An area efficient multi-channel high side switch implementation

This paper proposes a novel multi channel high side power switch implementation as part of a high integration automotive IC. The circuit was implemented in a BCD technology, where the key for area efficiency is making use as much as possible of the low voltage components. This is especially difficult for high side switch design, where the circuit is referred to the high voltage car battery. To this end, two techniques were used: a floating "low voltage domain" below the battery voltage was created and a transmission protocol was implemented to minimize the number of needed high voltage level shifters.