Asking about the Vcc of some integrated circuits

AI Thread Summary
Integrated circuits (ICs) typically cannot handle voltages of a few kilovolts, as most are limited to tens of volts, with some specially designed ICs reaching a few hundred volts. High voltage applications usually require alternative technologies, such as vacuum tubes or hybrid circuits, rather than standard semiconductors. While there are power ICs that operate at voltages up to 600 volts, anything above 1 kV is uncommon and impractical for direct use with ICs. High voltage systems often utilize relays and transformers to manage voltage levels safely. The discussion highlights the need for clarity on what constitutes an "integrated circuit" in high voltage contexts.
hagopbul
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Hello:
I have to ask some question , did anyone know any integrated circuits that have voltage Vcc of few kilo volts what was the catagoeries of that circuits ?

And do they different from high current integrated circuits ?

Where to read about it ?
Best hope
 
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What would be the purpose of such a device?
 
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Plasma
 
Or even mega volts
 
hagopbul said:
Hello:
I have to ask some question , did anyone know any integrated circuits that have voltage Vcc of few kilo volts what was the catagoeries of that circuits ?

And do they different from high current integrated circuits ?

Where to read about it ?
Best hope

Generally, no. There are limits to the voltages which a solid state device like an integrated circuit can withstand without breaking down. Most integrated circuits are limited to a few 10's of volts. With special design, it is possible to engineer the breakdown voltage to be a few hundred volts, and these types of ICs are commercially available. I am not aware of any ICs with breakdown voltages of 1 kilovolt or higher. For these types of applications, typically we use devices other than semiconductors, such as vacuum tubes.
 
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I remember one time I saw a microcontroller that work on 220 volts it look like I am mistaken
 
hagopbul said:
I remember one time I saw a microcontroller that work on 220 volts it look like I am mistaken
No, I don't think you are mistaken. As I said, a few hundred volts is possible. I have seen power ICs that go up to 600 volts. I've never seen anything above 1 kV.
 
hagopbul said:
I remember one time I saw a microcontroller that work on 220 volts it look like I am mistaken

my guess is it was an X10 type device that commnicates over the power line to control appliances and lights...
they drop line voltage down to something that's useable
https://digilander.libero.it/cvolpato/elettronica/download/00236a.pdf
upload_2019-2-9_20-30-1.png


old jim
 

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hagopbul said:
Hello:
I have to ask some question , did anyone know any integrated circuits that have voltage Vcc of few kilo volts what was the catagoeries of that circuits ?

And do they different from high current integrated circuits ?

Where to read about it ?
Best hope
From few few kilovolts switches, ICs are used to drive relays. Relays capable to handle even megavolt-range lines. Directly using such high voltage for IC is not practical (most silicon circuits are limited to 1200V), therefore HV mains are connected to ICs power supply typically through step-down transformer. Variations of IC isolation (resitive divider, ballast capacitor, floating ICs, opto-couplers, opto-thyristors) do exist depending on application.
 
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how would you insulate the pins of an IC against kilovolts ? They're only a few thousandths of an inch apart.
 
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  • #11
jim hardy said:
how would you insulate the pins of an IC against kilovolts ? They're only a few thousandths of an inch apart.

For that you may use thin film coating ,but that other subject entirely not related to this question
 
  • #12
hagopbul said:
but that other subject entirely not related to this question
?? This one ?
hagopbul said:
I remember one time I saw a microcontroller that work on 220 volts it look like I am mistaken

well. it was you who brought it up.
 
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  • #13
Forgive me for that
 
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hagopbul said:
any integrated circuits that have voltage Vcc of few kilo volts
I'm pretty sure that there is no such thing. Vcc usually defined as the (positive) supply voltage: in this context, it would be what keeps the integrated circuit working. To use such high voltage to power an IC - insane.

If you are asking about integrated circuits which are intended to handle high voltages - that's a different story. But such circuits usually has the actual Vcc below a dozen volts. Sometimes it's produced by an internal regulator, but even so...

Best example is the good old TTL nixie drivers I think. TTL circuits (Vcc around 5V) handling 'high' voltage.

Other example would be some power amplifiers, with separate power input for the last stage, but low voltage Vcc for the actual IC part.

You might be able to find something around hybrid circuits. But that's not really IC, as I take it.
 
  • #15
hagopbul said:
Forgive me for that
Forgive my snap at you.

upload_2019-2-10_15-7-49.jpeg


we all have slips of the tongue from time to time.

old jim
 

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hagopbul said:
Hello:
I have to ask some question , did anyone know any integrated circuits that have voltage Vcc of few kilo volts what was the catagoeries of that circuits ?

And do they different from high current integrated circuits ?

Where to read about it ?
Best hope
Is this question asked in order to find a 'chip' that can perform a particular function or is it a general interest question (the sort of question that comes up in typical pub conversations)?
There can be no definitive answer to this question because we would need to define what the OP means by the term "Integrated Circuit". It is possible to encapsulate a circuit into one package and inside the (specialist) package there could be a very high voltage (or current) unit - higher than any included monolithic chip could stand. I think the term for this would be Hybrid Integrated Circuit.
 
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