplies a gate voltage to cause the MOS switch  2  on and off. 
         [0053]    The backflow prevention control circuit  4   b  is a control circuit to prevent a backflow current from flowing back from the load  11  to the DC power supply  10 . The backflow prevention control circuit  4   b  is formed of N-MOS transistors  7  and  35 , the inverter  8 , the depression NMOS transistor  31  and a resistor  36 . 
         [0054]    The N-MOS transistor  35  and the resistor  36  are connected in series between the output terminal OUT and ground. The connecting node of the N-MOS transistor  35  and the resistor  36  is wired to the substrate gate of the switch  2 . The N-MOS transistor  35  forms a third switch. As for the N-MOS transistor  35 , a gate of the N-MOS transistor  35  is wired to the output terminal of the inverter  8 . The substrate gate of the N-MOS transistor  35  is wired to ground. 
         [0055]    With this circuit configuration, when the output voltage becomes larger than the input voltage, the inverter  8  outputs a high level signal to the gate of the N-MOS transistor  7 . The N-MOS transistors  7  and  35  are to be on at same time. Then, the substrate gate of the MOS switch  2  is grounded. As a result, a backflow current is avoided by setting the MOS switch  2  to be off and in shutdown state. 
         [0056]    Thus, in the backflow prevention circuit  70  according to the third exemplary embodiment, the N-MOS transistor  35  is connected between the substrate gate of the MOS switch  2  and ground. The substrate gate of the MOS switch  2  is connected to the output terminal through the resistor  36 . 
         [0057]    It is possible to avoid the reverse current by setting the MOS switch  2  to be off and in shutdown state. Further, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a leakage current of the MOS switch  2  due to the forward bias at the reverse current condition, in addition to obtaining similar benefits as the second exemplary embodiment. 
         [0058]    The resistor  36  limits a current through the N-MOS transistor  35 . A power consumption capacity of the resistor  36  is determined to allow a predetermined current from the output terminal OUT to ground at the reverse current condition. 
         [0059]    The backflow prevention circuit  70  according to the third exemplary embodiment is a modification of the backflow prevention circuit of  FIG. 5 . However, the concept of this disclosure is also applicable to other backflow prevention circuits such as the backflow prevention circuits of  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6  and etc. 
         [0060]    Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure of this patent specification may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 
         [0061]    This patent specification is based on Japanese patent application No. 2005-355809 filed on Dec. 9, 2005 in the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.