Patent
US 12,273,096 B2DRIVER CIRCUIT FOR A GaN SWITCH MODE POWER CONVERTER
Zhiquan Chen, Jie Fu, Yu Wang, Shan Wang et al.
SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V., Eindhoven (NL)·Apr. 8, 2025·US
Copyright © 2026 Matter42. All rights reserved.
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 12,273,096 B2Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a known circuit to drive a GaN power commutation switch of a switch mode power converter; 25
FIG. 2 shows a first example of a boost converter archi- tecture;
FIG. 3 shows operating waveforms for the circuit of
FIG. 4 shows the same circuit approach of
FIG. 5 shows a second example of a boost converter architecture;
FIG. 6 shows operating waveforms for the circuit of
FIG. 7 shows the same circuit approach of
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A driver circuit for driving a power commutation GaN switch of a switch mode power converter, the power con-verter having in a power commutation an energy storage phase when the power commutation switch is closed and a freewheeling phase when the power commutation switch is open, the driver circuit comprising: a sensing component connectable to the GaN switch and adapted to sense a parameter of the power commuta-tion, the sensing component being in a sensing path and comprising a sensing resistor; an energy storage component to provide a certain turn on voltage between the gate and source of the GaN switch; a controlling circuit connected to the GaN switch to control its switching according to the sensed parameter of the power commutation for feedback control purpose and to charge and discharge the energy storage com-ponent, wherein the controlling circuit is adapted to: charge the energy storage component via the sensing component to derive the certain turn on voltage between the gate and source of the GaN switch when the control unit does not use a signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose at this time; or wherein the energy storage component is connectable across the gate of the GaN switch and a ground, the sensing component is connectable to a source of the GaN switch and the ground, and the controlling circuit is adapted to discharge the energy stored in the energy storage component to provide the certain turn on volt-age to the GaN switch to turn the GaN switch on and bypass the sensing component at the same time.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit further comprises a control loop, preferably a feedback control loop that uses the parameter sensed by the sensing component.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to: use the signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose in the charging phase, and not use the signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose throughout the freewheeling phase, and the energy storage component is coupled to the gate and source of the GaN switch, and the controlling circuit is adapted to charge the energy storage component via the sensing component in the freewheeling phase.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the controlling circuit is adapted to bypass the sensing component by short circuiting the sensing component during turn on of the GaN switch such that the voltage of the energy storage component between the gate of the GaN switch and the ground is applied across the gate and source of the GaN switch without being partially taken on the sensing component.
A power converter comprising: a power communication component; a GaN switch; a freewheeling diode; and the driver circuit of any one of claim 1 for driving the GaN switch.
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
driver circuit for GaN switch mode power converter
No layer stack recorded.
switch mode power converter with GaN switch
No layer stack recorded.
Patents and literature cited by this patent (applicant and examiner references).
Cited patents · 6
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 12,273,096 B2Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a known circuit to drive a GaN power commutation switch of a switch mode power converter; 25
FIG. 2 shows a first example of a boost converter archi- tecture;
FIG. 3 shows operating waveforms for the circuit of
FIG. 4 shows the same circuit approach of
FIG. 5 shows a second example of a boost converter architecture;
FIG. 6 shows operating waveforms for the circuit of
FIG. 7 shows the same circuit approach of
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A driver circuit for driving a power commutation GaN switch of a switch mode power converter, the power con-verter having in a power commutation an energy storage phase when the power commutation switch is closed and a freewheeling phase when the power commutation switch is open, the driver circuit comprising: a sensing component connectable to the GaN switch and adapted to sense a parameter of the power commuta-tion, the sensing component being in a sensing path and comprising a sensing resistor; an energy storage component to provide a certain turn on voltage between the gate and source of the GaN switch; a controlling circuit connected to the GaN switch to control its switching according to the sensed parameter of the power commutation for feedback control purpose and to charge and discharge the energy storage com-ponent, wherein the controlling circuit is adapted to: charge the energy storage component via the sensing component to derive the certain turn on voltage between the gate and source of the GaN switch when the control unit does not use a signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose at this time; or wherein the energy storage component is connectable across the gate of the GaN switch and a ground, the sensing component is connectable to a source of the GaN switch and the ground, and the controlling circuit is adapted to discharge the energy stored in the energy storage component to provide the certain turn on volt-age to the GaN switch to turn the GaN switch on and bypass the sensing component at the same time.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit further comprises a control loop, preferably a feedback control loop that uses the parameter sensed by the sensing component.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to: use the signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose in the charging phase, and not use the signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose throughout the freewheeling phase, and the energy storage component is coupled to the gate and source of the GaN switch, and the controlling circuit is adapted to charge the energy storage component via the sensing component in the freewheeling phase.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the controlling circuit is adapted to bypass the sensing component by short circuiting the sensing component during turn on of the GaN switch such that the voltage of the energy storage component between the gate of the GaN switch and the ground is applied across the gate and source of the GaN switch without being partially taken on the sensing component.
A power converter comprising: a power communication component; a GaN switch; a freewheeling diode; and the driver circuit of any one of claim 1 for driving the GaN switch.
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
driver circuit for GaN switch mode power converter
No layer stack recorded.
switch mode power converter with GaN switch
No layer stack recorded.
