MD1820 is a high speed, four channel MOSFET driver designed to drive high voltage P- and N-channel MOSFETs for medical ultrasound applications and other applications requiring a high output current for a capacitive load. The high-speed input stage of the MD1820 can operate from a 1.8 to 5.0V logic interface with an optimum operating input signal range of 1.8 to 3.3V. An adaptive threshold circuit is used to set the level translator switch threshold to the average of the input logic 0 and logic 1 levels. The input logic levels may be ground-referenced, even though the driver is putting out bipolar signals. The level translator uses a proprietary circuit, which provides DC coupling together with high-speed operation.

The output stage of the MD1820 has separate power connections enabling the output signal L and H levels to be chosen independently from the supply voltages used for the majority of the circuit. As an example, the input logic levels may be 0 and 1.8V, the control logic may be powered by +5.0 and -5.0V, and the output L and H levels may be varied anywhere over the range of -5.0 to +5.0V. The output stage is capable of peak currents of up to ±2.0A, depending on the supply voltages used and load capacitance present. The PE pin serves a dual purpose. First, its logic H level is used to compute the threshold voltage level for the channel input level translators. Second, when PE is low, the outputs are HiZ. This assists in properly precharging the AC coupling capacitors that may be used in series in the gate drive circuit of an external PMOS and NMOS transistor pair.