Dual Low-Voltage IC Design for High-Voltage Floating Gate Drives

An integrated circuit (IC) design for low and high side gate drive in high-voltage applications is presented based on use of two identical low-voltage ICs that provide a low cost alternative to existing high-voltage IC floating gate drivers. The approach uses a single external coupling capacitor between the two ICs with on-chip circuitry to provide charge pump power supply and on/off signaling. Design details are given for each of the core blocks of a custom IC prototype fabricated in a 20-V 0.8- mum CMOS process. Experimental results are presented demonstrating successful drive of a 200-V half-bridge with an electronic ballast and 32-W linear fluorescent lamp load.