Abstract:
A loss-of-ground protection circuit for an electronic relay including a control circuit driving a power transistor, and at least one cutoff transistor having a grounded control terminal, the cutoff transistor being interposed between the control circuit and a control terminal of the power transistor, and having a polarity such that loss of ground will cause the cutoff transistor to turn off.

Description:
This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e)(1) of provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 60/081,475 mfiled Apr. 10, 1998 and U.S. application Ser. No. 60/094,966 filed Jul. 31, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to electronic relays and high-side drivers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic Relays 
     Relays are in widespread use in industry. In particular, electronic relays are gaining popularity over mechanical relays in many areas where advances in technology by way of processes and packaging provide for their application. 
     Electronic relays may comprise, for example, an integrated driver control circuit which controls a separate power output driver (transistor or other solid-state device) which can switch loads demanding high power. Both the driver control circuit and the output driver may comprise active devices which are sensitive to voltage fluctuations. These unwanted fluctuations may cause the device to turn on at the moment it is intended to be off. Thus good grounding practices are an essential factor in reducing the possibility of device turn-on as a result of voltage fluctuations. 
     A particular concern with electronic relays in the automotive industry is that the ground voltage of the load (e.g. a battery or alternator) may be different than the ground voltage of the electronic relay. This is a problem particularly in automotive environments, where dirty connections can cause a shift in contact resistance, and high currents are common. As a result, present electronic relay designs may behave erratically if the ground potentials are sufficiently different. For example, if the relay ground rises sufficiently above the load ground, active device threshold voltages may be exceeded, resulting in the device turning on when it should not be on. 
     Automotive applications also offer an operating environment which can be harsh due to vibrations and wide temperature excursions. As a result, relay connections may be the source of numerous problems due to thermal creep, vibration, or even inadvertent error by a person performing maintenance on the system where the connection is not replaced. Furthermore, in some systems, the connection may not be designed in such a way to prevent it from being reinserted the wrong way. Consequently, a person may incorrectly reconnect a cable where, for example, the ground terminal is connected to a potential other than ground. Again, the potential for active device turn-on exists when the possibility of relay ground sufficiently exceeds the load ground potential. 
     Prior-Art Protection Circuit 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a prior-art electronic relay loss-of-ground protection circuit. The minimum gate potential that the drive circuit  202  of electronic relay  200  can provide for the output driver (e.g. a power N-CH DMOS) Q 3  is the voltage of the driver control circuit ground reference GND R  (also relay ground). If the ground potential of the load GND L  has a lower voltage potential than the driver control circuit ground reference GND R , then the minimum gate-to-source voltage of the output driver Q 3  cannot be less than the voltage difference between the references, GND L  and GND R . If this voltage difference is greater than the threshold voltage of the output driver Q 3 , then the output driver Q 3  cannot be switched off. 
     In a worst case condition where relay ground GND R  is lost, or inadvertently connected to the battery voltage V BAT , the full battery voltage is applied between the gate and source of the output power transistor Q 3 . 
     Sample Protection Circuit 
     FIG. 3 shows an improvement to the prior-art circuit of FIG. 2, using an additional discrete transistor Q 1  (located outside the dotted-line boundary of the integrated circuit) to provide loss-of-ground protection. In this scenario, when the relay ground potential GND R  is substantially greater than the load ground potential GND L , transistor Q 1  inhibits the output driver Q 3  from turning on. The transistor Q 1  (e.g. a bipolar NPN in this embodiment), biased by resistor R 1  to turn on during a rise in voltage at relay ground GND R , conducts because of a positive base-emitter voltage (V be ), and effectively shorts out the gate-source nodes of the output driver Q 3 . Consequently, the output driver Q 3  is turned off. 
     Resistors R 2  and R 3  limit the currents through respective parasitic well diodes D 2  and D 1  of the driver control circuit  302 . A major disadvantage of this solution is that the additional discrete transistor Q 1  cannot be integrated onto the same chip as the output driver Q 3  without introducing undesirable process side-effects. For example, integration of the transistor Q 1  automatically generates a parasitic well diode from the relay ground node GND R  to the collector of the transistor Q 1 . Therefore, the undesirable constraints of FIG.  2  are reintroduced where the gate voltage of the output driver Q 3  cannot be less than one V be  drop with respect to relay ground GND R . 
     Innovative Structures and Methods 
     The present application discloses a loss-of-ground protection circuit for an electronic relay comprising a control circuit driving a power transistor, and at least one cutoff transistor having a grounded control terminal. The cutoff transistor is interposed between the control circuit and a control terminal of the power transistor, and has a polarity such that loss of ground will cause the cutoff transistor to turn off. 
