High side N-channel MOSFET driver provides 100% duty cycle capability

Linear Technology has announces the LTC7003, a high speed, high side N-channel MOSFET driver that operates up to a 60V supply voltage. Its internal charge pump fully enhances an external N-channel MOSFET switch, enabling it to remain on indefinitely. The device’s powerful 1ohm gate driver can easily drive large gate capacitance MOSFETs with very short transition times and 35ns propagation delays, ideal for both high frequency switching and static switch applications. The device operates over a 3.5V to 60V (65V abs max) input supply range with a 3.5V to 15V driver supply range. It detects an overcurrent condition by monitoring the voltage across an external sense resistor placed in series with the drain of the external MOSFET switch. When the device senses that the switch current has exceeded a preset level, a fault flag is asserted and the switch is turned off for a period of time set by an external timing capacitor. After a predetermined cooldown time period, the device automatically retries. The device is designed to receive a ground-referenced, low voltage digital input signal and quickly drive a high side N-channel power MOSFET whose drain can be as high as 60V above ground. The fast 13ns rise and fall times, when driving a 1000pF load, minimize switching losses. It features an adjustable current limit, a current monitoring output, and adjustable overvoltage lockout and enable inputs.