Power Integrations, Inc.
Multiple stage gate drive for cascode current sensing

Abstract:

A power converter includes an energy transfer element coupled between an input of the power converter and an output of the power converter. A control switch is coupled to a normally-on switch. The normally-on switch is coupled to the energy transfer element. A controller is coupled to control switching of the control switch to control a transfer of energy from the input of the power converter to the output of the power converter. The controller includes a drive circuit coupled to generate a drive signal in response to a control signal to control switching of the control switch. The drive signal in a first stage of a multiple stage gate drive is coupled not to fully enhance the control switch. The drive signal provided by a second stage of the multiple stage gate drive is coupled to fully enhance the control switch.