Power Integrations, Inc.
CASCODE SWITCHES INCLUDING NORMALLY-OFF AND NORMALLY-ON DEVICES AND CIRCUITS COMPRISING THE SWITCHES

Abstract:

A cascode switch comprising a normally-on semiconductor device comprising a gate, a source and a drain, and a normally-off semiconductor device comprising a gate, a source and a drain. The drain of the normally-off semiconductor device coupled to the normally-on semiconductor device, the source of the normally-on semiconductor device coupled to the drain of the normally-off semiconductor device and the gate of the normally-on semiconductor device coupled to the source of the normally-off semiconductor device. The cascode switch further comprises a leakage current clamp coupled across the normally-off semiconductor device, the leakage current clamp circuit configured to prevent the drain of the normally-off semiconductor from going too high due to leakage current.