High side switch

摘要

A semiconductor chip includes at least one power semiconductor switch configured to activate and deactivate current conduction from a first supply terminal, which is connected to a first supply line that provides an unstabilized first supply voltage, to the at least one output terminal in accordance with a respective control signal. In operation, the unstabilized first supply voltage is monitored and an under-voltage is signaled when the unstabilized first supply voltage falls below a first threshold value. The first supply terminal is short circuited with a third terminal when the an under-voltage is signaled.

主权项

1. A semiconductor chip comprising:
a first supply terminal operably connected to a first supply line that provides an unstabilized first supply voltage; a second supply terminal operably connected to a second supply line that provides a stabilized second supply voltage; a third terminal that provides a reference potential; at least one output terminal that provides an output current; at least one power semiconductor switch integrated in the semiconductor chip and configured to activate and deactivate current conduction from the first supply terminal to the at least one output terminal in accordance with a respective control signal; and control circuitry configured to provide the control signal supplied to the at least one power semiconductor switch, the control circuitry comprising; a monitoring circuit supplied by the stabilized second supply voltage and configured to monitor the unstabilized first supply voltage, the monitoring of the unstabilized first supply voltage comprising signaling an under-voltage when the unstabilized first supply voltage falls below a first threshold value, and a switch configured to short circuit the first supply terminal and the third terminal when the monitoring circuit signals the under-voltage.