Programmable pulse generator and method for using same

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing a first control signal to a control terminal of the first electronic switch; providing a second control signal to a control terminal of the second electronic switch; and selecting the first and second control signals to sequentially enable the electronic switches to conduct.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing a third voltage to an input terminal of a third electronic switch; providing a third control signal to a control terminal of the third electronic switch; and selecting the first, second, and third control signals to enable the third electronic switch to conduct so that the third voltage is coupled to the input terminal of the electrical device while the first and second electronic switches isolate the first and second voltages from the input terminal of the electrical device.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein providing a first voltage. comprises providing a first voltage to an input terminal of a first pass gate, providing a second voltage comprises providing a second voltage to an input terminal of a second pass gate, and providing a third voltage comprises providing a third voltage to an input terminal of a third pass gate.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 , further comprising: generating the first voltage in a first programmable voltage source having an output coupled to the input terminal of the first electronic switch and a voltage control signal input coupled to receive a first voltage control signal; generating the second voltage in a second programmable voltage source having an output coupled to the input terminal of the second electronic switch and a voltage control signal input coupled to receive a second voltage control signal; and generating the third voltage in a third programmable voltage source having an output coupled to the input terminal of the third electronic switch and a voltage control signal input coupled to receive a third voltage control signal.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: generating the first, second, and third voltage control signals in a control logic circuit; and coupling the first, second, and third voltage control signals to the first, second, and third programmable voltage sources, respectively.

Claim 8

The method of claim 3 , further comprising: generating the first, second, and third control signals in a control logic circuit; and coupling the first, second, and third control signals to the control terminals of the first, second, and third electronic switches, respectively.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein providing a first voltage comprises coupling the input terminal of the first electronic switch to a ground voltage reference.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein providing a plurality of voltage sources comprises: generating a plurality of voltage control signals; coupling each voltage control signal to a voltage control signal input of a digital-to-analog converter; and generating a voltage in each of the digital-to-analog converters based on the voltage control signal coupled to the voltage control signal input of the digital-to-analog converter.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 wherein coupling each voltage source to an input terminal of a respective electronic switch comprises coupling each voltage source to an input terminal of a respective pass gate.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 , further comprising buffering the input terminal of the semiconductor device from the output terminal of each electronic switch.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing each voltage source from a digital-to-analog converter having a voltage control signal input coupled to receive a voltage control signal, an input coupled to a reference voltage, and an output, the digital-to-analog converter being structured to generate a voltage at the output based on the voltage control signal.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 , further comprising: generating a voltage control signal for each digital-to-analog converter; and selecting each voltage control signal. such that the digital-to-analog converters generate a plurality of differentiated voltages at their respective outputs.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 wherein coupling each of the plurality of electronic switches comprises coupling each of a plurality of pass gates between a respective one of a plurality of differentiated voltage sources and the input terminal of the semiconductor device.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 , further comprising: generating a control signal for each of the electronic switches to control a conductive state of the electronic switch; and coupling each control signal to a control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches to render the electronic switches conductive in a sequence.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13 , further comprising buffering the input terminal of the semiconductor device from each of the electronic switches.

Claim 24

The method of claim 19 , further comprising: providing a first control signal to a control terminal of the first electronic switch; providing a second control signal to a control terminal of the second electronic switch; and selecting the first and second control signals to sequentially enable the electronic switches to conduct.

Claim 25

The method of claim 20 , further comprising: providing a third voltage to an input terminal of a third electronic switch, the third voltage having a voltage level in accordance with a third voltage control signal; providing a third control signal to a control terminal of the third electronic switch; and selecting the first, second, and third control signals to enable the third electronic switch to conduct so that the third voltage is coupled to the input terminal of the electrical device while the first and second electronic switches isolate the first and second voltages from the input terminal of the electrical device.

Claim 26

The method of claim 21 wherein enabling the electronic switches comprises sequentially enabling the first, second, and third electronic switches to conduct according to an activation sequence.

Claim 27

The method of claim 21 wherein providing the first voltage comprises providing a first voltage to an input terminal of a first pass gate, providing the second voltage comprises providing a second voltage to an input terminal of a second pass gate, and providing a third voltage comprises providing a third voltage to an input terminal of a third pass gate.