     The innovative circuit advantageously provides loss-of-ground protection for electronic relays, and prevents the power DMOS output transistor from switching on improperly when ground is lost. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The disclosed inventions will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show important sample embodiments of the invention and which are incorporated in the specification hereof by reference, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the innovative ground protection circuit. 
     FIG. 2 shows a prior-art electronic relay circuit. 
     FIG. 3 shows an improvement to the prior-art circuit of FIG. 2 in accordance with the prior art. 
     FIG. 4 shows an example of a mixed-signal device in which the circuit of FIG. 1 is advantageously included. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred embodiment. However, it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily delimit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. 
     Electronic relays used in automotive applications usually have the problem that the ground connection of the load is not the same as the ground connection of the relay. 
     Innovative Loss-of-Ground Protection Circuit 
     FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the innovative ground protection circuit, which does not require any discrete components. The circuit can be implemented using an integrated high-voltage N-channel DMOS on the driver chip. Unlike the circuit of FIG. 3, there is no need for an external NPN transistor. Another advantage is that there are no parasitic diodes on the gate of the power DMOS high-side driver (“HSD”) Q 3 . The driver control circuit  102  of the electronic relay  100  implements a pair of PMOS transistors (QP 1  and QP 2 ) to cancel the effects of the parasitic diodes D 1  and D 2 , respectively. When the output driver Q 3  is switched on, the voltage at Nodes  1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , is positive with respect to the voltage at relay ground GND R . Since the gates of transistors QP 1  and QP 2  are negative with respect to their respective sources (Nodes  3  and  4 ), transistors QP 1  and QP 2  are switched on, and connect the driver control circuit  102  to the output driver Q 3 . When the output driver Q 3  is switched off, Nodes  3  and  4  are at the same voltage as relay ground GND R . Transistors QP 1  and QP 2  are switched off when the voltage at Nodes  3  and  4  falls below the threshold voltage of the transistors QP 1  and QP 2 . When this occurs, transistors QP 1  and QP 2  isolate the respective parasitic diodes D 1  and D 2  of the driver control circuit  102  from the output driver Q 3 . A resistor R 4  (e. g., a poly-resistor which is isolated by oxide and creates no parasitic diodes) keeps the output driver Q 3  off. This allows both gate and source voltages of the output driver Q 3  to be much lower than the voltage at relay ground GND R . Schottky diodes SBD 1  and SBD 2  are placed across the drain-source of respective transistors QP 1  and QP 2  to negate the effects of parasitic currents in the drain-to-backgate diodes inherent in transistors like QP 1  and QP 2 . The Schottky diodes prevent latchup with the high voltage transients which are common in an automotive environment. The breakdown voltage (BVDSS) of each PMOS transistor and associated Schottky diode used in the process is approximately 50 V, which is much higher than the voltage of a car battery. 
     Since transistors QP 1  and QP 2  are switched off when relay ground GND R  is lost or substantially greater than load ground GND L , only the poly-resistor R 4  remains functionally connected across the gate-source terminals of the output driver Q 3  to keep it turned off. 
     Note that FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram which emphasizes the loss-of-ground protection at the output. Other functions (shown generally in FIG. 1 as “optional circuitry  113 ”) may of course be interposed between the control input and the source of transistor QP 1 . These other functions can include, for example, level shifting, de- glitching (i.e. filtering to remove transients), clamping, and/or other functions. 
     FIG. 4 shows an example of a mixed signal chip which uses the innovative protection circuit. The chip in this example is a TPIC41HO1 manufactured by Texas Instruments. This is a single-channel pulse-width modulated (“PWM”) high side FET predriver, which is used, for example, in solid state relay applications. The device is targeted to drive an external DMOS power transistor (for example, transistor Q 3 ), while providing different PWM modes and protection functions according to automotive requirements. In this example, one of the PWM modes is for continuous dimming of the load at 38% or 66% duty cycle (e.g., dimming headlamps for daylight use), and the second PWM mode is a soft-start feature (for use e.g., in motor control). The device needs a minimum of external compo- nents (primarily for protection against high voltage). All other functions like oscillator, digital control of the PWM functions, slew rate control, and charge to control the gate of the DMOS transistor, are integrated. The TPIC41H01 protects the external DMOS transistor against overload and short circuit. An external temperature sensor NTC close to the DMOS transistor can feed an overtemperature signal to the device to shut down the gate. The output transistor Q 3  is controlled by a circuit  405 . Circuit  400  comprises, in this case, a resistor R 4  across the gate-source of transistor Q 3 , with a value of approximately 1 MΩ. 
     Following is a table of terminal functions of this chip. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Terminal Functions 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Terminal 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Name 
                 No. 
                 I/O 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 RST 
                 1 
                 I 
                 Restart/test clock input 
               