Patents and literature cited by this patent (applicant and examiner references).
Cited patents · 6
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 12,273,096 B2Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a known circuit to drive a GaN power commutation switch of a switch mode power converter; 25
FIG. 2 shows a first example of a boost converter archi- tecture;
FIG. 3 shows operating waveforms for the circuit of
FIG. 4 shows the same circuit approach of
FIG. 5 shows a second example of a boost converter architecture;
FIG. 6 shows operating waveforms for the circuit of
FIG. 7 shows the same circuit approach of
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A driver circuit for driving a power commutation GaN switch of a switch mode power converter, the power con-verter having in a power commutation an energy storage phase when the power commutation switch is closed and a freewheeling phase when the power commutation switch is open, the driver circuit comprising: a sensing component connectable to the GaN switch and adapted to sense a parameter of the power commuta-tion, the sensing component being in a sensing path and comprising a sensing resistor; an energy storage component to provide a certain turn on voltage between the gate and source of the GaN switch; a controlling circuit connected to the GaN switch to control its switching according to the sensed parameter of the power commutation for feedback control purpose and to charge and discharge the energy storage com-ponent, wherein the controlling circuit is adapted to: charge the energy storage component via the sensing component to derive the certain turn on voltage between the gate and source of the GaN switch when the control unit does not use a signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose at this time; or wherein the energy storage component is connectable across the gate of the GaN switch and a ground, the sensing component is connectable to a source of the GaN switch and the ground, and the controlling circuit is adapted to discharge the energy stored in the energy storage component to provide the certain turn on volt-age to the GaN switch to turn the GaN switch on and bypass the sensing component at the same time.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit further comprises a control loop, preferably a feedback control loop that uses the parameter sensed by the sensing component.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to: use the signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose in the charging phase, and not use the signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose throughout the freewheeling phase, and the energy storage component is coupled to the gate and source of the GaN switch, and the controlling circuit is adapted to charge the energy storage component via the sensing component in the freewheeling phase.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the controlling circuit is adapted to bypass the sensing component by short circuiting the sensing component during turn on of the GaN switch such that the voltage of the energy storage component between the gate of the GaN switch and the ground is applied across the gate and source of the GaN switch without being partially taken on the sensing component.
A power converter comprising: a power communication component; a GaN switch; a freewheeling diode; and the driver circuit of any one of claim 1 for driving the GaN switch.
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
driver circuit for GaN switch mode power converter
No layer stack recorded.
switch mode power converter with GaN switch
No layer stack recorded.
Patents and literature cited by this patent (applicant and examiner references).
Cited patents · 6
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 12,273,096 B2Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a known circuit to drive a GaN power commutation switch of a switch mode power converter; 25
FIG. 2 shows a first example of a boost converter archi- tecture;
FIG. 3 shows operating waveforms for the circuit of
FIG. 4 shows the same circuit approach of
FIG. 5 shows a second example of a boost converter architecture;
FIG. 6 shows operating waveforms for the circuit of
FIG. 7 shows the same circuit approach of
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A driver circuit for driving a power commutation GaN switch of a switch mode power converter, the power con-verter having in a power commutation an energy storage phase when the power commutation switch is closed and a freewheeling phase when the power commutation switch is open, the driver circuit comprising: a sensing component connectable to the GaN switch and adapted to sense a parameter of the power commuta-tion, the sensing component being in a sensing path and comprising a sensing resistor; an energy storage component to provide a certain turn on voltage between the gate and source of the GaN switch; a controlling circuit connected to the GaN switch to control its switching according to the sensed parameter of the power commutation for feedback control purpose and to charge and discharge the energy storage com-ponent, wherein the controlling circuit is adapted to: charge the energy storage component via the sensing component to derive the certain turn on voltage between the gate and source of the GaN switch when the control unit does not use a signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose at this time; or wherein the energy storage component is connectable across the gate of the GaN switch and a ground, the sensing component is connectable to a source of the GaN switch and the ground, and the controlling circuit is adapted to discharge the energy stored in the energy storage component to provide the certain turn on volt-age to the GaN switch to turn the GaN switch on and bypass the sensing component at the same time.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit further comprises a control loop, preferably a feedback control loop that uses the parameter sensed by the sensing component.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to: use the signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose in the charging phase, and not use the signal on the sensing component for feedback control purpose throughout the freewheeling phase, and the energy storage component is coupled to the gate and source of the GaN switch, and the controlling circuit is adapted to charge the energy storage component via the sensing component in the freewheeling phase.
The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the controlling circuit is adapted to bypass the sensing component by short circuiting the sensing component during turn on of the GaN switch such that the voltage of the energy storage component between the gate of the GaN switch and the ground is applied across the gate and source of the GaN switch without being partially taken on the sensing component.
A power converter comprising: a power communication component; a GaN switch; a freewheeling diode; and the driver circuit of any one of claim 1 for driving the GaN switch.
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
driver circuit for GaN switch mode power converter
No layer stack recorded.
switch mode power converter with GaN switch
No layer stack recorded.
Patents and literature cited by this patent (applicant and examiner references).
Cited patents · 6
Cited non-patent literature · 1
Cited non-patent literature · 1
Cited non-patent literature · 1
Cited non-patent literature · 1