Claim 28

The method of claim 21 , further comprising: generating the first voltage in a first programmable voltage source having an output coupled to the input terminal of the first electronic switch and a voltage control signal input coupled to receive the first voltage control signal; generating the second voltage in a second programmable voltage source having an output coupled to the input terminal of the second electronic switch and a voltage control signal input coupled to receive the second voltage control signal; and generating the third voltage in a third programmable voltage source having an output coupled to the input terminal of the third electronic switch and a voltage control signal input coupled to receive the third voltage control signal.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 , further comprising: generating the first, second, and third voltage control signals in a control logic circuit; and coupling the first, second, and third voltage control signals to the first, second, and third programmable voltage sources, respectively.

Claim 30

The method of claim 21 , further comprising: generating the first, second, and third control signals in a control logic circuit; and coupling the first, second, and third control signals to the control terminals of the first, second, and third electronic switches, respectively.

Claim 31

The method of claim 19 wherein providing a first voltage comprises coupling the input terminal of the first electronic switch to a ground voltage reference.

Claim 34

The method of claim 28 wherein rendering selected ones of the electronic switches comprises rendering the electronic switches conductive in a sequence to coupled the voltage sources to the input terminal of the semiconductor device in a sequence.

Claim 35

The method of claim 28 wherein providing a plurality of voltage sources comprises: generating a plurality of voltage control signals; coupling each voltage control signal to a voltage control signal input of a digital-to-analog converter; and generating a voltage in each of the digital-to-analog converters based on the voltage control signal coupled to the voltage control signal input of the digital-to-analog converter.

Claim 36

The method of claim 28 wherein coupling each voltage source to an input terminal of a respective electronic switch comprises coupling each voltage source to an input terminal of a respective pass gate.

Claim 37

The method of claim 28 , further comprising buffering the input terminal of the semiconductor device from the output terminal of each electronic switch.

Claim 40

The method of claim 33 wherein controlling the electronic switches comprises rendering the electronic switches conductive or nonconductive in accordance with a sequence to coupled the voltage sources to the input terminal of the semiconductor device in a sequence.

Claim 41

The method of claim 33 , further comprising providing each voltage source from a digital-to-analog converter having a voltage control signal input coupled to receive a voltage control signal, an input coupled to a reference voltage, and an output, the digital-to-analog converter being structured to generate a voltage at the output based on the voltage control signal.

Claim 42

The method of claim 35 wherein controlling the output voltage level of the programmable voltage sources comprises generating a voltage control signal for each digital-to-analog converter and selecting each voltage control signal such that the digital-to-analog converters generate a plurality of differentiated voltages at their respective outputs.

Claim 43

The method of claim 33 wherein coupling each of the plurality of electronic switches comprises coupling each of a plurality of pass gates between a respective one of a plurality of differentiated voltage sources and the input terminal of the semiconductor device.

Claim 44

The method of claim 33 , further comprising: generating a control signal for each of the electronic switches to control a conductive state of the electronic switch; and coupling each control signal to a control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches to render the electronic switches conductive in a sequence.

Claim 45

The method of claim 33 , further comprising buffering the input terminal of the semiconductor device from each of the electronic switches.

Claim 46

A variable voltage generator for providing a variable voltage to an input terminal of a semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of voltage sources each having a different voltage level, each voltage source having a voltage control terminal; a plurality of electronic switches, each electronic switch having an input terminal coupled to a respective one of the voltage sources, a control terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the semiconductor device; and a control logic circuit having a plurality of outputs, a first portion of the outputs coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches and a second portion of the outputs coupled to the voltage control terminal of a respective one of the voltage sources, the control logic circuit being structured to generate a plurality of control signals and a plurality of voltage control signals, each control signal being coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches through one of the outputs, and each voltage control signal being coupled to the voltage control terminal of a respective one of the voltage sources, the voltage level of each voltage source being regulated based on the voltage control signal coupled to the voltage control signal input of the voltage source.

Claim 47

A variable voltage generator for providing a variable voltage to an input terminal of a semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of voltage sources each having a different voltage level, each voltage source having a voltage control terminal; a plurality of electronic switches, each electronic switch having an input terminal coupled to a respective one of the voltage sources, a control terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the semiconductor device; and a control logic circuit having a plurality of outputs, a first portion of the outputs coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches and a second portion of the outputs coupled to the voltage control terminal of a respective one of the voltage sources, the control logic circuit being structured to generate a plurality of control signals and a plurality of voltage control signals, each control signal being coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches through one of the outputs, and each voltage control signal being coupled to the voltage control terminal of a respective one of the voltage sources, the voltage level of each voltage source being regulated based on the voltage control signal coupled to the voltage control signal input of the voltage source.

