Application of normally-on switching elements/devices in a stacked switching circuit

摘要

A stacked switching circuit with normally-on devices includes a first normally-on switch coupled between a first input rail and an output port, and is coupled to be switched in response to a first control signal. A second normally-on switch is coupled to the output port and is coupled to a normally-off switch in a cascode coupled configuration. A second terminal of the normally-off switch is coupled to a second input rail. The normally-off switch is coupled to be switched in response to a second control signal. Switching of the stacked switching circuit is coupled to provide chopped high frequency pulses through the output port. Current flow through the stacked switching circuit between the first input rail and the second input rail is blocked at startup.

主权项

1. A stacked switching circuit with normally-on devices including at least a triplet of switches for use with a power converter comprising:
a first normally-on switch having a first terminal coupled to a first input rail at an input port of the switching circuit with normally-on devices, wherein a second terminal of the first normally-on switch is directly coupled to an output port of the switching circuit with normally-on devices, and wherein a control terminal of the first normally-on switch is directly coupled to receive a first control signal directly from a first controller to switch off the first normally-on switch; and a normally-off switching device structure coupled to the first normally-on switch, wherein the normally-off switching device structure includes:
a second normally-on switch having a first terminal coupled to the output port of the switching circuit with normally-on devices; anda normally-off switch coupled to the second normally-on switch in a cascode coupled configuration such that a second terminal of the second normally-on switch is coupled to a first terminal of the normally-off switch, wherein a second terminal of the normally-off switch is coupled to a second input rail of the switching circuit with normally-on devices at the input port of the stacked switching circuit with normally-on devices, wherein the normally-off switch is coupled to be switched on in response to a second control signal received at the control terminal of the normally-off switch, wherein the first and second control signals are coupled to control switching of the switching circuit with normally-on devices to provide chopped high frequency pulses through the output port of the switching circuit with normally-on devices, and wherein the normally-off switch coupled to the second normally-on switch in the cascode coupled configuration block current flow through the switching circuit with normally-on devices between the first input rail and the second input rail at startup of the switching circuit with normally-on devices.