               
                   
                 IN3 
                 2 
                 I 
                 PWM mode input 3 
               
               
                   
                 FAULT 
                 3 
                 O 
                 Fault output 
               
               
                   
                 no 
                 4 
                   
                 Not connected 
               
               
                   
                 MODE 
                 5 
                   
                 To be connected to GND 
               
               
                   
                 REF 
                 6 
                 I 
                 Reference resistor 
               
               
                   
                 GND 
                 7 
                   
                 Ground 
               
               
                   
                 VCC 
                 8 
                   
                 Supply voltage 
               
               
                   
                 SENS 
                 9 
                 I 
                 Drain/supply voltage sense 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 input 
               
               
                   
                 GATE 
                 10 
                 O 
                 Gate control output 
               
               
                   
                 SRC 
                 11 
                 I 
                 Source input 
               
               
                   
                 IN2 
                 12 
                 I 
                 PWM mode input 2 
               
               
                   
                 IN1 
                 13 
                 I 
                 PWM mode input 1 
               
               
                   
                 PROT 
                 14 
                 I 
                 Temperature protection input 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Recommended Operating Conditions 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Parameter 
                 Min. 
                 Nom. 
                 Max. 
                 Unit 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 V CC  Supply Voltage 
                 5 
                   
                 16 
                 V 
               
               
                 R REF  Reference resistor (+/− 
                   
                 24 
                   
                 kΩ 
               
               
                 1%, TC &lt; 100 ppm/K) 
               
               
                 t amb  Operating temperature 
                 −40 
                   
                 125 
                 ° C. 
               
               
                 range 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 NOTE: All voltage values are measured with respect to the ground terminal.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Function Table and Truth Tables 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 IN1 
                 IN2 
                 IN3 
                 Mode 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 High 
                 High 
                 High 
                 Quiescent 
               
               
                   
                 High 
                 High 
                 Low 
                 Quiescent 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 High 
                 Low 
                 High 
                 PWM 
                 38% 
                 60 Hz 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 High 
                 Low 
                 Low 
                 PWM soft 
                 45 Hz 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 start 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Low 
                 High 
                 High 
                 PWM 
                 66% 
                 60 Hz 
               
               
                   
                 Low 
                 High 
                 Low 
                 PWM 
                 66% 
                 60 Hz 
               
               
                   
                 Low 
                 Low 
                 High 
                 DC 
                   
                 100% 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Low 
                 Low 
                 Low 
                 Quiescent 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 RST 
                 Mode 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Low 
                 Auto Restart 
               
               
                   
                 High 
                 Restart only after switching into quiescent 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mode; applicable only for short circuit fail- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ures 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Mode 
                 Mode 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Low 
                 Normal Operation 
               
               
                   
                 High 
                 Extended mode/Test mode 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Output Decode Table 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Fault 
                 Status Information 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Low 
                 Overcurrent or overtemperature fault 
               
               
                   
                 High 
                 Normal Operation 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Alternative Embodiment 
     One Intercept Transistor 
     In an alternative embodiment, only one transistor (QP 1 ) may be required to provide the desired result, according to the circuit of FIG.  1 . 
     Modifications and Variations 
     As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the innovative concepts described in the present application can be modified and varied over a tremendous range of applications, and accordingly the scope of patented subject matter is not limited by any of the specific exemplary teachings given, but is only defined by the issued claims. 
     For example, if the circuit of FIG. 1 is used in a positive-ground system, NMOS devices may be used instead of PMOS devices.