Claim 48

The variable voltage generator of claim 40 wherein one of the voltage sources is a ground voltage reference.

Claim 49

The variable voltage generator of claim 40 wherein each of the voltage sources comprises a digital-to-analog converter having an input coupled to a reference voltage source.

Claim 50

The variable voltage generator of claim 40 wherein each of the electronic switches comprises a pass gate.

Claim 51

The variable voltage generator of claim 40 , further comprising a buffer circuit coupled between the output terminal of each of the electronic switches and the input terminal of the semiconductor device.

Claim 52

The variable voltage generator of claim 40 wherein the control circuit logic is structured to render the electronic switches conductive in a sequence by the control signals to couple the voltage sources to the input terminal of the semiconductor device in a sequence.

Claim 53

A pulse generator for providing pulses to an input terminal of a semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of electronic switches, each electronic switch having a control terminal, an input terminal, and an output terminal, the output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the semiconductor device and the input terminal coupled to a respective one of a plurality of programmable voltage sources; and a control logic circuit having a plurality of outputs, a first portion of the outputs coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches and a second portion of the outputs coupled to a respective one of the programmable voltage sources, the control logic circuit being structured to render selected ones of the electronic switches conductive and further structured to regulate the voltage level of each of the programmable voltage sources by providing to each of the programmable voltage sources a respective voltage control signal through a respective output of the second portion of outputs.

Claim 54

A pulse generator for providing pulses to an input terminal of a semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of electronic switches, each electronic switch having a control terminal, an input terminal, and an output terminal, the output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the semiconductor device and the input terminal coupled to a respective one of a plurality of programmable voltage sources; and a control logic circuit having a plurality of outputs, a first portion of the outputs coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches and a second portion of the outputs coupled to a respective one of the programmable voltage sources, the control logic circuit being structured to render selected ones of the electronic switches conductive and further structured to regulate the voltage level of each of the programmable voltage sources by providing to each of the programmable voltage sources a respective voltage control signal through a respective output of the second portion of outputs.

Claim 55

The pulse generator of claim 46 wherein one of the voltage sources comprises a ground voltage reference.

Claim 56

The pulse generator of claim 46 wherein each electronic switch is a pass gate.

Claim 57

The pulse generator of claim 46 wherein each of the programmable voltage sources is a digital-to-analog converter including an output coupled to the input terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches and an input coupled to a reference voltage.

Claim 58

The pulse generator of claim 46 , further comprising a buffer circuit coupled between the output terminal of each of the electronic switches and the input terminal of the semiconductor device.

Claim 59

The pulse generator of claim 46 wherein the control logic circuit is structured to render selected ones of the electronic switches conductive in a sequence to coupled selected ones of the voltage sources to the input terminal of the semiconductor device in a sequence.

Claim 60

A programmable pulse generator for generating pulses having programmable voltage levels and providing the pulses to an electrical device, the programmable pulse generator comprising: a plurality of programmable voltage sources each having a voltage control signal input coupled to receive a voltage control signal and a voltage output, each programmable voltage source being structured to provide a programmed voltage at its voltage output based on the voltage control signal it receives; a plurality of electronic switches each having an output terminal, a control terminal coupled to receive a control signal which controls a conductive state of the electronic switch, and an input terminal coupled to the voltage output of a respective one of the programmable voltage sources to receive its programmed voltage; a pulse output terminal coupled to the output terminal of each of the electronic switches; and a control logic circuit having a plurality of outputs, each of a first group of the outputs being coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches to provide the control signal to the electronic switch, and each of a second group of the outputs being coupled to the voltage control signal input of a respective one of the programmable voltage sources to provide the voltage control signal.

