Power supply isolation and switching circuit

摘要

A power supply isolation and switching circuit formed in a semiconductor structure which eliminates a parasitic diode effect. The switching circuit receives a first power source and a second power source, and selects between the two sources to provide the selected power source to a load device. The switching circuit includes a first transistor, and second and third transistors. The first transistor is connected to the first power source for selecting the first power source as the supply voltage of the load device. The second and third transistors are connected in series to the second power source for selecting the second power source. The second and third transistors are formed in two separate wells of a first conductivity type that are spaced apart and isolated from each other by a semiconductor region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. In operation, when the voltage level of the first power source is higher than a predetermined voltage, the first transistor is turned on to connect the first power source to the load device, and the second and third transistors are turned off to isolate the second power source from the load device. When its voltage falls below the predetermined voltage, however, the first transistor is turned off to isolate the first power source and the second and third transistors are turned on to connect the second power source to the load device.