8.1 Overview

In order to switch power transistors rapidly and reduce switching power losses, high-current gate drivers are often placed between the output of control devices and the gates of power transistors. There are several instances where controllers are not capable of delivering sufficient current to drive the gates of power transistors. This is especially the case with digital controllers, since the input signal from the digital controller is often a 3.3-V logic signal capable of only delivering a few mA.

The UCC5304 is a flexible gate driver that can be configured to fit a variety of power supply and motor drive topologies, as well as drive several types of transistors. UCC5304 has many features that allow it to integrate well with control circuitry and protect the gates it drives such as under voltage lock-out (UVLO) for both input and output voltages. The UCC5304 holds its output low when the input is left open or when the input pulse is not wide enough. The driver input pin is CMOS and TTL compatible for interfacing with digital and analog power controllers alike.