DE-112024003139-T5 - SIGNAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND VEHICLE

Abstract

A signal transmission device 400 comprises a transmission circuit 411, a receiving circuit 421, and an isolating element 431, which transmits a pulse signal between the transmission circuit 411 and the receiving circuit 421 while isolating them. The transmission circuit 411 comprises an input terminal 411a, which receives an analog signal AIN; a comparator circuit 411b, which compares the analog signal AIN with each of a plurality of thresholds Vth1 to VthN to generate a plurality of comparator signals S1 to SN; and a pulse signal generation circuit 411c, which generates the pulse signal PS according to the plurality of comparator signals S1 to SN.

Inventors

• Hiroaki Sawaoka
• Daiki Yanagishima

Assignees

• ROHM CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240628

Priority Date

20230728

Claims (10)

1. A signal transmission device comprising: a transmission circuit; a receiving circuit; and an isolating element configured to transmit a pulse signal between the transmission circuit and the receiving circuit while isolating between them, whereby the transmission circuit comprises: an input terminal configured to receive an analog signal; a comparator circuit configured to compare the analog signal with each of a plurality of thresholds in order to generate a plurality of comparator signals; and a pulse signal generation circuit configured to generate the pulse signal according to the plurality of comparator signals.
2. Signal transmission device according to Claim 1 , wherein the comparison circuit comprises a multitude of comparators that receive the analog signal.
3. Signal transmission device according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pulse signal generation circuit switches a number of pulses in the pulse signal corresponding to the multitude of comparison signals.
4. Signal transmission device according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pulse signal generation circuit switches a pulse period of the pulse signal according to the multitude of comparison signals.
5. Signal transmission device according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pulse signal generation circuit switches a duty cycle of the pulse signal according to the multitude of comparison signals.
6. Signal transmission device according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , where the separating element is a transformer or a capacitor.
7. Signal transmission device according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , further comprising: a first chip in which the transmission circuit is integrated; a second chip in which the receiving circuit is integrated; and a third chip in which the separating element is integrated, wherein the first, second and third chips are sealed in a single package.
8. Signal transmission device according to Claim 7 , wherein the receiving circuit sets an operating parameter for the second chip according to the pulse signal transmitted by the transmission circuit via the separating element.
9. Electronic device with the signal transmission device according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 .
10. Vehicle with electronic device according to Claim 9 .

Description

Technical field The present disclosure relates to a signal transmission device, an electronic device and a vehicle. State of the art Signal transmission devices that transmit a signal between a primary circuit system and a secondary circuit system while electrically isolating them are used today in various applications (e.g., in power supply equipment and motor drive equipment). An example of known technology related to the above can be found in patent document 1 of the applicant of the present disclosure. Reference list patent specifications Patent document 1: WO 2022/070944 Explanation of the invention Technical problem [Summary of the invention] However, conventional signal transmission devices leave room for investigations regarding a method for changing the settings on a receiving side from a transmitting side. Solution to the task According to one aspect of the present disclosure, for example, a signal transmission device comprises a transmission circuit, a receiving circuit, and an isolating element configured to transmit a pulse signal between the transmission circuit and the receiving circuit while isolating them. The transmission circuit comprises an input terminal configured to receive an analog signal, a comparator circuit configured to compare the analog signal with each of a plurality of thresholds in order to generate a plurality of comparator signals, and a pulse signal generation circuit configured to generate the pulse signal according to the plurality of comparator signals. Brief description of the drawings [ 1 ] 1 is a view that illustrates the basic configuration of a signal transmission device.[ 2 ] 2 This is a view that illustrates the basic structure of a transformer chip.[ 3 ] 3 This is a perspective view of a semiconductor device used as a dual-channel transformer chip.[ 4 ] 4 is a top view of the in 3 Semiconductor component shown.[ 5 ] 5 is a top view of a layer in which 3 Semiconductor device shown, in which low-voltage coils are formed.[ 6 ] 6 is a top view of a layer in which 3 The depicted semiconductor component, in which high-voltage coils are formed.[ 7 ] 7 is a cross-sectional view along the in 6 depicted line VIII-VIII.[ 8 ] 8 is an enlarged view (showing a separation structure) of the in 7 depicted area XIII.[ 9 ] 9 This is a view that schematically illustrates an example of the structure of a transformer chip.[ 10 ] 10 is a view illustrating a signal transmission device according to a first embodiment (comparative example).[ 11 ] 11 is a view illustrating a signal transmission device according to a second embodiment.[ 12 ] 12 This is a view that illustrates a first example of pulse signal generation operation.[ 13 ] 13 This is a view that illustrates a second example of a pulse signal generation operation.[ 14 ] 14 This is a view that illustrates a third example of a pulse signal generation operation.[ 15 ] 15 is a view that illustrates the external appearance of a vehicle. Description of the embodiments < Signal transmission device (basic configuration) > 1 This is a view illustrating the basic configuration of a signal transmission device. The signal transmission device 200 in this configuration example is an integrated semiconductor circuit device (generally referred to as an isolated gate driver IC) that, while isolated between a primary circuit system 200p (VCC1-GND1 system) and a secondary circuit system 200s (VCC2-GND2 system), transmits a pulse signal from the primary circuit system 200p to the secondary circuit system 200s to drive the gate of a switching device (not shown) provided in the secondary circuit system 200s. The signal transmission device 200, for example, includes a controller chip 210, a driver chip 220, and a transformer chip 230, all sealed in a single package. The controller chip 210 is a semiconductor chip that operates with a supply voltage VCC1 (e.g., a maximum of seven volts relative to GND1). The controller chip 210 integrates components such as a pulse transmission circuit 211 and buffers 212 and 213. The pulse transmission circuit 211 is a pulse generator that produces transmission pulse signals S11 and S21 depending on an input pulse signal IN. More precisely, if the input pulse signal IN is high, the pulse transmission circuit 211 drives the transmission pulse signal S11 (outputting a single or multiple pulses); if the input pulse signal IN is low, the pulse transmission circuit 211 drives the transmission pulse signal S21. That is, the pulse transmission circuit 211 drives either the transmission pulse signal S11 or S21 according to the logic level of the input pulse signal IN. The buffer 212 receives the transmission pulse signal S11 from the pulse transmission circuit 211 and drives the transformer chip 230 (more precisely, a transformer 231). The buffer 213 receives the transmission pulse signal S21 from the pulse transmission circuit 211 and drives the transformer chip 230 (more precisely, a transformer 232). The driver chip 220