When MOSFET is used as a power switch, if is essential to prevent reverse c
urrent flow through the parasitic body diodes under reverse voltage conditi
on. A new built-in reverse voltage protection circuit for MOSFETs has been
developed. In this design, an area-efficient circuit is used to automatical
ly select the proper well bias voltage to prevent reverse current under the
reverse-voltage condition. This built-in reverse protection circuit has be
en successfully implemented in a high-side power switch application using a
0.6-mum CMOS process. The die area of the protection circuit is only 2.63
% of that of a MOSFET. The latch-up immunity is greater than +12 V and -10
V in voltage triggering mode, and greater than +/-500 mA in current trigger
ing mode, The protection circuit is not in series with the MOSFET switch, s
o that the full output swing and high power efficiency are achieved.