Ultra-fast voltage drive

Abstract

An ultra-fast drive circuit (40) providing a rail-to-rail drive voltage at an output node (N1). A pair of bipolar output transistors (Q3, Q4) are selectively driven via a FET drive circuit (42), and by a control circuit (44) to achieve a rail-to-rail output voltage (Vcc-Vee) that is very fast. The drive FETs comprise three serially connected FETs (M5, M6, M7) whereby the middle FET (M6) is the control FET effecting the control of the output transistors (Q3, Q4). The other two FETs (M5, M7) are always in the on state and complete either the pull-up or pull-down of the voltage at the output node (N1), depending on the state of the middle FET (M6). The control FETs (44) provide two output control signals (46, 48) to the output transistors (Q3, Q4), with the control line (48) controlling the state of the middle switching FET (M6).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is generally related to mass media drive controllers, including HDD drives, and more particularly to an ultra-fast voltage drive for a write drive control circuit controlling the head of the drive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The coil current waveform characteristics that are important in a HDD voltage write driver circuit are depicted at 10 in FIG. 1. In particular, the current rise time, overshoot, undershoot, and settling time are of particular interest. Desired characteristics for the coil current waveform are a fast rise time and settling time, a controllable amount of overshoot, and very little undershoot. By achieving these characteristics, a hard disk drive storage capacity can be improved.

[0004] A conventional voltage source based write coil driver circuit is shown at 20 in FIG. 2. A coil is modeled as LS, and is connected to four transistors via coil node HX and node HY. The connection of the four transistors to the coil is known conventionally as an H-bridge. The coil is typically referred to as the head. The H-bridge controls the direction of the coil current Iw, known as a coil current reversal, to responsively create magnetic flux changes through the coil.

[0005] One limitation of this conventional voltage source based write coil driver 20 is the differential transient voltage generated at nodes HX and HY conventionally known as (TRTF), driving a current reversal. This limitation can be appreciated in conventional circuit 20 shown in FIG. 2, whereby the voltage of one node can be momentarily pulled down, such as node HX, to near the second voltage rail Vee using transistor Q1. However, and disadvantageously, there is no circuit to pull up the other node, such as node HY. Thus, the voltage at each node can go no higher than established that are expressed by the following equation:

V node =V cc −(Vbe+RS×Iw).

[0006] The coil current Iw has a nominal current of about 40 milliamps with control signals QL or {overscore (QL)}. However, during current reversal of the coil, transistors Q1 or Q2 are temporarily turned on to “boost” normal current and decrease the differential voltage TRTF. It can be appreciated that transistors Q1 and Q2 bypass half of the matched impedance resistors RS during this “boost,” however, the other series resistor RS is still in the current path. Thus, the above equation represents the maximum voltage that one node can attain when the other node is pulled down close to Vee.

[0007] There is desired an improved circuit that improves the speed of a rail-to-rail drive circuit, and which includes drive circuit providing a rail-to-rail drive voltage to large PMOS FETs pulling-up a voltage at nodes HX and HY.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention achieves technical advantages as a rail-to-rail ultra-fast voltage drive circuit providing a rail-to-rail drive voltage to a subsequent drive circuit, such as a HDD write driver control circuit. The voltage drive circuit has a pair of serially connected output transistors driven by a control circuit such that an output voltage defined at an output node between the two output transistors is driven fast rail-to-rail.

[0009] This control circuit preferably comprises three serially connected FETs coupled between the voltage rails, whereby the middle FET controls the voltage at the output node. The other two FETs are coupled to a respective voltage rail, and each have their gates connected to the opposing rail. This gate xying arrangement reduces the number and size of the devices required in this control circuit, and further speeds up the rail-to-rail voltage swings of the drive circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a waveform diagram of a conventional coil current waveform characteristics including the rise time associated with a current reversal of a drive circuit;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a conventional HDD drive circuit;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the present invention including the ultra-fast voltage drive circuit finding advantages with a HDD write coil driver circuit;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a detailed schematic diagram of the ultra-fast voltage drive circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 providing an output voltage at an output node that quickly swings from rail-to-rail, that is, from Vcc to GND;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a signal diagram of the output voltage swing at node N1; and

[0015] FIG. 6 is a signal diagram of the output voltage swing at node N1 without using FETs M5, M6 and M7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated generally at 30 a write driver control circuit 31 and a pair of ultra-fast voltage drive circuits 40 controlled by a control circuit shown at 50. Each of these ultra-fast voltage drive circuits 40, shown in detail in FIG. 4, provide an ultra-fast, rail-to-rail drive voltage to the large PMOS boost FETs shown at 32, thereby achieving the advantages of getting maximum voltage swing from the PMOS devices 32, with a very quick voltage swing from one rail to the other.

