TRANSFORMER DRIVER CIRCUIT WITH IC PROTECTION CIRCUITRY

摘要

A transformer driver circuit couples to a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a transformer tap that is connected to a first voltage source. The primary winding electrically connects at its ends to respective unipolar controllable current sinks that form part of an integrated circuit. The transformer driver circuit operates by each current sink selectively sinking current from the end of the primary winding to which it is connected so as to cause current to flow in the secondary winding in a push-pull fashion. The transformer driver circuit further includes a load electrically connected to the secondary winding and protection circuitry operative to protect the integrated circuit from input levels greater than it can withstand.

主权项

1. An integrated circuit comprising:
a first controllable current sink having a first input and a first output, the first output configured to drive a first end of a primary winding of a transformer; a second controllable current sink having a second input and a second output, the second output configured to drive a second end of the primary winding of the transformer; modulator circuitry configured to drive the first input of the first current sink and drive the second input of the second current sink based upon an input signal and limited by first and second feedback signals; and protection circuitry configured to produce the first and second feedback signals to limit operations of the first controllable current sink and the second controllable current sink to protect the integrated circuit from voltage levels greater than a protection voltage of the integrated circuit at the first output and the second output.