Claim 61

A programmable pulse generator for generating pulses having programmable voltage levels and providing the pulses to an electrical device, the programmable pulse generator comprising: a plurality of programmable voltage sources each having a voltage control signal input coupled to receive a voltage control signal and a voltage output, each programmable voltage source being structured to provide a programmed voltage at its voltage output based on the voltage control signal it receives; a plurality of electronic switches each having an output terminal, a control terminal coupled to receive a control signal which controls a conductive state of the electronic switch, and an input terminal coupled to the voltage output of a respective one of the programmable voltage sources to receive its programmed voltage; a pulse output terminal coupled to the output terminal of each of the electronic switches; and a control logic circuit having a plurality of outputs, each of a first group of the outputs being coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches to provide the control signal to the electronic switch, and each of a second group of the outputs being coupled to the voltage control signal input of a respective one of the programmable voltage sources to provide the voltage control signal.

Claim 62

The programmable pulse generator of claim 52 wherein one of the programmable voltage sources is structured to provide a ground voltage at its voltage output based on the voltage control signal it receives.

Claim 63

The programmable pulse generator of claim 52 wherein the control logic circuit is structured to generate the voltage control signal received by each programmable voltage source, the programmed voltage provided by each programmable voltage source being different from the programmed voltages provided by the other programmable voltage sources.

Claim 64

The programmable pulse generator of claim 52 wherein each of the electronic switches comprises a pass gate.

Claim 65

The programmable pulse generator of claim 52 wherein each programmable voltage source comprises a digital-to-analog converter having an input coupled to a reference voltage.

Claim 66

The programmable pulse generator of claim 52 , further comprising a buffer circuit having an input coupled to the output terminal of each of the electronic switches and an output coupled to the pulse output terminal.

Claim 67

The programmable pulse generator of claim 52 wherein the control logic circuit is structured to generate the control signals for each electronic switch to render selected electronic switches conductive in a sequence to couple the voltage outputs of selected ones of the programmable voltage sources to the pulse output terminal in a sequence.

Claim 68

A variable voltage generator for providing a variable voltage to an input terminal of a semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of voltage sources each having a different voltage level, each voltage source having a voltage control terminal coupled to a reference voltage, the voltage level of each voltage source based on the voltage level of the reference voltage; a plurality of electronic switches, each electronic switch having an input terminal coupled to a respective one of the voltage sources, a control terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the semiconductor device; and a control logic circuit having a plurality of outputs, a first portion of the outputs coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches and a second portion of the outputs coupled to the voltage control terminal of a respective one of the voltage sources, the control logic circuit being structured to generate a plurality of control signals and a plurality of voltage control signals, each control signal being coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches through one of the outputs.

Claim 69

A variable voltage generator for providing a variable voltage to an input terminal of a semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of voltage sources each having a different voltage level, each voltage source having a voltage control terminal coupled to a reference voltage, the voltage level of each voltage source based on the voltage level of the reference voltage; a plurality of electronic switches, each electronic switch having an input terminal coupled to a respective one of the voltage sources, a control terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the semiconductor device; and a control logic circuit having a plurality of outputs, a first portion of the outputs coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches and a second portion of the outputs coupled to the voltage control terminal of a respective one of the voltage sources, the control logic circuit being structured to generate a plurality of control signals and a plurality of voltage control signals, each control signal being coupled to the control terminal of a respective one of the electronic switches through one of the outputs.

Claim 70

A variable voltage generator for providing a variable voltage to an input terminal of a semiconductor device comprising: a voltage source providing a voltage output, the voltage source structured to provide the voltage output at a voltage level based on a voltage control signal received at a voltage control terminal; an electronic switch having an input terminal coupled to the voltage source, a control terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the semiconductor device; and a control logic circuit having a first output coupled to the control terminal of the electronic switches and a second output coupled to the voltage control terminal of the voltage source, the control logic circuit being structured to generate a control signal to render the electronic switch conductive to couple the voltage source to the input terminal of the semiconductor device and further structured to generate the voltage control signal to regulate the voltage level of the voltage output provided by the voltage source.

Claim 71

A variable voltage generator for providing a variable voltage to an input terminal of a semiconductor device comprising: a voltage source providing a voltage output, the voltage source structured to provide the voltage output at a voltage level based on a voltage control signal received at a voltage control terminal; an electronic switch having an input terminal coupled to the voltage source, a control terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the semiconductor device; and a control logic circuit having a first output coupled to the control terminal of the electronic switches and a second output coupled to the voltage control terminal of the voltage source, the control logic circuit being structured to generate a control signal to render the electronic switch conductive to couple the voltage source to the input terminal of the semiconductor device and further structured to generate the voltage control signal to regulate the voltage level of the voltage output provided by the voltage source.