1MHz Gate Driver in Power Technology for Fast Switching Applications

The demand for low-cost integrated circuits for automotive applications is increasing, while their cost must remain low to maintain product competitiveness. In this scenario, to guarantee DC-DC Buck converters high-efficiency and low cost (in terms of external components) increasing switching frequency is mandatory. The main problems are inherent the parasitic inductances and the parasitic capacitance of power MOSFET. This paper deals with the main critical aspects of increasing such switching frequency and show how to replace the external Schottky diode with an integrated structure. The case of a highspeed monolithic integrated circuit to control a load current is here proposed. Proper design allows to achieve switching frequency up to 1MHz with 94.4% efficiency.