[0017] For more detailed understanding of the HDD drive circuit shown at 31, cross-reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending patent application Attorney's Docket number TI-32302 entitled “Enhanced Voltage Drive Circuit for HDD Write Driver,” filed herewith and the teachings incorporated herein by reference.

[0018] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown at 40 one of the PMOS voltage drive circuits seen too include a pair of serially connected bipolar output transistors Q3 and Q4 having an output node N1 defined therebetween. This output node N1 is connected to the gate of the respective voltage pull-up FET, either M1 or M2, as shown in FIG. 3. Transistor Q4 is a Schottky transistor to obtain a low Vcesat. Control circuit 50, during a current reversal, selectively controls one of the voltage drive circuits 40 to drive the gate of the respective M1 or M2 FET hard. As described in the co-pending patent application, during a current reversal, transistors Q1 and M2 will be on with the other transistors Q2 and M1 off, and for the next current reversal, transistors Q2 and M1 will be on, with the other transistors Q1 and M2 being off. The respective “boost” FETs shown at 32, when on, will pull the voltage at the corresponding node HX or HY high to Vcc, with the other corresponding node is being pulled low near Vee by the other transistor Q1 or Q2 that is on.

[0019] Referring back to FIG. 4, the PMOS drive circuit 40 is seen to include a control circuit 42 comprised of three serially connected FETs shown as M5, M6, and M7, with the middle or second FET M6 residing therebetween. The node defined between FETs M5 and M6 is tied to the output node N1, with the node defined between FETs M6 and M7 being connected to the base of output bipolar Schottky transistor Q4. The source of FET M7 is seen to be tied to the second lower voltage rail having potential GND. The source of the FET M5 is connected to the upper voltage rail Vcc via FET M10.

[0020] Also shown is that the gate of FET M5 is connected to the lower voltage rail GND, with the gate of FET M7 being connected to the positive voltage rail Vcc. FET M5, therefore, is controlled by source voltage, not gate, and switches faster because FET M7 is always on. Advantageously, this transistor arrangement reduces the switching time for a rail-to-rail voltage swing, and also reduces the number of components required.

[0021] Advantageously, FET M6 and M7, when on, form a resistive divider to drive transistor Q4. Transistor Q4 is a Schottky device to obtain low Vcesat. Controls the output voltage swing at the output node N1. Specifically, a control circuit generally shown at 44 has a first output shown as control line 46 being connected to the base of the first output transistor Q3, and source of transistor M5, and a second, complementary, output single line 48 being connected to the gate of control FET M6. Control line 46 operates such that a logic “high” signal provided on signal line 46 turns on output transistor Q3 and FET M5, whereby the complementary logic “low” signal on output single line 48 keeps control FET M6 off and consequently keeps transistor Q4 off due to transistor M7. Similarly, a logic “low” on control line 46 shuts transistor Q3 and M5 off, with a complementary logic “high” signal on control line 48 turning control FET M6 on, thereby turning on the output transistor Q4 temporarily through the resistor divider. Transistor Q3 and Q4 are used to drive the output node, N1, hard with large current sourcing and sinking capabilities but unable to drive rail-to-rail. Q4 can't pull node N1 all the way to GND, and transistor Q3 can't pull node N1 all the way to VCC. FET M5 is used to pull node N1 up to Vcc toward the end of the transition, while FETS M6 and M7 are used to pull node N1 to GND at the end of the opposite transition.

Vcc VOLTAGE PROVIDED TO OUTPUT NODE N1

[0022] When a logic “high” signal is provided to the input signal line shown at 49, the control circuit 44 provides a logic “high” to control line 46 such that output transistor Q3 is on, which initially pulls the output voltage at output node N1 to within approximately 0.7 volts of the first rail Vcc. A logic “low” is provided on output control line 48 such that control FET M6 is “off.” Advantageously, FET M5 becomes “on” before Q3 stops providing drive current to complete the Vcc rail swing.

GND RAIL PROVIDED TO OUTPUT NODE N1

[0023] When a logic “low” signal is provided to input line 49, a logic “low” output signal is provided to output line 46, and logic “high” signal is provided to output line 48. Thus, output transistor Q3 is responsively in the “off” state, control FET M6 is in the “on” state, and output transistor Q4 is in the on state and pulls down the output voltage at node N1 to within 0.4 volts of the lower rail GND. Advantageously, since FET M7 is in the “on” state, FET M7 will pull the voltage at the output node N1 completely to the lower rail GND, such as zero volts.

