Power integrated circuits—A brief overview

A brief overview of developments in power and high-voltage integrated circuits is presented. The technology can be classified into two types: 1) smart power devices that contain one or more common drain, vertical power transistors with control, and protective circuitry built on the same chip, and 2) high-voltage integrated circuits that combine lateral high-voltage with CMOS logic and analog bipolar circuits on the same chip. These technologies are being aimed at display drivers, telecommunications, motor drives, power supplies, and automotive electronics. A rapid growth in their application in the future can be expected.