[0024] Notably, if a conventional control circuit including only output transistors Q3 and Q4 were provided, FETs M5 and M6 could be deleted. However, this is counter to the goal of the present invention of which is to drive the gates of the large PMOS of FETs 32 rail-to-rail, quickly, and providing strong driving capabilities. The combination and configuration of the three drive FETs M5, M6, and M7 are used to controllably and quickly drive the output node N1 rail-to-rail, that is from Vcc to GND and back again as a function of the control signal provided to the input line 49. Again, FET M7 is always in the “on” state and FET M5 is controlled by its source to minimize the number and size of the devices required in this circuit 40. Rather, only the middle FET M6 and node 46 is selectively controlled to responsively effect the control of output transistors Q3 and Q4, whereby FETs M5 and M6-M7 complete either the pull-up or the pull-down of voltage at the output node N1.

[0025] Though the invention has been described with respect to a specific preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.

Claims

1. A rail-to-rail drive circuit, comprising: a first voltage rail; a second voltage rail; a first and second output transistor coupled in series between said first and second voltage rail and having an output node defined therebetween; and a drive circuit drivingly coupled to said first and second output transistor to selectively swing a voltage at said output node between said first voltage rail and said second voltage rail.

2. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 1 wherein said drive circuit comprises a plurality of FETs.

3. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 2 wherein a first set of said FETs are coupled in series between said first voltage rail and said second voltage rail.

4. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 3 wherein said first set of said FETs comprise a first FET, a second FET, and a third FET coupled in series between said first voltage rail and said second voltage rail.

5. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 4 wherein said second FET is the middle FET of said series, further comprising a control circuit selectively driving said second FET to responsively establish either said first rail voltage or said second rail voltage at said output node.

6. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 5 wherein said first FET is coupled to said first rail voltage and has a gate connected to said second rail voltage.

7. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 6 wherein said third FET is coupled to said second rail voltage and has a gate connected to said first rail voltage.

8. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 5 wherein said control circuit also selectively drives said first output transistor and said second output transistor.

9. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 8 wherein said control circuit has a first control output controlling said first output transistor, and a second complimentary control output controlling both said second FET and said second output transistor.

10. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 9 wherein said control circuit comprises a first and second control FET coupled in series between said first voltage rail and said second voltage rail and having a first control output defined therebetween and commonly connected gates, and a third and fourth control FET coupled in series between said first voltage rail and said second voltage rail having a second control output defined therebetween, being connected to said first output transistor, and commonly connected gates connected to said first control output and said second FET.

11. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 8 where in said control circuit also comprises of FETs.

12. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 1 wherein said first and second output transistor comprise of bipolar devices.

13. The rail-to-rail drive circuit of claim 1, further comprising a write drive circuit responsively driven by said voltage at said output node and comprising: an H-bridge drive circuit coupled between said first voltage rail and said second voltage rail having a first and second drive transistor coupled together at a first node, and a third and fourth drive transistor coupled together at a second node; a coil; a first resistor coupled between said first node and a third node defined at one end of said coil, and a second resistor coupled between said second node and a fourth node defined at the other end of said coil; and a drive circuit coupled to said third node and said fourth node selectively pulling said third node and said fourth node to substantially said first voltage rail.

14. The driver circuit of claim 13 wherein said drive circuit further comprises a fifth transistor coupled between said third node and said second voltage rail and a sixth transistor coupled between said fourth node and said second voltage rail.

15. The drive circuit of claim 14 wherein said drive circuit drives said third node as a function of operation of said sixth transistor, and driving said fourth node as a function of operation of said fifth transistor.

16. The drive circuit of claim 15 wherein said drive circuit drives said third node while said sixth transistor is driven, and drives said fourth node while said fifth transistor is driven.

17. The drive circuit of claim 13 wherein said third node and said fourth node are selectively pulled to within 0.2 volts of said first voltage rail.

18. The drive circuit of claim 13 wherein said drive circuit comprises a first FET coupled between said first voltage rail and said third node, and a second FET coupled between said first voltage rail and said fourth node.

19. The drive circuit of claim 18 wherein said first FET is momentarily driven during a current reversal of said coil.

20. The drive circuit of claim 18 wherein said first FET and said second FET are PMOS devices.

21. The drive circuit of claim 18 wherein said first resistor does not pull-down a voltage at said third node when said first FET is driven.

22. The drive circuit of claim 21 wherein said second resistor does not pull-down a voltage at said fourth node when said second FET is driven.

23. The drive circuit of claim 18 wherein said first FET bypasses said first resistor during a current reversal of said coil, and said second FET bypasses said second resistor during a current reversal of said coil.

24. The drive circuit of claim 18 wherein said first voltage rail is a positive with respect to said second rail.